Free
Clinical Supervision
for 1 year!
I
have decided to provide one social worker with free clinical
supervision for one year. Registered Interns and graduate students may
apply before Jan 1st 2012. Complete a contact form at the GROW HEAL LOVE
website explaining why you, or a fellow social worker, deserves this
gift. You may want to share what motivated you to work in the field or what population you hope to impact with your work, etc. Its up to you!
To Apply;
Click Here or go to growheallove.com and click on the contact us!
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Student of the Month
Linda Adams
Eight years
ago Linda embarked on a new journey. Despite her hesitation, having
already been in the work force and raising a family, she enrolled in the
social work program at Florida International University. I have had
the pleasure to watch Linda perfect her clinical skills over the last
two semesters and she has now graduated as a Master of Social Work.
Linda has inspired those around her to pursue thier educational goals as
she will now surely inspire countless youth through her dedicated and
compassionate social work practice!
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Hello,
Inline
with last month's issue about the balance of growth and gratitude, this
slow paced summer left plenty of time for gratitude. I am certainly
grateful that all of my loved ones are safe following this last
hurricane, and that it completely skipped over my little part of the
world here in South Florida. I am grateful for the down time this summer and all of my clients, who are the best teachers in the world.
With Gratitude,
Melissa
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 Peace of Mind
Destination vs. Direction
Peace
of mind boils down to whether we are moving "Confidently in the
direction of our dreams" (Henry David Thoreau). Too often we assess our
lives by how close we are to reaching our next goal. I will be the first
to admit that I have fallen into the trap of "It will be so wonderful
when..." But happiness is not in the accomplishments, not at any
destination. We continuously set new goals. Therefore as soon as we
arrive, we are no longer there. As Steven C. Hayes suggests in "Get Out
of Your Mind and Into Your Life," it might be more useful to gauge our
lives by whether we are moving in a direction which we value
(2005). Hayes compares our values to the directions on a compass. You
never reach north, for example, it is not a concrete destination at
which you may arrive.Instead, he proposes we look for our joy and
rewards while on the path itself. Peace of mind may be found along the
journey, in knowing that you are being true to what you believe in and
who you are.
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Use Your Compass: Be true to YOU
One
of the few concepts that has stayed with me from the courses I took on
social psychology is cognitive dissonance. In my practice, I often
see individuals who suffer from anxiety, depression, etc., due to a
conflict between their actions and what type of person they would like
to be; who they truly are. What the evidence in social psychology has
shown us is that;
1) This state is extremely uncomfortable and
2)
An individual will often rationalize or otherwise justify the
inconsistency between their self-concept and their behavior rather than
change their behavior.
What are
your intrinsic values? Family... physical health/strength...
education... honesty... community... financial success? To identify
your values, think about how you'd like others to define you. For
example, if it is important to you that you are seen as a good parent,
spouse, child and sibling; you value family. Remember, loose the
destinations here!
Defining your values is not the challenge, that's too easy. I
challenge you to list your values and examine one with which your
actions do not match, without rationalizing or justifying. Don't judge
this inconsistancy as bad or ineffective, just recognize it. Then
identify 1-3 actions that will point you in the right direction.
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WHOLE 11-11-11 Convention
Holistic Thinking for Holistic Living
I
am very excited about this convention that provides a unique experience
for individuals interested in whole body health and healthy living, as
well as for professionals in the health and wellness fields. There will
be panels in the areas of organic/sustainable living, holistic
psychotherapy and religion/spirituality. I am honored to be
sitting on the holistic psychotherapy panel and eager to learn from
the keynote speakers and diverse health professionals who will
be leading workshops and presenting. Register before the end of
September for early bird rates! Click here for more information.
When: Nov 11th, 6 pm to 9 pm
Nov 12th, 9am to 6 pm
Where: Kovens Conference Center
3000 N.E. 151st Street, N. Miami Beach, FL 33181
This event is designed for everyone, however CEU's will be offered for Florida
Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental
Health Counseling; Florida Board of Massage Therapy; Florida Council of
Licensed Midwifery and Florida Council of Dietetics and Nutrition.
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Favorite Quote
Happiness is when you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
-Mahatma Gandhi
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About Us
 GROW HEAL LOVE was founded to promote growth, healing and love in individuals and communities.
Melissa
Cramer is a Licensed Psychotherapist, Certified Addictions Professional
and trained Pilates Instructor. She is a holistic practitioner who
addresses the whole body, in guiding clients through life changes and
challenges. She has also co-founded the South Florida Health
Coaches, along with a group of 8 health coaches, that assists in the
collaboration and networking of health professionals.
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