Welcome to the Denver Holistic Health Blog
Scroll down to find posts listed by date or search by keyword or category.
Benefits of Psilocybin Assisted Therapy
Psilocybin is a psychoactive compound found in certain mushrooms, often called “magic mushrooms.” There is growing interest in its potential therapeutic benefits, including its impact on the brain’s neuroplasticity. Emerging research indicates that psilocybin enhances the brain’s connectivity, which supports the establishment of new neural pathways. Such pathways allow for different regions of the brain to communicate more effectively, yielding greater adaptability and flexibility of thought.
Trauma-Informed Care: A Compassionate Approach to Healing
Trauma-informed care represents a paradigm shift in how we approach healthcare, emphasizing understanding, empathy, and collaboration in the healing process. A trauma-informed healthcare provider’s goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where individuals feel empowered to heal and thrive. This fits well with a holistic approach to health, in which multiple dimensions of health – physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual – are taken into consideration as practitioner and client work together.
The Therapeutic Power of Physical Activities for Trauma Recovery
Trauma can have a life-altering impact on both the mind and body, leaving us struggling with emotional scars that may seem too great to overcome. While therapy and counseling play crucial roles in the healing process, incorporating physical activities into your routine can also be a powerful tool for trauma recovery. Moving your body not only can better your physical well-being, but also creates an opportunity to release pent-up emotions and tension. In this blog post, we'll explore a range of activities that involve body movement that can make you feel empowered in your healing journey.
Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder
As the seasons change, many folks experience shifts in their mood and energy levels. It's normal to feel a little down during the colder and darker months, but some people struggle with a form of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is linked to seasonal changes, particularly occurring in fall and winter months when daylight is limited. Individuals affected by this disorder experience more than just “winter blues.” SAD is a legitimate mental health concern that can interfere with daily functioning.
Making this journey possible
It is fairly frequent that I write about hiking, and always, it’s more than that. Because there are analogies with life and grief that shouldn’t be ignored. And because, maybe in part for that reason, hiking has been part of my journey especially these past four years. So with that in mind, I invite you to keep reading. This isn’t just about hiking. I hike multiple times a week, because I can and I must. It keeps me grounded, which is exactly how I like to be. It is in my nature to feel stable, realistic, and calm. And when I feel this way, I believe it’s when I am at my best for myself and to serve others. There are trail stewards everywhere. All around us. Those that make ALL of our journeys easier, more beautiful, and even possible. Some of these stewards we know. Friends. Family. Their work may be very visible. Their support quite obvious. Others we will never see or know. I too am a trail steward. Sometimes seen. Sometimes not. Taking action out of love and kindness. And at other times out of responsibility, commitment and dedication. We all serve. We all NEED to serve. We owe this to each other.
How to Show Up for Yourself in Your Relationship
A relationship is also a partnership; there needs to be a balance between you and your partner that allows you both to contribute to the relationship while still maintaining your own identities. Things like communication problems, self-esteem issues, or even unhealthy relationship dynamics like codependency can make it easy to lose yourself in your relationship. Let’s cover a few ideas you can implement right away to show up, stand up, and make a difference in your relationship dynamics.
How to Find a Therapist
Finding a therapist can be a stressful process, especially if you have never been to therapy before. There are a few ways to go about looking for one. To start, most therapists offer a free consult call to get an idea of what you want to work on in therapy and for you to hear about their therapeutic style. This would be a great time to ask them some questions and share with them what you are looking for. Here is some helpful information to know before starting.
How to Support Your Kid’s Mental Health as They Start School
The transition back to school can be a particularly challenging time for kids. They can be experiencing a wide range of emotions around this return and displaying these in many confusing ways. Overall kids can display a range of attitudes, behaviors, and emotions that might be confusing to you. Here are some ways you can best support them during this time.
Phases of Psychedelic Therapy
Psychedelic experiences often bring greater insight to how an individual has been showing up in their life that often inspires change and growth. Integrative psychedelic therapy supports this journey for each individual in a way that helps them feel connected through the process. While each psychedelic medicine has its own unique experience, a common effect is how each can soften emotions and emotional reactivity. In this way, the therapist is able to access and help patients process difficult experiences they have felt stuck in.
Psychedelics in Therapy & the Psychedelic Science Conference
Much research has already been undertaken that demonstrates the efficacy and long term success of psychedelic-assisted treatments: Clinical trials exploring ketamine, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), and MDMA for treatment of depression have shown promising long term results for reduction of symptoms. Research exploring psychedelic medicine indicates that therapies incorporating it into treatment can help individuals process and heal from trauma. Neuroimaging research has shown that psychedelic treatment promotes increased neural plasticity, allowing for new connections and reorganization within the brain. Other studies exploring addiction and recovery suggest that the profound and transformative experiences induced by psychedelics can lead to increased motivation, self-reflection, and a greater sense of purpose, which can aid in the recovery process.
Mindfulness At The Workplace:Why We Need It
Mindfulness may seem like a buzzword, however it is on the cusp of becoming a household name. It is a centuries-old idea that has been reinvented to address modern day mental health challenges. So what is mindfulness really? It is a “mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic and meditation technique.”
Grounding and Calm During the Holiday Season
As we move into the final weeks of 2022 and a holiday season that is in full swing, it can be helpful to support our well-being with practices that allow us to pause, breathe, and connect. Whether you are driving in traffic, checking off the to-do lists, or moving through the busyness of everyday life, these practices will offer you tools to stay grounded and connected this season, and throughout the year ahead! Here are some of my favorite practices to support overall health and well-being.
3 Ways to Train for the Sport of Motherhood
The tasks I have found myself engaged in during Motherhood have been quite different from any previous physical training I have done. Some of them might even be listed as unsafe.
During the postpartum period, a woman is STILL experiencing joint laxity and her core muscles take time to rebound. So we are taking a vulnerable system and applying force. Sounds like a recipe for injury.
Mindfulness and Meditation: What’s the difference?
We hear so much about mindfulness and meditation these days. The terms are often used interchangeably. Your doctor may say “you really need to start a mindfulness practice.” Or you see a report on the national news of how great meditation is for you. Seems confusing, doesn’t it? I would like to simplify what meditation and mindfulness mean to me.
What is Holistic Healthcare? 4 Reasons to Go Holistic
The word holistic gets tossed around quite a bit in the world of health and wellness. You might also see the words integrative and functional used the same way. So what do they all mean? Holistic healthcare is an approach that sees your health as multidimensional and believes that the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of you should all be taken into account; holistic healthcare treats the whole person.