What an exciting week we’ve had at Flourish Counseling!

Last night the Colorado Independent Publisher’s Association held its annual EVVY Book Award Ceremony and judged the works of 197 local authors. Families Under Financial Stress: Tools to Support Your Relationships and Your Continual Growth won a total of 4 awards!!! The book won awards in the categories of Inspirational & Spiritual books, Parenting & Family Issues, Political & Social Issues & Self-Help books.  Additionally, my talented editor, Melanie Mulhall, won an editing award for the graceful way in which she polished my words throughout the book.

Haven’t read it yet?  You can download or order a copy here.

The connection between the body and mind is quite clear with stress and anxiety.  Anxiety exists on a continuum, with mild nervousness on one end and full-blown panic attacks-with shortness of breath, sweaty palms, and tightness in the chest-at the other end. Other symptoms include an inability to concentrate and a reduced ability to remember things. Stomach pains, muscle tension, headaches, racing thoughts, heart palpitations, and an inability to be still are also common. A change in sleeping patterns or eating habits can also be an indicator of stress. Generally speaking, the more symptoms you have and the more frequently you experience them, the higher your level of anxiety.

Anxiety has been found to compromise the immune system, leaving individuals more susceptible to health problems. In fact, various sources report that the majority of doctor visits and diseases are caused by stress. Thus, learning to control one’s anxiety and stress through therapeutic tools  not only brings emotional benefits, but physical benefits as well.

This blog has been excerpted from Angela Sasseville’s book, Families Under Financial Stress, which will be a finalist in this week’s EVVY Book Awards at the Colorado Independent Publisher’s Association.

Several years ago as my younger brother’s cancer was running its unpredictable course, I was in crisis and I was constantly moving. I bounced from one room of my house to the next, starting projects, losing my train of thought, and then starting something new. Trying to sit still was painful and impossible. For the first time, I forgot important dates and appointments. One morning I stood at the door at my daughter’s daycare, ready to drop her off, when I realized the reason no one was answering the door was because the center was closed that day, just as they had told me several times they would be.

My speech revved up to a rate just short of the speed of light during this state of constant worry and nervousness. A variety of unrelated thoughts ricocheted through my head and my body jittered. Adrenaline flowed freely through my veins. It was as though my “fight or flight” button had been switched into the “on” position, got jammed, and couldn’t be switched off.

My sleep wasn’t much better. At night, my mind churned though all the issues still left unresolved from the day. I awoke each morning feeling I’d been unable to get a break from my worries all night. My breath was shallow and every muscle in my body was tense. In short, I was the poster child for stress and anxiety.

(Continued)

What if your inner voice has been within you all along? What if all you need to learn to do is hear it, to differentiate between this voice of wisdom and the voice of fear? When you learn to move forward boldly in pursuit of your dreams, you are then capable of manifesting great things in your life.

What imaginative ideas and dreams have you had lately? Are you acknowledging and respecting them, or shooing them away as “silly” notions?

If you are not honoring your instincts, what is preventing you from doing so? Are there fears standing in your way?

This blog has been excerpted from Angela’s book, Families Under Financial Stress: Tools to Support Your Relationships and Your Continual Growth, which has been nominated for an EVVY award.

Everyone has this internal sense, this intuition or deep knowingness that considers incredible possibilities and dares to dream. Yet people listen to this voice in varying degrees. Some dismiss their imaginative ideas as “silly dreams” and never even allow their conscious mind to truly consider the possibilities that the imagination knows would be extraordinary. An idea has occurred to them nine times and every time, they brush it aside dismissively.

Still others will hear this voice of intuition, acknowledge the wisdom that it offers, and then ignore it entirely because they fear change. When I speak to women about decisions they’ve made that turned out to be disastrous, they often tell me, “I knew all along that I shouldn’t do it. I was very clear deep down. But I was afraid to alter my course.”

Learning to access and pay heed to this voice matters because it offers you the wisdom of your subconscious mind, which is always rich with powerful insights. The ideas in your imagination will often help you achieve fulfillment and happiness more than the chatter of your conscious mind.

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The human gift of imagination is often not taken seriously. In fact, if someone is said to be a dreamer, it is most likely meant as an insult. We dismiss the imaginative ideas and dreams percolating in our heads as silly or unrealistic. Yet the imagination contains more insight than we give it credit for.

Imagination is often that wise, subconscious part of our inner knowing that nudges you towards solutions for your problems and towards the realization of your passions. This inner voice becomes increasingly audible with the practice of mindfulness and thought tracking. As the voices of ego, fear, monkey mind and the inner critic become increasingly quiet, imagination speaks louder and louder.

It was that inner voice dreaming of what could be that prompted me to return to graduate school shortly after my first child’s birth. The voice of fear tried to interject, telling me I hadn’t saved up for it, that I’d be taking on too many responsibilities. Yet I stayed true to my heart. I repeatedly envisioned myself graduating and having my own private practice. Following my intuition put my career, my passion, and my livelihood in alignment with one another.

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If you would like to take advantage of the convenience of meeting through video conferencing online, the therapists at Flourish Counseling can meet with you through Skype.  Here’s what you will need:

Web Cam

You will need a built in or external web cam with a microphone. Many later generation computers and smart phones already have a video camera and microphone build right into them. In this case, Skype will work with them automatically and you don’t have to do anything to set up the video capability of your computer.

Fast Internet Connection

The other thing you will need is the fastest internet connection possible. You will have the best results with Skype if you bypass your wi-fi and plug your Ethernet cable directly in to your computer.

Skype

Skype works with both Mac and PC computers and devices, provided that you have a fast internet connection (i.e., cable or DSL). To get started with Skype you’ll go to www.skype.com (or use the link below) and download the Skype application (for free) onto your computer or smart phone, and the program will walk you through the process of setting up a user name, and checking to see if your audio, video and internet connections are set up properly.

Your therapist can be found at the Skype name “FlourishCounseling(TheirFirstName)”, such as FlourishCounselingAngela.  Please add them to your list of Skype contacts and provide your therapist with your Skype name prior to your first online session.

At the time of your scheduled appointments you will simply change your Skype account status to “online” (using the cloud shaped icon in the top left corner) and your therapist will be online waiting for your video call. Click on their contact to initiate your “Video call”. From then on it will be just like any other therapy session.

Here is a link to Skype’s video calling service where you can learn more from them and download the necessary software: http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/features/allfeatures/video-call

Insurance or Third Party Billing Approval

Please note that if you are billing your insurance provider or another third party for your therapy, you and your therapist will first need to try to obtain approval before meeting online.  Online therapy is billed under different billing codes than in person sessions and it is up to your claims payer to determine whether or not your online sessions will be covered.  Coverage for in person therapy does not guarantee coverage for online therapy.

Confidential Surroundings

Last but certainly not least, interruptions and distractions work against the progression of therapy sessions.  You will get the most out of your videoconference sessions when you recreate the conditions of our therapy office:

• Ask others not to interrupt you during your session time
• Secure a private room where you know your confidentiality will be protected and no one will walk in and/or lock the door
• Turn off telephone ringers, televisions, and any other distractions
• Secure childcare for your children during your online session so that you can focus on your therapy and not be forced to stop mid-thought to accommodate interruptions

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

- The Therapists at Flourish Counseling

The Pros of Online Therapy

Video conferencing is convenient, time efficient & environmentally responsible.  Not only does it eliminate the need to get to our office, it also saves our clients time and reduces the amount that they have to drive in order to participate in therapy.

Online sessions also help some clients to feel more comfortable than they would in a therapy office.  It can feel intimidating to some people to go to a therapist’s office for support.

Online therapy also allows discerning clients to access therapists who specialize in their issues, regardless of location across the country.

The Cons of Online Therapy

Not all forms of therapy are appropriate for online services.  EMDR and deep trauma work are best done in person.

Some clients feel more comfortable being in the room with their therapist.  We honor these personal preferences and will, of course, continue to have in person sessions available at our homey office in the Highlands.

Caveats to Online Therapy

If you are billing your insurance provider or another third party for your therapy, you and your therapist will first need to try to obtain approval before meeting online.  Online therapy is billed under different billing codes than in person sessions and it is up to your claims payer to determine whether or not your online sessions will be covered.  Coverage for in person therapy does not guarantee coverage for online therapy.

Residents of California, New York, New Jersey and Ohio are not eligible for online services with our staff due to laws passed by these 4 states.

Clients who are within driving distance are asked to meet with us in person in our office for their free initial consultation.

Flourish Counseling now offers therapy online!

It has become common place in our profession to conduct therapy over the Internet using a video conferencing service (like Skype).  Clients and therapists alike find online therapy as productive as in person therapy for most clinical situations.

Flourish Counseling is pleased to announce that this service is now available to its individual and its couples therapy clients.

Flourish Counseling is a proud sponsor of the second annual Totally Tennsyon event, open to the public and held on Saturday, April 28th.

This 21 and over event is a school fundraiser organized by local parents that is not only more fun than your average bake sale but also has an incredible impact on the local schools - Last year, in its inaugural run, the event raised over $21,000 for northwest Denver public schools in just one night!

This year proceeds will be donated to 12 local schools and we’re determined to raise even more.  There are costume contests, food, drink, live music & fantastic people watching.  Tickets are just $25 if purchased in advance at www.TotallyTennyson.com.

Isn’t it amazing what we can accomplish when we pull together as a community and pull our leg warmers and parachute pants out of storage?!