Makeda Naeem

What is EMDR Therapy & How Does it Help? EMDR works to ease your nervous system, release you from painful emotions/memories of the past, and create a process for healing in counseling.

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In part 2 of Bringing It to Life #6, Amanda Smith shares strategies for self-care, navigating crises, and promoting recovery for families dealing with BPD. Bill and Megan discuss the challenges these families face, emphasizing the importance of education, family support, and self-care. Amanda highlights creating safety plans to manage fear and crisis situations effectively. https://loom.ly/Q2cxNEI

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A Values Approach to Addiction: How values are critical for recovery and drug policy reform https://lnkd.in/eryFN-cU The repudiation of Democrats was an expression of divergent values by significant groups of previously democratic supporters. How can this expression and resurgence of values be incorporated into drug policy reform and harm reduction? Positive Values in Recovery and Drug Policy Reform The Life Process Program is values oriented. It considers that (a) people in many varied circumstances agree on positive values, (b) that people who become addicted are often violating key values they hold for themselves, (c) that this discrepancy—rather than being used judgmentally, as a cudgel — is an important self-directed source for recovery, (d) the role of institutions and communities is to support people in their aspiring to express positive values. Examples of these positive values abound. They include family, responsibility, achievement, joyousness, helpfulness, community, etc. We all know what these are. Indeed, it is remarkable the extent to which people share values. Society’s and drug policy’s roles in encouraging such values are critical in several ways: (1)positive values are not encouraged by condemnation and vituperation, but rather through nonjudgmental support that can rekindle the individual’s own desires and belief in their ability to lead a positive life; (2)progressive programs in their disease variations undermine the very values they should be encouraging through insisting that people are congenitally incapable of expressing and achieving these values — similar to telling a child they are “retarded.” Is Harm Reduction Values Oriented? The Life Process Program supports harm reduction by changing the focus of “recovery” from abstinence and instead shifting to people’s functioning positively in their environments. In many addiction cases this may mean relieving the person of guilt for substance use or a behavior (e.g., pornography, painkillers, gaming) and instead encouraging realistic appraisals of their needs so that they can subsume the behavior within an overall positive lifestyle. In other words there is a critical space between guilt tripping people and nurturing their best selves.

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Dr.Forrest Hamer is an African American psychoanalyst who also writes his own poetry. He uses poetry to share his personal experiences and talk about complexities of identity, family, and history. He uses poetry as an opportunity for people to listen and gage into their own internal complexities while also being communally attuned. #poetry #healing #psychology #therapy #mentalhealth #wovetherapy #intersectionalcounseling https://lnkd.in/dv6AQHTG

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CDC Data Show Improvements in Youth Mental Health but Need for Safer and More Supportive Schools August 6, 2024 – New CDC data released today highlight improvements in mental health among some United States teens, including decreases in the percentage of students feeling persistently sad or hopeless. However, the report also highlights concerning increases in the percentage of teens reporting experiences of school-based violence and absenteeism due to safety concerns. https://lnkd.in/g4HSm4nT

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Here's my most recent article in Counselling Directory with some practical ways you can support your teen when they're feeling anxious 👇👇

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Gender-Based Violence Matters to Maternal Mental Health NCDVTMH Contributes Critical Insights to Maternal Mental Health National Strategy and Report to Congress: Urges Recognition of Gender-Based Violence as a Key Factor Early findings paint a troubling picture: pregnant and parenting survivors of domestic violence face a heightened risk of experiencing forms of abuse that weaponize the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use. This includes abusive tactics that deliberately reduce their access to essential resources and leverage claims about mental health or substance use to mobilize child welfare and legal systems against them. This creates devastating consequences for the safety and well-being of both domestic violence survivors and their children. Key initial findings on maternal mental health from NCDVTMH’s survey of over 18,000 domestic violence survivors include: *33% of the 18,000+ respondents were pregnant at the time their partner abused them. *83% of respondents who were pregnant at the time of abuse reported that their partner used abusive tactics that leveraged mental health stigma against them with powerful systems (e.g., child welfare, legal systems, housing) or restricted their access to mental health services. *88% of respondents who were pregnant at the time of abuse and sought help for substance use reported that their partner used abusive tactics that leveraged substance use stigma against them with powerful systems (e.g., child welfare, legal systems, housing) or restricted their access to substance use supports and services. *High rates of abusive tactics among survivors who were pregnant at the time of abuse and sought help for mental health or substance use: Those seeking mental health support said that their mental health concerns were used against them to restrict their access to mental health supports (60%), housing (63%), as well as to jeopardize child custody (62%) and get them in legal trouble (58%). *Those seeking substance use support said that their substance use concerns were used against them to restrict their access to substance use services (68%), housing (72%), as well as to jeopardize child custody (72%) and get them in legal trouble (66%). *78% of respondents pregnant at the time of abuse reported that an abusive partner made false claims about them having challenges with mental health and/or substance use. These types of false claims are often weaponized against survivors in their interactions with systems, such as child welfare and family court, as well as within criminal legal proceedings.

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Child trauma can impact your health, relationships, and career, leaving you feeling disconnected from others. But remember, healing is possible! Don’t hold it in—build healthy relationships and learn coping strategies to start your journey to recovery. You deserve to heal and thrive. We're here to listen and help. Let's talk. We care. #ChildTrauma #HealingJourney #EmotionalHealing #MentalHealthMatters #TraumaRecovery #SupportSystem #HealthyRelationships #CopingStrategies #YouAreNotAlone #MentalWellbeing #SelfCare #TherapySupport #OvercomingTrauma #HealingIsPossible #LetsTalk #PriaWarrick #PriaWarrickFinishingAcademy

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This week, our Mosaic of Healing focuses on Trauma-Informed Approaches. A trauma-informed perspective is like viewing our mosaic through a lens that reveals the hidden impacts of trauma on every piece. It recognizes that trauma affects not just survivors but also our organizations, communities, and ourselves. Key aspects of a trauma-informed approach: 🔹 Normalizes human responses to trauma 🔹 Emphasizes the quality of interactions in the healing process 🔹 Guides how to reduce further traumatization at all organizational levels 🔹 Views trauma responses as adaptations to being under siege 🔹 Creates environments that support resilience and well-being 🔹 Acknowledges the need to support staff and create opportunities for growth What has helped you as you’ve navigated trauma? Share using #MosaicOfHealing #PiecingTogetherHope

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Learn more about seeing Dr. Mēgan as your counselor through a free consultation. She specializes in work with High Achieving Black Women and their partners, especially those who are therapists or helpers. Learn more about her practice, The Volition Collective here: https://loom.ly/xmd1R_I

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