11: Mind-Body Connection

Mind-Body Connection

Ashley’s guest today is Patti Davis, a licensed mental health counsellor.  She uses adventure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical family systems, Gestalt and play therapy with people of all ages to help them overcome issues such as grief, low self-esteem, stress, anxiety, depression and more. Patti is an expert in emotional health and the mind-body connection.  Her path to her current calling took years but she is grateful for the experiences she had before going to graduate school in counselling, because in her maturity and insight she is able to witness what people are going through with compassion.

Among older people therapy is still seen as shameful and a last resort, but to the younger generation, seeing a counsellor is becoming more and more acceptable.  Patti likes to see therapy as preventive, a mental and emotional exercise to keep the mind and emotions healthy, just as physical exercise keeps the body healthy.  Everyone goes to the dentist, everyone goes to the optometrist, and everyone could benefit from going to a mental health counsellor.  When depression is lifted we become more active and social.

Ashley and Patti Davis discuss therapy for families and children, including  DBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, recognized as the gold standard psychological treatment for certain populations.

Here’s What You’ll Discover:

• The awareness of a problem is a huge first step
• Medications are like a cast—you put a cast on the broken arm, but eventually, with healing, the cast comes off.
• The best way to find a therapist is to get recommendations from your friends.
• DBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, is designed to help people change patterns of behavior.

Health AH-HA Moment:

Your body will speak when your mind cannot.

Your Challenge:

Picture yourself on your balcony.  You’re watching your life in front of you.  Take the personalization out of it and see what you notice.  Are you in alignment with your values? Why is that feeling showing up?  Ask yourself these questions:

What is the threat?  What am I scared of?

What is missing?  What am I not seeing or saying?

Resource:

patti.davis@comcast.net

206-321-5003

Look Patti Davis up under Psychology Today