Science of Happiness Counselor

University of California, Berkeley Certified Science of Happiness Counselor

NOTICE: FEES VARY BASED ON LOCATION AND SERVICES NEEDED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS SPECIFIC PRICING FOR YOUR NEEDS.

In addition to premarital counseling, officiating weddings or vow renewals between any two people in love, I practice very specific arts of Healing, Guidance and Ministry for survivors of abuse.

When a survivor of sexual, physical or emotional abuse is ready to discover their own divinity and free themselves from the bondage of traditional guilt based beliefs (such as toxic church teachings that prayer and forgiveness is the only way to freedom), the survivor reaches out to me, we talk and I write a unique individual plan based on their personal needs and goals.

I have accomplished the deep diving of facing the crises and turning them into amazing stories of survival.

Together, my clients and I work on writing openly and honestly to discover their voice through writing activities for addressing Body Mind Trauma Connections, and to never be silenced again. As a survivor of a lifetime of multiple instances of sexual, physical, emotional and mental abuse, I suffered tremendous pressure at the hands of church / faith based programs who's only "healing" approaches were prayers, forgiving my abuser, and "asking Jesus to heal me" - resulting in even further mental abuse by expecting me to "act okay."

It took me until well into my late 30's to decide those approaches were bullshit. I chose to become an advocate and professional in the privilege and art of Truly Individualized Trauma Healing for Fellow Survivors of Adverse Childhood Experiences, which - unless addressed head on - follow us throughout our entire life.

Did you know that three areas of your brain are physically changed or damaged by trauma?

Trauma can alter brain functioning in many ways, but three of the most important changes appear to occur in the following areas:

The prefrontal cortex (PFC), known as the “Thinking Center.” The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), known as the “Emotion Regulation Center.” The amygdala, known as the “Fear Center.”

If you compare the brain scans of a soldier who has survived war with a brain scan of an abuse survivor, you will find they are very similar. Using information garnered from literature, studies, medical journals, psychiatrists, and innovation, we construct a written plan tailored to meet the survivor's goals and needs.

The CDC warns that the more Toxic Stress Events caused by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), the greater the chance of poor outcomes later in life, including dramatically increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, substance abuse, smoking, poor academic achievement, time out of work, and early death.

My art and ministries are in mindful writing and teaching mindfulness through empathy. Teaching and guiding survivors how to describe their feelings,and identify their sources. Changing and healing the brain takes effort, repetition, and time.

I am certified by the University of California, Berkeley in The Science of Happiness: Adding a body-based or mindfulness-based technique to your daily routine, to help begin deactivating the fear center. This is a vital first step to healing, as when we are able to quiet the fear center, we are better able to work on strengthening and activating the thinking center and emotion regulation center. Two such exercises include diaphragmatic breathing and autogenic training.

Simply put: You must be willing to go within or you will continue to go without.

The Wounded Healer, Tennille Shelley