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This is near Wolf Creek in Montana

Welcome to Harnessing Serenity Together: Anxiety Management  

 Usually, anxiety doesn't solely affect one individual; often, both partners in a relationship feel its impact. The sessions are tailored for couples, aiming to address anxiety collaboratively and strengthen their bond. Through this experience, you'll gain practical tools from both Eastern and Western traditions to manage and overcome anxiety's challenges. 

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My focus for couples is not your typical couples counseling. Instead, I offer another unique approach: It is possible for couples to become closer as they learn how to manage anxiety. During our sessions, we will explore the concept of anxiety and its effects on individuals and relationships and utilize the wisdom of philosophy to approach mental wellness. I strive to create a safe and nurturing environment where you can learn how to manage anxiety holistically. 

Welcome to Harnessing Serenity Together: Anxiety Management  

 

 

 

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The Systematic Benefits of Couple's Therapy in Anxiety Management


In the world of psychological well-being, addressing anxiety is not just an individual journey but often a shared one, especially within the context of a relationship. Systematic evidence increasingly supports the notion that for couples in healthy relationships, joint therapy sessions can be more effective than individual therapy in managing anxiety.

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The Power of Partnership
At its core,  for anxiety management leverages the strength of the relationship itself. In a healthy relationship, partners often understand each other's struggles intimately. This understanding creates a supportive environment where anxieties can be addressed openly and constructively. When both partners are engaged in therapy, they learn not just to cope with their own anxiety, but also to recognize and respond to their partner's stressors.

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A Shared Journey Towards Healing
The systematic approach looks at the relationship as a dynamic system. Each partner's anxieties and reactions affect the other, and these interactions play a crucial role in the overall emotional health of the couple. By addressing these issues together, therapy can help both individuals understand the interplay of their emotions and behaviors, leading to more effective strategies for managing anxiety.

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Enhanced Communication and Empathy
It encourages partners to express their feelings and anxieties in a safe space, leading to a deeper understanding of each other's experiences. This empathetic communication is vital in reducing the feelings of isolation often associated with anxiety and in building a stronger, more supportive relationship.

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A Systemic Perspective on Solutions
From a systemic perspective, the solutions and coping mechanisms developed in couple's therapy are often more sustainable and effective. They are not just tailored to the individuals, but also to the dynamics of their relationship. This approach ensures that the strategies are practical and applicable in the daily lives of the couple, enhancing their overall quality of life.

Please be aware that for these sessions to be most effective, couples should have a strong and stable relationship foundation. They are designed for couples not currently in crisis, and not for those dealing with recent affairs or a history of emotional abuse. It is essential that couples have a secure and supportive environment where they can be open and vulnerable.

Couples Anxiety Management Class: 1:1 private sessions

Below is a basic overview of what we can discuss in our sessions together.

 

Introduction and Understanding Anxiety

  • An overview of anxiety, its impacts on individuals and relationships

  • Understanding the body's response to stress

  • Understanding how the Nervous System impacts our mind (Deb Dana Work)

  • Overview of polyvagal theory and its relevance to anxiety

  • Understanding the three states of the nervous system and how they impact anxiety

  • Techniques for regulating the nervous system and reducing anxiety

 

Identifying Personal Parts and Triggers - using Internal family systems
Learn to identify different "parts" as per IFS and personal triggers for anxiety and couples' engagement so couples can understand how parts interact 
Activities:

  • Exercises to identify personal parts (managers, firefighters, exiles).

  • Journaling or sharing triggers of anxiety in a safe environment.

 

Building Self-Energy
Objective: Strengthen the connection to the Core Self.
Activities:

  • Practices to enhance self-awareness and self-compassion.

  • Techniques for staying centered and calm (e.g., mindfulness, deep breathing)

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Love and Relationships

  • Different forms of love

  • The role of compassion in love

  • Nurturing love in the face of anxiety

 

Somatic Movement and Meditation for Anxiety Management

  • Overview and Principles of Meditation

  • Breathing exercises (Pranayama)

  • Meditation techniques

  • Partner yoga practices (very gentle movements)

  • EFT (also known as tapping)

  • Nutrition and Gut Health

  • Connection to nature (mindfulness)

  • Energy healing practices

  • Journaling and expressive writing for listening to intuition

 

Mindfulness and its Role in Anxiety Management

  • The concept and practice of mindfulness

  • Mindfulness techniques for daily life

  • Mindful communication

  • Introduction to mindfulness as a tool for increasing self-awareness

  • Practice mindfulness exercises aimed at enhancing self-awareness

  • Reflection and discussion on personal insights from mindfulness exercises

 

Building Emotional Resilience

  • Understanding emotional resilience

  • Strategies for building resilience

  • Practicing resilience as a couple

  • Factors that Influence Resilience
    Identification of internal and external factors that can affect resilience
    Interactive discussion and reflection on personal factors affecting resilience

  • Strategies for maintaining resilience during times of stress or crisis

  • Sharing of personal strategies and techniques for resilience

  • Guided meditation focused on resilience and inner strength

  • Steps to create a personal and couple-focused resilience plan

 

Cultivating Positive Emotions

  • Techniques to foster optimism, gratitude, and joy

  • Practice gratitude and joy-inducing exercises - kindness meditation

  • Reflection and sharing of experiences

 

Trust and Love Building Activities

  • Trust exercises for couples

  • Expressing love and appreciation

  • Understanding the impact of positive affirmations and appreciation on cultivating love in relationships.

  • Techniques for expressing love and appreciation effectively.

  • Activity: Practicing expressing love and appreciation to each other using newly learned techniques

 

Resilient Communication

  • Techniques for effective, empathetic communication

  • Role-playing exercises to practice resilient communication

  • Discussion on experiences and challenges with communication

  • Understanding the role of honesty, transparency, and active listening in building trust.

  • Practical communication techniques include 'I' statements, non-verbal communication, and empathetic listening.

  • Role-playing activities to practice these communication skills.

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Couples can learn how to come together when feeling anxious or stressed as a way to help regulate their minds and body and build a stronger connection in the process. 

Session will vary based on couples goals and personal beliefs

Systematic approach to therapy 

A systematic perspective on life is rooted in the understanding that our experiences and surroundings are interconnected. Everything in life is connected in some way, much like gears in a machine or nodes in a network. Our behaviors, emotions, and beliefs are shaped by a myriad of factors and don't exist in a vacuum. People, from our earliest caregivers to our peers, friends, and acquaintances, leave indelible marks on our psyche. The physical and emotional environments in which we grow up and live play a crucial role in shaping our perceptions. Culture shapes our belief systems, our views on what's "normal" or "abnormal," and our approaches to conflict, love, success, and failure.

 

When this systematic view is applied to therapy, it becomes clear why it's essential. By recognizing the multiple internal and external factors that contribute to a person's current state, therapists can gain a deeper, more holistic understanding of the issues at hand. Instead of merely addressing symptoms, a systematic approach allows therapists to delve deeper and potentially uncover the root causes of certain behaviors or emotions. Understanding a person's system allows therapists to tailor interventions that align not only with the person's needs but also with their environment and cultural context. By acknowledging and discussing the systems an individual is a part of, therapy can foster a sense of belonging and help individuals navigate their spaces more healthily and authentically.

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