In this presentation, bestselling author Ann Dowsett Johnston discussed how writing can be a powerful tool in recovery. Ann believes writing is a process of discovery and at the heart of good writing is finding your voice. She guided us to explore how to tell the stories that are deep within us and how doing this helps our recovery.

During this engaging session of #MentalHealthMonday, Ann helped us to understand:

• Writing as a tool of recovery
• How to excavate stories and give a voice to our secrets
• How to use your senses and silence your inner critic

In this presentation, Sarah Benton of Aware Recovery Care will discuss how pandemic-related increases in mental health and addiction concerns have impacted individuals in terms of their physical, behavioral, emotional, cognitive and social wellness. She will guide us to explore the effects of stress as well as the importance of self-care in our recovery journeys and teach us how to navigate our own personal challenges following this unprecedented time.

During this engaging session of #MentalHealthMonday, Sarah will help us to understand:

• Social isolation, physical distance and re-opening stress factors
• Types of stress
• Coping strategies
• Creating balance

Erica Hornthal invites us to rediscover our mind-body connection, stop feeling stuck, and improve our mental health through simple movement practices. Licensed clinical professional counselor, dance/movement therapist, author, advocate and practitioner, Erica will discuss her methodologies and techniques in regard to dance/movement as a healing modality. She believes dance/movement therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the mind-body connection – a particular awareness that puts the body in the driver’s seat rather than relying solely on the mind. Join Erica in redefining what movement is and how it plays a role in our lives. Harness the power of dance/movement in creating a more expansive life and experience “the wonder and sheer magic that unfolds when claiming space in this world by showing up in your body.”

In this session of #MentalHealthMonday, Erica Hornthal will guide us to explore:

• Redefining movement – what is movement? How do we move? With focus on movement rather than “exercising” – recognizing our own relationship with movement, expanding range and capacity and interpreting our body’s unique language
• The benefits of movement for mental health – how moving more, is feeling more – how movement can shape interactions, relationships and behaviors by dispelling emotional blockages and creating space for more empathy and resilience
• Using movement to support mental health – healing ourselves through embodied movement/dance journeys, action-based and scientifically informed strategies to amplify the wellbeing of body, mind, emotions, & spirit

SHE RECOVERS Coach Aubrey invites us to consider how we may wish to navigate life in recovery in 2023 and set intentions to last for years to come. We’ll walk through our most basic values and our purpose in choosing recovery, and explore developing the language and practices we need to stay on track. Sharing about her own experience with anxiety, Aubrey demonstrates how we can use recovery management tools such as the ‘My Recovery Patchwork‘ Workbook to set any direction and stay the course, even when all we can see ahead is the very next thing.

During this session of #MentalHealthMonday, Aubrey of Wildcat Recovery Coaching will help us learn:

• How values form the guardrails that keep us oriented on our own unique path
• How the infusion of intention to daily life can boost confidence and motivation
• How language is powerful and self-talk can set the whole course of our journey

• What adverse childhood experiences are

• How adverse childhood experiences can impact us as adults

• How and why the brain changes as the result of adverse childhood experiences

• The biggest mental health risks for adults with high ACE scores

• Why individuals who suffer from lasting effects of ACEs may turn to substances such as drugs or alcohol to self-medicate and/or manage their emotional pain

• How to understand, process and recover from adverse childhood experiences

• Why connection, a sense of belonging and the support of a trauma-informed therapist may be the greatest contributors to healing from adverse childhood experiences