Healing begins with curiosity and discovering what best supports YOU on your unique journey.
The HEAL YOU newsletter is dedicated to helping you heal chronic stress, trauma, and nervous system dysregulation, with a special focus on the lasting impact of loving someone struggling with addiction.
Welcome to this research informed newsletter to deepen your understanding of various healing modalities and discover what resonates most with you (this is a no AI zone, evidence-informed research only!!).
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Why the Shift?
First, thank you for being here! I am always honored that you share space with me in your inbox!!
Second, you might have noticed a shift in the direction of the newsletter....let me explain!
As I have recently finished my Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling program, I am eager to weave an evidenced-based research perspective to my previous expertise and passion in somatic healing. This shift has greatly increased my overall perspective of healing, while increasing my understanding of the benefits of various forms of healing. And though it feels like a simple concept, curiosity is often the ignitor which fuels change and healing. Like any great adventure, change, shift, transformation, it all starts with curiosity (As I write this, I catch myself saying well, duh, Heidi, this is too simple, and everyone knows this already)...stay with me!
Get Curious, Stay Curious
Most of the time this curiosity starts super small. Often it's sparked by the smallest event, maybe a passing conversation with a friend, a stranger on the socials, a passing billboard on your drive, a poster hanging on the bulletin board as you wait for you decaf oatmilk latte (that's my drink of choice....the low anxiety, low dairy, option for my sometimes delicate system)......let me get back to the point. It's normal to want to have these lightening bolts of inspiration for igniting change, when in reality, change happens because a little spark of curiosity is slowly and steadily feed over time, until a choice to engage in change occurs.
So, this space, the HEAL YOU newsletter, will discuss a variety of healing options. The modalities will range from "out there" or "wooooooo" (this includes out of the ordinary mainstream healing options like yoga-nidra, trancedance, somatic movements, hydrotherapy) to more highly researched psychotherapy options such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) or ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Each modality discussed will include current research on the topic, and everything I share has contributed to my own healing journey at different periods of my healing. Through direct experience and research, my goal is to inspire and ignite your curiosity, therefore empowering you towards healing that resonates for YOU!
I do not claim to be an expert research scientist within each modality, so take what you learn here and keep exploring, experiencing and healing in small ways, daily! AND, within each modality there are things I love, and aspects that don't resonate. Don't worry, I'll share it all! The research, my experiences, and my opinions overall, with hopes that you take some nuggets of wisdom and inspiration to seamlessly weave it into the beauty of your own journey. The difficult experiences that accompany loving those that struggle with various addicitions remain, yet my tools to navigate the complexities continue to contribute to increased understanding and compassion. It's within my continued curiosity that I am able to make changes within the aspects of my life I can control, while holding space for the heaviness, confusion, and uncertainty of addiction within my world.
We were made to encourage, learn from and inspire each other!!
Friends, family and clients often asked about my own journey, with a desire to know more about what has worked for me....so, next week I will share a time-line of modalities that have contributed to my own process. Then, the following newsletters will start to explore each modality with rigor, sharing personal experiences, techniques used and provide helpful tips on how to access practices or practitioners within your own communities or online.
Again, thanks for being here! I'm soooooo excited to move forward, sharing and inspiring healing, while continuing to discuss and navigate the uncertainty and complexities of loving those struggling with addiction.
Stay curious friends!
Sending so much light + love,
Heidi
PS.......Thanks for your patience for the The Modern Mocktail book!!! YES, it is still in the works, with plans for publication soon!! I'll keep you posted!
1) DIY: FREE 40 day Somatic Practice ---> LINK HERE
2) DIY: Year of Somatic Daily Practice Library with Workbook ---> LINK HERE
3) Individual Somatic Therapy ---> Space Opening Soon!
Private 1:1 therapy sessions offering personalized support through compassionate, trauma-informed care, somatic practices, and mindful exploration to help you reconnect with yourself, gain clarity, and cultivate meaning (ONLY in person and online for clients within Wyoming).
4) Retreats ---> LINK HERE
Immersive Somatic and Breathwork experiences designed to reconnect you with your body, regulate your nervous system, and cultivate healing through breath, movement, mindfulness, and embodied awareness. All are welcome!
SUBMERGE Alaska 2026 - Registration open!! ---> LINK HERE
SUBMERGE Tulum 2027 - Registration open!! --->LINK HERE
ONLINE MEETINGS:
1) The Heart of Recovery -
A weekly meeting that joins Buddhist meditation and spiritual step work, in order to connect to and engage in a commitment to recovery from addiction, and the everyday addictive behaviors and patterns in our lives. Anyone is invited to participate. Learn more here.
2) Al-Anon Meetings -
Al-Anon is a mutual support group for those that live around addiction. Anyone who's lives have been affected by another person’s addiction is welcome. Online electronic meeting information found here.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT:
1) Podcast: HOPESTREAM - Hopestream Community™ is the not-for-profit destination for support, education and resources for parents of teens and young adults struggling with substance misuse and mental health challenges.
2) Website: SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administraion -Resource for Families coping with mental health and substance abuse disorders.
3) Website: RECOVERY RESEARCH INSTITUTE - A Guide for family members.
4) Books: Titles that might help you understand addiction and various forms of healing modalities:
Codependent No More - Melody Beattie
In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts - Gabor Mate, M.D.
You Can Heal Your Life - Louise Hay
The Untethered Soul - Micheal Singer
The Body Keeps the Score - Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.
What Happened to You - Bruce D, Perry , M.D. Ph.D.
The Dance of Anger - Harriet G. Lerner, Ph.D.
A Monks Guide to Happiness - Gelong Thubten
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