Recovering the Self: A Journal of Hope and Healing (Vol. VI, No. 2) -- Family

by Bernie Siegel, Ernest Dempsey (Editor), Holli Kenley

Overview

Recovering the Self: A Journal of Hope and Healing (Vol. VI, No. 2) November 2017

Recovering The Self is a quarterly journal which explores the themes of recovery and healing through the lenses of poetry, memoir, opinion, essays, fiction, humor, art, media reviews and psycho-education. Contributors to RTS Journal come from around the globe to deliver unique perspectives you won't find anywhere else!

The theme of Volume VI, Number 2 is "Focus on Family". We explore physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental aspects of this and several other areas of concern including:

• Adult siblings
• Parenting and adult children
• Healthy parenting
• Loneliness and belonging
• Importance of love, forgiveness, and a sense of humor
• Understanding your childhood
• Animal companionship
• Growing up in a dysfunctional family
• Eldercare
• Betrayal by family
• ...and more!

This issue's contributors include: Ernest Dempsey, Gerry Ellen, Leslee Tessmann, Bernie Siegel, Diane Wing, Patricia Wellingham-Jones, Patrick Gene Frank, Candy Czernicki, Chris Stark, Peter MacQuarrie, Nora Trujillo, Trisha Faye, Neall K. Calvert, Holli Kenley, Huey-Min Chuang, Marjorie McKinnon, Evelyn Horan, Janet Riehl, Mrrinali Punj, Robin Marvel, Don Bodey, Annie Harmon, Martha Carey, Christy Lowry, Sweta Srivastava Vikram, Susie Dunham, Aaron Ratliff, Joyce-Anne Locking and others.

"I highly recommend a subscription to this journal, Recovering the Self, for professionals who are in the counseling profession or who deal with crisis situations. Readers involved with the healing process will also really enjoy this journal and feel inspired to continue on. The topics covered in the first journal alone, will motivate you to continue reading books on the subject matter presented. Guaranteed." --Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

Visit us online at www.RecoveringSelf.com

Published by Loving Healing Press www.LovingHealing.com

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781615993741
Publisher:	Loving Healing Press
Publication date:	11/13/2017
Pages:	82
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

Dr. Siegel, who prefers to be called Bernie, not Dr. Siegel, was born in Brooklyn, NY. He attended Colgate University and Cornell University Medical College. He holds membership in two scholastic honor societies, Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha and graduated with honors. His surgical training took place at Yale New Haven Hospital, West Haven Veteran's Hospital and the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. He retired from practice as an assistant clinical professor of surgery at Yale of general and pediatric surgery in 1989 to speak to patients and their caregivers.

In 1978 he originated Exceptional Cancer Patients, a specific form of individual and group therapy utilizing patients' drawings, dreams, images and feelings. ECaP is based on "carefrontation," a safe, loving therapeutic confrontation, which facilitates personal lifestyle changes, personal empowerment and healing of the individual's life. The physical, spiritual and psychological benefits which followed led to his desire to make everyone aware of his or her healing potential. He realized exceptional behavior is what we are all capable of.

Bernie, and his wife and coworker Bobbie, live in a suburb of New Haven, Connecticut. They have five children and eight grandchildren. Bernie and Bobbie have co-authored their children, books and articles. Their home with its many children, pets and interests resembled a cross between a family art gallery, museum, zoo and automobile repair shop. It still resembles these things, although the children are trying to improve its appearance in order to avoid embarrassment.

Many years ago, as a teenager and young adult, I struggled with an undiagnosed syndrome. At times, the symptoms ranged from deep depression to uncontrollable anger to thoughts of suicide. Although it was confusing to me, there were other times when I felt healthy, energized, and normal. Because I kept my struggle a secret and because I didn't know where to turn for help, the "shame" of not being able to control my emotions contributed to deep feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. As I grew into a young woman, I made unhealthy choices in relationships and in life decisions all in a desperate attempt to ease the pain of worthlessness.
As I entered into my early thirties continually masking the craziness inside me, an extraordinary exchange occurred. For the first time in my life, I shared my secret struggle with a dear friend. Although I was embarrassed and frightened as I disclosed my story, my friend not only listened to and comforted me, but she guided me to a doctor who she thought could help me. Within a couple of weeks, I was diagnosed with severe Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (once known as PMS!) and was given a comprehensive treatment plan that included everything from medication to life-style changes to counseling. From that day forward, I committed myself to my recovering program, determined I would not waste another moment suffering, nor would I keep it silent!
After experiencing several years of wellness, I was determined to help other women, and their families, suffering from PMDD (or PMS)! In the 80's and 90's, PMS was not only a topic of bad jokes, but it was still largely dismissed as a legitimate medical disorder. I set out and did the following:
I started leading psycho-educational support groups for women with PMDD and continued doing so for three years. I authored a book entitled The PMS Puzzle and spoke to groups educating as many people as I could about the truths of PMS. In the mid-90's, I went to graduate school to obtain a Masters in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling so that I could gain more knowledge on how to further my skills in helping others. Before moving into private practice, I worked as a therapist in a large faith-based counseling center for almost a decade. I honed my skills around the areas of abuse, trauma, grief/loss, addiction, codependency, domestic violence, and all kinds of betrayal.
I have been a frequent speaker and workshop leader at professional organizations, including a three time presenter at the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist's Annual Conferences (2010 -2012).
In our lives, there are so many variables that are out of our control. However, how well we choose to live our lives even amidst adversities is within our reach. It is up to each of us to embrace our recovering and to rejoice in the journey.
Books I have written include: Breaking Through Betrayal: And Recovering The Peace Within (2010), Betrayal-Proof Your Relationship: What Couples Need to Know and Do (2011), and Cyber Bullying No More: parenting a high tech generation (2012).
Learn more at www.HolliKenley.com

Table of Contents

… from the Editor’s Desk by Ernest Dempsey 1

A Growth Spurt Like No Other by Gerry Ellen 2

Anatomy of an Anchor: Exploring a New Dimension to Parenting by Leslee Tessmann 4

The Future Is In Your Hands by Bernie Siegel, MD 8

The Need to Belong and the Pain of Loneliness by Diane Wing, M.A. 10

The Genes of Guilt by Patricia Wellingham-Jones 11

Family Stories by Patrick Gene Frank 12

My Sweetie by Candy Czernicki 14

Sleep on Big Pine Lake by Chris Stark 16

The Family Pet by Peter MacQuarrie 17

Graduation Lessons on How to Build a Family by Nora Trujillo 18

The Tales We Tell by Trisha Faye 20

Growing Up On a Tractor: Darkness and Light among the Fraser Valley Mennonites by Neall K. Calvert 22

Walk a Mile by Patricia Wellingham-Jones 28

Parenting and Health by Bernie Siegel, MD 29

A Cocoon of Safety, Trust, and Love by Holli Kenley 31

Assuming Your Place by Huey-Min Chuang 38

Family— PM and AM by Marjorie McKinnon 39

A Long Ago Christmas by Evelyn Horan 42

Driving Lessons by Janet Riehl 43

Family—Your Saving Grace by Mrrinali Punj 45

Everything Starts with Family by Robin Marvel 48

Deal Me Out by Don Bodey 50

RTS Talk: Annie Harmon on Family with Ernest Dempsey 55

Song Tree by Martha Carey 59

“College Bound” Sneaks Up On You by Christy Lowry 60

Book Excerpt: Saris and a Single Malt by Sweta Srivastava Vikram 61

Book Excerpt: Beyond Schizophrenia by Susie Dunham 63

RTS Media Reviews with Aaron Ratliff 68

Gooseberry Pie by Joyce-Anne Locking 75

Editorial Reviews

"I highly recommend a subscription to this journal, Recovering the Self, for professionals who are in the counseling profession or who deal with crisis situations. Readers involved with the healing process will also really enjoy this journal and feel inspired to continue on. The topics covered in the first journal alone, will motivate you to continue reading books on the subject matter presented. Guaranteed." --Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

From the Publisher