Self Sooth

The holidays are coming up and this could mean increased pressure, stress, and anxiety. It is always nice to have a few tools to use to help comfort and nurture yourself in this and other busy and hectic times of the year.

A great tool to help with relaxation and self nurturing is the skill Self Soothe (this skill is derived from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy). You will need to use your senses by themselves or together. Here are some ideas of ways you may want to implement this skill.

Self Soothe Skills

• Vision

Look at pictures that relax you or make you feel happy, go for a walk or sit somewhere and enjoy the scenery, draw, gaze at the stars, and read inspirational quotes.

• Hearing

Listen to music, listen to relaxing sounds (rain, waves, relaxation CDs), call a friend, sing a song, listen to the birds, and listen to your favorite radio station.

• Smell

Aromatherapy oils, light a candle, bake cookies, use perfume or body spray.

• Taste

Chew gum, drink tea or hot chocolate, eat your favorite fruit, have a piece of chocolate.

• Touch

Snuggle in a soft blanket, take a bubble bath, take a warm shower, pet your dog, cat, or other animal.

The important part of this is that everyone is different so what may soothe or help one person relax may be very different than what help someone else. Find what works for you and go with it. It is important to take good care of ourselves and try to have those little moments that ensure we are being our own best friend, because that is one person we will always have – Ourselves.

If you are interested in hearing more about Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Rehabilitative Health Services offers two different groups taught by Cindy Quinn, LCSW. Contact RHS at 523-5319 for more information. 

Are you living your life in the present?

     Do you ever notice that you are lost in your thoughts?  You could be sitting in traffic but in your mind you are really already home wondering what you need to make for dinner?  Living in the present moment is a challenge that we seem to all be faced with in today’s society and culture.  There is always something that we need to be doing or should be doing. We are bombarded by social media, external stimuli, and our phones.  Mindfulness is a powerful tool that can be used in many ways.  Mindfulness can lower anxiety and empower us by living in the present moment.  In reality that is the only moment that we truly have any control over.

     What are ways that we can practice mindfulness?  Take a moment and think of times throughout the day that you are "lost in thought" or activities that increase racing thoughts or worries that we might have.  Make a conscious effort to be present in this moment.  Start simply by using all five of your senses.  Notice your surroundings and especially pay close attention to your breathing.  Notice how you feel and then choose where you want to proceed from there.  Do this exercise a couple of times a day and track your feelings.  Being present in life can increase our happiness and decrease our anxiety.  It helps put us back in the drivers seat of our life.

April Moedl LCSW

Forgiveness

“People who are inflicting harm on others really and truly do not know what they are doing to others.  They are always acting out of there own feelings of anger and hatred.  What they direct at others says nothing about the others. However, it says something very powerful about them.  …  Those people who have behaved toward you in any way which you find hurtful really and truly do not know what they have done to you… They are sending out their disharmony toward you because that is what they have to give away.  Hating them for their behavior is akin to hating moss for growing on a tree and destroying the appearance of the tree.  The moss only knows how to be moss, and regardless of your opinion about how it should not be behaving in such moss like ways, it will still continue doing all that it knows how to do.” 

We can not judge ourselves based off of what others say about us.  All that does is tell us who they are and what they think.  We need to be judged off of our own actions and behaviors.  Forgiveness is not saying that what they have done is okay or that we agree with it, it is simply the fact that we are no longer waiting for them to fix what they have broken because we understand they can’t. They have given what they have to give and it is up to us to move on, protected ourselves, find the skills that we need to be okay, and stop letting them hurt us.  We are not going to spend more time waiting for them to be something that they are not.  We can’t expected moss to produce beautiful flowers anymore then we can expected angry and hatefully people to give us love and strength.

Kristy Goodson, LMSW

 

*Forgiveness the healing gift we give ourselves by Cheryl Carson  (pg 54)

Keeping Children Safe

            Child sexual abuse is far more prevalent than most people realize. Nearly 1 in 10 children will become a victim of sexual abuse before turning 18 and our little community within Southeastern Idaho is not exempt from this prevalence. This number might not seem too high, but consider that nearly 60% of sexually abused children never even disclose their abuse. Currently it is estimated that only 38% of sexually abused children will come forward with their abuse to a trusted adult; therefore, it is hard to estimate how prevalent child sexual abuse truly is when merely looking at the current data available to the public.

            I have found that most parents are shocked to learn about the risk factors for child sexual abuse and are willing to do their best to keep their children safe. There is often a misconception about who can be trusted around children versus who cannot be trusted around children. 90% of child sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator. This means that only 10% of child sexual abuse cases occur with a stranger that the victim is not affiliated with. Abusers will look for opportunities to get close to children and will often groom the parents before gaining the chance to groom and perpetrate on a child. This means that abusers are often neighbors, family friends and family members, affiliates through church, and affiliates through recreational activities.

I find that it is vital that parents learn about these dangers, so that they can be more aware of just how easy it is for a perpetrator to gain access to children. The next step is to minimize opportunities whenever possible. It is important to recognize the grooming process and how quickly it can happen. Parents need to have open dialogue with their children about the dangers of sexual predators, because sexual abuse is often secretive in nature. If a parent or caregiver is uncomfortable talking about sexual abuse, their children will most likely struggle to come forward if abuse has occurred. Parents need to also watch for behavioral and emotional changes within a child. Children of sexual abuse will start to exhibit signs of anxiety, fear, depression, and have unexplained rebellion and anger. Lastly, it is most important to listen when a child comes forward with sexual abuse along with getting in touch with local law enforcement to report the abuse.

The therapy staff at Rehabilitative Health Services is committed to keeping children safe and teaching parents about the dangers of child sexual abuse. We are a trauma informed therapy staff and have specialty training to work with victims of child sexual abuse and childhood trauma. To learn more about our psychotherapy services please contact our office at 208-523-5319.

Stephanie Shirley- LMSW

Sources:

http://www.d2l.org/site/c.4dICIJOkGcISE/b.9314267/k.3928/Child_Sexual_Abuse_Statistics.htm

Meet Our Staff - Blake

Introducing Blake Bingham, ACT Team Supervisor and Board Member

Blake graduated from Southern Utah University with a Bachelors in Sociology.  He worked as a security guard for local businesses in Cedar City and as a Counselor in a boys home while going to college.  He is currently the Program Manager of Impact and the ACT Team Supervisor and an Rehabilitative Health Services Board Member.

 Where did you grow up? (Family, schools, town)

* I grew up in a small town in Utah called Altamont.  Graduated college from Southern Utah University.

What does your currently family look like? (children, spouse, grandchildren)

* I’m married to my wife, Faith.  We have 2 boys ages 15, 12 and 2 girls 9, and a 1.5 year old.

Who is someone you admire professionally?  

*My grandfathers.  Both were dedicated to doing the best at their chosen professions.  One was a cattle rancher and the other a Linesman for an electric company.   I admired their work ethic which taught me the benefits of working hard and doing the best at what you choose to do. 

What do you do in your free time?

*Hang out with my family and eat. 

What is one thing you are most proud of?

*Being able to provide for my family. 

Biggest accomplishment?

*Being married and having a family. 

What are your retirement goals?

*Not to have to go back to work as a door greater at Walmart. 

What was your most memorable vacation? 

*When I was a teenager, my family went to Disneyland and Sea World.  Even though our van didn’t have air conditioning going through the Mojave Desert during the middle of summer, it was still a great trip. 

If money was not an option where would you travel? 

*I would go to the French Riviera and Monte Carlo Monaco. 

Thank you Blake for all you do for RHS!

FASI (Financial Advocates of Southeast Idaho)

Toni Hunt

Representative Payee

FASI (Financial Advocates of Southeast Idaho) started in 1999, a year after RHS opened. This program developed after learning that some RHS clients needed assistance managing their finances. Toni Hunt helped build the foundation to the FASI program, and is now RHS’s Representative Payee. In 2005, Social Security approached FASI and asked that they take on some of their clients that needed help to budget their income. Currently, FASI works with Mental Health Court, the ACT team through Health and Welfare Adult Mental Health, and 7 to 8 other agencies serving over 150 clients. Recently, FASI expanded their services to the Veteran’s Affairs program (VA). In 2011, FASI became a nonprofit organization, and in 2014 they changed their name from Financial Services for Independence to Financial Advocates of Southeast Idaho.

FASI provides payee services for people that are struggling to manage their Social Security or VA benefits and ensure all rules and regulations for Social Security and the VA are being met and followed. FASI tracks changes in moving, marriage or divorce, any extra earned or unearned income, hospital stays, and any jail time served. It is important for clients to know that if there are changes within their lives they will need to inform their Representative Payee immediately. This is to ensure that all expenses are addressed and the remainder of the funds are allocated towards necessities. FASI offers education and financial advice to their qualifying clients.

To qualify for payee services, you must first set up an appointment for a free consultation with one of FASI’s trained payee representatives. Once the preliminary paperwork is completed it is sent to Social Security or the VA to be reviewed. Ultimately, eligibility is determined by Social Security or the VA. Social Security’s goal is to verify that payee services are the right fit for their client. This is a one-time obligation the client must go through. If a client has received payee services in the past they are authorized for immediate payee assistance. Once a client is approved for payee services, they are regularly contacted via their Case Worker or an individual at FASI to inform them the status of their finances and gather other important updates. FASI works to facilitate a month to month budget helping the client plan ahead and reduce anxiety caused by financial difficulties.

Toni Hunt describes FASI as a program that does not take away financial rights, but helps individuals to develop organizational skills and learn to make a budget and stick to it. FASI is designed to help clients feel comfortable with their finances and support independence. It can also be a great middle ground to avoid someone taking advantage of Social Security or VA benefits. Toni believes that, “Finances are a big indicator of how someone is doing mentally.” If your finances are not being monitored then it can become difficult to afford necessities such as medication or other basic needs. This in return can impede progress and recovery.  When your finances are controlled and budgeted adequately, “It helps to alleviate a big downward spiral.” Toni has been the chief payee representative since 1999. She leads a small team consisting of Neil Bingham, Faith Bingham and Itzia Garcia. Toni enjoys helping others and finds joy in being able to calm someone down when they are upset or angry about their financial situation.

FASI is a nonprofit organization and is always accepting new clients. To schedule a consultation please contact Itzia at 208.523.1024 or stop in to meet the FASI team at 1675 Curlew Dr. Ammon, ID 83406. 

Meet Our Staff - Heather

Rehabilitative Health Services would like to introduce Heather Moore, RN Supervisor and Board Member.

I received my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Idaho State University in 2008.  Nursing is a second career for me as I used to work mostly in business before returning to college.  I worked for Melaleuca, Inc. for nearly a decade. I worked as a Special Event Planner and Administrative Assistant to many Vice Presidents and the President.  I had to travel a lot for Melaleuca, and I loved it very much.  I got to explore many places in the United States and Canada.  I left Melaleuca to spend more time with my family. In 1999, I became co-owner of Classic Wood Flooring, LLC with my husband.  I currently work as the Nurse Supervisor and sit on the board of directors at Rehabilitative Health Services.  I love working for RHS because it is a great company that cares for their employees. I have amazing co-workers and I get the opportunity to incorporate my business and improve my nursing skills.     

Where did you grow up? (Family, schools, town)

*I grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho with my parents, two sisters and a brother and graduated from Idaho Falls High School (Go TIGERS!).  I later graduated from Idaho State University with my Bachelors of Science in Nursing. 

What does your currently family look like? (children, spouse, grandchildren)

*I have been married to my high school guy since 1991.  We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary in April of 2016.  We have three wonderful and amazing children; Kyle (23), Sami (21), and Justin (15). 

Who is someone you admire professionally?

*I have always admired Katie Couric.  When I grow up, I would like to be an anchor on The Today Show and emulate her style of delivering the news.

What do you do in your free time?

*I love to spend time with my family.  We do many things together such as camping, fishing, dirt bike riding, bicycling, yoga, running, eating and traveling. 

What is one thing you are most proud of?

*My children

Biggest accomplishment?  

*No idea.  Being somewhat of a functioning person in our society is admirable. 

What is one professional skill you wish you had that you don’t? 

*Journalism

What are your retirement goals?

*I would like to travel A LOT when I retire and live with my spouse in St. George. 

What is one moto you live your life by?  

*"A champion is someone who gets up even when she can't" – Unknown

What was your most memorable vacation?

*Cabos San Lucas

If money was not an option where would you travel?

*Germany.  I use to live there.