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Happy Winter Solstice

December 26, 2017 By LisaW

Lisa and Lefty in a sunny tent

We made it! Happy Winter Solstice! This day is the longest day of this winter’s darkness and from here forward we move toward greater light! Happy dance! This season in the Northern Hemisphere forces us to get in alignment with nature and it can be long, biting, and brutal for our spirits.

Here are some things I’ve been learning to embrace the peace of the season and I’d love to hear your ideas.

First, this year I’m learning to use my voice differently. Many hear telling the truth about our feelings and act as if we are anti or complaining. If anyone knows me I’m a stubborn optimist (required for all good therapists), massive advocate for healing and respecting our planet, and I’m a very grateful woman. It annoys me when I tell the truth about my experience and someone dismisses, shames, or attempts to TEACH gratitude.

I’m learning to tell the truth about how I feel and to ask others to not dismiss my feelings or observations such as when others say, “Oh but we need the water.” To this I say, “Of course we need the water! I love water! But you didn’t ask about climate conditions, you asked how I’m feeling. And Im feeling cold! Damn cold! Mars cold! As a one time resident of beautiful St. George, I’m sharing with you my authentic feeling that I’m COLD and LONGING for light.

I’m sure this annoys me so much because of all the ways I witness our voices get dismissed. So on this I take a stand. When I tell you I am cold and longing for light just hear me and perhaps come sit and have a cup of tea with me and let’s talk about how awesome puffy coats are.

I’m also learning to still take my walks with Lefty and once home I try to remember to drop my shoulders. My shoulders tend to want to lean in and conquer the wind even when I’m inside.

I’m learning to clean out closets and build puzzles and have friends over for Dutch Oven meals that remind me of summer camping.

Mostly I’m learning to be a part of the season. To hibernate. If I long for rest and to be comfy, I take more naps and wrap up in my favorite hoodies, blankets, and wool socks. The best part of the long winter is noticing when and where the light finds it’s way into my heart and home. Lefty is very talented at this as he can be found curled up in a ball wherever the sun shines through. Whenever I spot him doing this I try to drop all tasks and say, “Will you scootch over Buddy? I think I’d like to join you.”

What do you do to find joy, meaning, and motion through this winter season?

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: coping, hope, winter solstice

The Clothesline Project at UVU

March 27, 2016 By LisaW

Please join me and many others at this very special event.

Filed Under: Articles, Events

Best School Year Ever Workshop

August 16, 2014 By LisaW

MY BEST SCHOOL YEAR EVER 2  Click on this link to see announcement for free workshop to help parents and their kids prepare for the school year.

Filed Under: Articles, Book Club Tagged With: ADD, ADHD, school, Taylor Learning Center, workshop

Of Blood and Hope by Samuel Pisar

August 16, 2014 By LisaW

book cover of Samuel Pisar's Of Blood and Hope

We are reading about the youngest known survivor of the holocaust to learn strategies of resiliency.  We are reviewing the second half of the book on September 2nd, 6pm to 7:30pm.  $20/person.  All are welcome to come join our discussion.

 

 

Filed Under: Book Club Tagged With: book club, holocaust, resiliency

The Alchemist : Discussion One

March 14, 2014 By LisaW

A quote by Paulo Coelho from his book The Alchemist

Welcome to the club.

We’re reading Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist” during March and April for the Red Cliff Counseling and Wellness Book Club.

Since this book is such a quick read, I’m going to set up the quickest reading schedule you’ve ever seen. Ready?

  • Read half by end of March
  • Finish by end of April

I told you. I don’t like long winded. And this book is perfect. Short, sweet, and full of interesting ideas.

Just like I like ’em!

Discussion

The quote I pulled (see the picture up there) comes early in the book and is one of the central ideas of “The Alchemist.” It’s about living your Personal Legend no matter your age.

I’m interested to hear your thoughts on Personal Legends, but first, a question deserving an honest answer.

The old man tells the boy about the world’s greatest lie and it’s this. That, at a certain point, we lose control of what’s happening to us and our lives become controlled by fate.

What do you think? Is this a lie or a truth? How much does fate control us?

There isn’t a simple answer to this. Philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, and all sorts of thinkers have been wondering the same thing for a long time.

Longer than even the Internet has been around. Hard to imagine, right?

How do you think this relates to your Personal Legend? Can we exercise free will and pursue or deny our own Personal Legends? And what about luck? How does luck figure in to our dreams?

Personally, this book has been challenging many of my beliefs, so I’m quite enjoying it. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

Tell me in the comments.

–Mike

Filed Under: Book Club Tagged With: book club, good reads, Paulo Coelho, reading, The Alchemist

Our Next Book – March 2014

February 28, 2014 By LisaW

A book cover for the book The Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoIf you’re interested in joining our book club, here’s how it’s going to work:

  1. We’ll start reading the book around the beginning of March and finish by the end of April (2 months).
  2. Every week, we’ll post discussion questions about concepts from the book on this SHINY NEW BLOG!
  3. We’ll have two face-to-face meetings the last week of March and the last week of April.
  4. The face-to-face meeting in March will be a chance for us to set some goals and work on concepts from the book. The April meeting will be a followup to see how we did or to discuss what’s slowing us down.
  5. The face-to-face meetings will run about 2 hours and will cost $20 per person. We’ll provide snacks and accountability.
  6. You don’t have to attend the face-to-face meetings to be a part of the book club, but we’d love to meet all of you and it’s an incredible value.

You can click on the book to read more about it.

Oh, and we’ll buy books for the first 5 people to sign up!

So go, sign up!

A button to sign up for the Red Cliff Counseling and Wellness book club

Filed Under: Book Club Tagged With: book club, good reads, Paulo Coelho, reading, The Alchemist

Individual Counseling

November 10, 2013 By LisaW

We provide individual counseling for adults, adolescents, and children.

Emotional difficulties can lead to a decrease in day to day well being at home, work, or in the school environment. Our therapy process assists in understanding goals, learning about stressors, getting to know oneself better, and ultimately establishing more effective coping strategies.

Therapy fosters a healthy climate to understand the past and promote ways to achieve goals and developmental tasks.

Through therapy you can have better clarity about important relationships and learn ways to gain peace and joy within yourself and with loved ones.

If you are worried about your adolescent or child, you are invited to speak with one of our therapists so we can provide suggestions on how to present therapy to your teen or child.

Filed Under: Services

Trauma Treatment: Surviving to Thriving

November 8, 2013 By LisaW

You can find peace, joy, and freedom from the pain of trauma. One step at a time. One decision at a time. It just takes a stubborn client and a stubborn therapist who insist on healing.

Filed Under: Services

LGBT Support

November 8, 2013 By LisaW

Red Cliff Counseling and Wellness provides support and counseling for the LGBT Community. Please contact us to learn more about our counseling programs.

Filed Under: Services

Grief & Loss Services

November 7, 2013 By LisaW

Grief may be experienced in response to physical losses, such as death, or may be in response to symbolic or social losses such as divorce or loss of a job. The grief experience can be affected by one’s background and support system. Taking care of yourself and utilizing the support of friends and family can help you cope with your grief experience.

There is no right way to grieve. It is an individual process and a natural part of life. Life won’t be the same after a loss, but experiencing your grief will allow you to adjust to life after the loss. Grief lasts as long as it takes to adjust to the changes in your life. It can be for months, or even for years. Grief has no timetable; thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and other responses may come and go.

Grief in the Workplace

Grief affects all of us at different times and places in our lives. The workplace is not untouched by grief. Grief in the workplace occurs when you or a co-worker has experienced a personal loss or a workplace loss such as a death. It is important to remember that everyone grieves differently and everyone needs time to adjust to the loss.

Anticipatory Grief

When a person or family is expecting death, it is normal to begin to anticipate how one will react and cope when that person eventually dies. Many family members will try to envision their life without that person and mentally play out possibly scenarios, which may include grief reactions and ways they will mourn and adjust to life after the death. Anticipatory grieving includes feelings of loss, concern for the dying person, balancing conflicting demands and preparing for death. Anticipatory grief is a natural process that enables the family more time to slowly prepare for the reality of the loss. People are often able to complete unfinished conversations with the dying person (for example, saying “goodbye,” “I love you,” or “I forgive you”).

Sudden Loss

Grief experienced after a sudden, unexpected death is different from anticipatory grief. Sudden, unexpected loss may exceed the coping abilities of a person, which often results in feelings of being overwhelmed and/or unable to function. Even though one may be able to acknowledge that loss has occurred, the full impact of loss may take much longer to fully comprehend than in the case of an expected loss.

Complicated Grief

There are times when grief does not progress as expected; the intensity and duration of grief is prolonged and interferes with a person’s ability to function. Symptoms of depression and anxiety may be prevalent and prolonged. Thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and reactions may seem to persist over long periods of time with little improvement. In these situations, it is important to seek help from a qualified professional who can assess your individual situation and make recommendations that will help. Complicated grief typically does not subside on its own.

Red Cliff Counseling and Wellness provides grief, bereavement, and loss counseling for individuals, couples, and families. We also specializes in supporting employers/employees coping with loss. We provide memorial and bereavement services as well as consultations for creating healing trays or sanctuaries.

Contact us today for more information.

Filed Under: Services

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Contact Info

1186 E 4600 S Harrison Blvd
Suite 200
Ogden, UT 84403
801-725-8431
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lisa.rccw@gmail.com

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