North-Central Alberta (Westlock, Athabasca, and Beyond)
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UNFOLDING
The Problem
In Alberta, we're now facing the consequences of climate change. Already this year, we've fought wildfires, smoke, drought, searing heat, and prolonged polar cold. It's inconceivable change that's upon us.
It's incomprehensible loss. And inexpressible grief - or anxiety or depression or despair or numbness already or fear or rage or any other painful emotion. Plus, we're enduring the associated challenges of emotional stress. Challenges like relationship struggles, communication problems, domestic violence, substance abuse, decision-making challenges, and life transitions.
It's "too much too soon too fast" - it's trauma. Climate trauma. Although we might feel hopeless or powerless or even in denial, when we reach out to others, we help ourselves. Healthy connection helps everyone (and our living planet).
Who am I?
I am a rural woman dedicated to women's wellbeing. I work mostly with rural women - a culture with unique experiences, perspectives, and values. And a culture with unique connections to the Land. As a rural woman myself, I cherish my life in Alberta's countryside. But, daily now, I'm experiencing climate impacts and ecological devastation.
Oh, indeed I know the distress of climate change! I feel the pain. The fear. The uncertainty. Accordingly, I've begun reaching out to like-minded others. And I can tell you first-hand that connection helps.
So, as a concerned citizen and established trauma and addictions therapist, I'm now offering the connection and therapy we women need to navigate this trauma, this greatest of traumas (and addictions), this climate crisis. I'm providing the support we require to express our concerns, locate our resources, explore our problems, heal our wounds, and find our path.
That is, I'm offering body-based (somatic) therapy that heals frayed nervous systems. Body-based therapy for body-based trauma - appropriate support. It asks what happened to you (not what's wrong with you!) and listens to your body's knowing as well as your words. It is science-based and informative, gentle and effective. And it leads to important body-based care.
Yes, body-based therapy works! You truly can cope, heal, build relationships, and live a satisfied, resilient, empowered life.
So if you're dealing with trauma symptoms (e.g. angst, guilt/shame, rage, despair) or trauma itself (e.g. wildfire, smoke, drought, wildlife depletion) or relationship conflicts at all, come join me! Come find the wellbeing you need for the life you deserve.
Meanwhile, having embarked on my own climate activities, I now sense a spark. Curiosity. Creativity. Maybe hope? So if - like me - you want to move past distress and despair, call me! You're not alone.
See bottom of page - "WHAT IS (CLIMATE) TRAUMA?" - to better understand climate distress.
MY STORY
This is a story of personal passion. I write it to understand my path from there to here. From "there" - a kid who gut-level got it - to "here," a psychotherapist supporting women amid unimaginable trauma. It's been an unfolding.
But you needn't spend time with this story. To cut to the chase and get to the facts, jump to t MY QUALIFICATIONS and YOUR SESSIONS.
The Balance of Nature
My parents were ecologists - my dad of eminence and my mum with artist eyes. They raised me amid wilderness and academia, with a soul-deep connection to our magical Earth. I was taught to respect the interaction between plants and animals and the place they call home. "The Balance of Nature," my parents said.
And the balance was in trouble, I sensed even then. So it was that I was driven to protect our living and livable planet. No surprise that I became an impassioned ecologist
Sustainable Communities
With time, I came to understand that ecological issues are social issues; ecological problems are social problems; and social problems are best addressed in "community." In other words, it's in community that we can best resolve ecological concerns. Community - that most basic level of society. Indeed, it's in community that problems are real, solutions are attainable, and collective action is effective. And it's in rural communities especially that ecological problems, solutions, and collective action are upfront and personal.
Thus, it was time to dig deeper. I shifted focus from ecology to community, and researched rural community wellbeing - changes, challenges, and hopes. And what I learned was this: historical rural community empowerment was flailing.
Outside opportunities and decisions were undermining community members' power and hope. Direct contact and connection - with the land and each other - was diminishing. Traditional social interaction was decreasing. Negativity was increasing; connections were unravelling; and solidarity was dissolving. Participation was declining. Leadership was lacking. And community members were lamenting, "But what can you do?!"
Disturbing? Yes. If it's in "community" that problems are real, solutions attainable, and collective action effective, then how - in this modern community dysfunction - can rural community members have control over their lives (personal agency)? How can residents identify problems, find solutions, and work effectively together for a sustainable future (collective action)? In short, how is personal agency possible and collective action obtainable in communities today? Healthy community members!
Empowered Community Members
Healthy communities are only as healthy, capable, and empowered as their individual members. Ahah! The future of our life-giving planet requires vibrant, collaborative communities composed of engaged and connected members enjoying healthy, meaningful relationships and satisfying, empowered lives. People connecting to people, communities connecting to communities, and all connecting hands-on to our natural world and systems.
So how can we best protect this livable and living planet? Our planet's healthy future requires our healthy selves. Satisfied, resilient, and empowered lives.
From ecology to community to community wellbeing to individual wellbeing I'd travelled - and it was at psychology and mental health I arrived. I specialized in addiction, trauma, and body-based (somatic) therapy. And always always I believed in the power of women.
Resilient Women
For we women deserve and are entitled to satisfying lives. We are half of the human population. We are the backbone of our communities and families. We are mothers, caregivers, educators, entrepreneurs, labourers. and farmers. Community builders, organizers, and leaders. Problem solvers. Decision makers. We are the conscience. And when we are healthy, connected, and empowered, our communities can be healthy, connected, and empowered. And a sustainable future can be obtained.
I ask, What better way to ensure our children's future than to help women live satisfying and effective lives? What better avenue than to provide women important body-based (somatic) therapy that can . . .
- address root causes, not just symptoms;
- heal shock and childhood trauma;
- cultivate lifelong balance and ease;
- support social connection and healthy relationships;
- find meaning and purpose;
- foster personal agency;
- know hope;
- and, ultimately, build satisfying, resilient, and empowered lives!
A Sustainable Planet
But, now, there is climate change. The addendum to my story. The addiction of all addictions and the trauma of all traumas. That is, the addiction to fossil fuels, deforestation, and a consumptive lifestyle. And the trauma of an unknowable future.
This human-caused crisis is slamming our planet and our communities, neighbours, friends, and families. Our world. Us. Consequently, it's presenting a brand new reason for personal distress. Why? Because this climate crisis is Climate Trauma.
And Always Our Own Body-Based Care
My hope is that each one of us pursues the self-care required amid this escalating trauma. It is vital to the resilience, relationships, and collective action required to continued life on Earth. Body-based (somatic) self-care. And body-based therapy - science-based, life-changing, and resilience-building therapy.
WHAT IS (CLIMATE) TRAUMA?
A traumatic event is an overwhelming and uncontrollable event that triggers our body's survival response. Hmm.
That is, when danger threatens, our body revs up to fend off harm (fight-flight-freeze response) and - when safe again - our body returns to balance. This is the natural flow of our nervous system. This flow brings calm, ease, and self-awareness to our life, allowing us to be present to ourselves, our relationships, and our immediate world. Our nervous system is, we say, "regulated."
But, sometimes, our nervous system is dysregulated. Sometimes, it gets stuck in high gear. That is, sometimes our body is pushed (by the "too much too soon too fast too long" of trauma) past its ability to regulate, and it can't respond appropriately to danger or return to balance. That's when we experience panic attacks, scattered thoughts, and disruptive emotions. That's when we experience - think climate crisis - anxiety, fear, anger, grief, depression, despair . . . even denial.
And that's not weird! In fact, it's anything but weird. It is climate distress. Eco-grief. It is the understood impact of Trauma on our bodies. Climate Trauma.
STILL PROTECTING OUR LIVING AND LIVABLE PLANET - ONE NERVOUS SYSTEM AT A TIME
PHOTO ABOVE
Me - amid the ceaseless deforestation of industrial agriculture
(Near Phantom River Refuge)