I was standing outside with my feet planted into the ground to look up and see the beauty of the night. Instantaneously I felt a sense of calm, balance, and appreciation for life and the beauty of nature.
Looking back on this photo, I am transported back to this feeling and reminded of my group practice, Storm Haven’s, tagline “Seek refuge and support from the storms of life.”
While life can bring great joys and majestic wonders, as humans, life can also bring great challenges that we wish we could escape, avoid, or push away. Although, when we do…we find it may only makes the difficulties worse and the sorrows heightened. Shadows of despair may be cast into what joy we previously had. Like a lonely ship at sea 🌊 enveloped by the storms of life desperately wanting to get to the safety of the cove.
Storm Haven’s tagline was born from this experience…from the pain (storms) I witnessed so many of my clients within and the relief that came by two humans discussing, processing, and finding a way forward—with tools that allowed them to develop a new relationship with the challenges of life and discovering new ways of responding.
This is my mission. May everyone know what it means to live the intentional and well lived life and not miss the beauty right outside our door ❤️
When you find yourself upset by a situation or person, ask yourself if the thoughts, feelings, or actions from the situation or person is yours to carry.
With this, it could be helpful to visualize a bag (or an assortment of bags) during these times.
Observe the bag—it’s shape, it’s color, it’s size, it’s contents, it’s weight—and decide whether you wish to pick it up and hold it…or not.
This comes with the parallel awareness and realization that—like airport baggage/luggage—we can only carry/handle so much before being bogged down and overall the contents of the bags preventing us from getting to our gates and ultimately to our desired destination within the optimal experience (i.e., the destination that is aligned with our life values and goals).
A question to ask as you approach a new bag…is this mine to carry? Is this something I choose to carry?
We can often become anxious in anticipation of the future or sad about the past. It can be helpful when we are able to live in the present.
If this sounds like you, the following activity may be useful. If you would like to try it out, write “future” on a piece of paper. Under “future” write “present” and under “present” write “past.”
When you feel caught up in thoughts or emotions, slide/move your finger up or down the page to determine where you are. Are you in the past, present, or future?
After a few times you can move the written out page to a visual in your mind. This can be a useful strategy as you move about your day in order to determine your current mindset. If you find you are in the future or past, you can then ask yourself what you may be able to do to move back to the present. This is an intentionally lived and mindful life, a life within the present.
Part of being human is the experience of emotion. Emotions serve to communicate to us when things are going well and not so well so that we may formulate a response. With this, the feeling of numbness may be something everyone experiences from time to time—from feeling overwhelmed by a life stressor to some form of trauma. Typically the feeling is temporary and allows us mental and emotional processes of shutting out feelings in order to move through something difficult. However, for some, this feeling of emotional numbness can linger for a duration—often serving as a protective defense that guards us from further emotional or physical pain. While this shield of numbness can serve us well in the short-term, such as to get through a life stressor; when it stays for a duration, it can have long-lasting consequences such as the inability to problem solve, experience pleasure and other positive emotions, engage in life, and be the whole person we can choose to be.
Numbness can show up differently for each person. The cause could be wide such as symptoms associated with PTSD, Grief/ Loss, Depression, Anxiety, Abuse/ Neglect, and/ or a whole array of past life experiences that have now come to haunt your present. When feelings of numbness linger or stay for the duration and exceed our ability to cope, it may be time to consult a mental health professional to support in unpacking and processing within the causation of the emotional numbness.
Treatment may include a Therapist (such as myself) who specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Work, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and other treatment approaches.
You cannot always control the waves but You can learn to surf the storms of life.
ARE YOU STRIVING FOR MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS?
Do you often find yourself feeling tense, anxious, and misunderstood, especially in the context of neurodiversity? Does your mind frequently race, leaving you trapped in a never-ending cycle that’s challenging to escape?
There may be days when you struggle, yearning to withdraw, avoid your thoughts and emotions, yet somehow manage to fulfill your daily obligations – all the while, sensing that you’re not fully present.
Throughout our journey, we all encounter moments of feeling stuck, and for those navigating the unique landscape of neurodiversity, these challenges can be even more pronounced. Whether it’s the overwhelming grip of anxiety, transitions, or the intricacies of neurodiversity, it can be tough to find your way back to your life’s path and purpose. Imagine what it would be like to break free from this cycle, to regain your momentum, and start embracing life to its fullest potential, all while embracing and celebrating your neurodiverse identity!
The catalyst of change is possible through the alchemy of a transformational relationship found within therapy.
Learn to unlock your whole self and live a full, intentional, and meaningful life—even when challenges threaten to take you down and send you into a spiral of despair. At Storm Haven, we have you. All you have to do is decide to begin 🙂
MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS
Jennifer Hyatt, who established her practice in 2017, has now evolved into Storm Haven, Counseling and Wellness as of October 2022. Welcome to the new and transformed Storm Haven! 🌊
We are not your typical therapists. We are authentic and down to earth. We do real.
Therapy is our jam and passing on the secrets to a well lived life is our passion. We weave the beauty of balance within the integration of healing arts and science infused with compassion and empowerment.
SUPPORT, HUMANS I WILL
As integrative therapists, we provide support for clients who are stuck in the vortex of spiraling 🌀 anxiety, stuck in the depths of depression 🕳️ and/or anyone looking to level ⬆️ within living their best life 😊 and would love 💛 a fellow traveler 🧳 to engage this path 🗺️ .
Are you a deep thinker, rebel-minded, out side the box thinking, lover of learning, knowledge absorber, have humor with a side of healthy sarcasm, not afraid to get a little woo-woo, authentic human being who is striving to live optimally?
Clients that we join on their journey’s include Deep Thinkers, Book Authors and Book Lovers alike, Witchy Individuals who love Magick, Tarot Lovers, Entrepreneurs, Creatives, Striving for a more Optimal Life Individuals, Tech and Syfy /Sci-Fi Nerds, Knowledge Absorbers, Marvel Fans, Comic Book Geeks, RPG & TTRPG Enthusiasts, Life Lovers, Empaths, Highly Sensitive People, Individuals within Military Families, Seekers of Self-Actualization, LGBTQIA+ Community, Neurodivergents, and other Authentic or aspiring Authentic Human Beings who are doing the best they can within this life.
WORDS TO LIVE BY
We’re all Stories, in the End. Just Make it a Good One, Eh? The Doctor
We are eager to meet you and excited to share in your journey!
Jennifer Hyatt 