Wellness Wave Wisdom

  Adrian is a graduate student at National University pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology. He holds a master’s degree in forensic psychology and a bachelor’s degree in sociology, with additional training in crisis intervention, restorative justice, cultural competency, addiction and recovery, domestic violence advocacy, adolescent development, and safe spaces for diverse communities. Taking the first action to seek help for drug or alcohol use can feel confusing, intimidating, and overwhelming. Many people know they want things to change but are unsure where to start. The good news is that recovery does not begin with having all the answers. It begins with a conversation. Speaking with someone about sobriety can be one of the most important first actions on the road to recovery. Whether that conversation is with a counselor, a person in recovery, a trusted friend, or a support group, reaching out can help reduce feelings of isolation and uncertainty. F...

  Practicing Harm Reduction in substance use and process/behavioral addictions By Jesus Mendez Carbajal, APCC Jesus is a bilingual (Spanish/English) Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) who holds a B.A. in Chicana/o Studies with a minor in Women’s Studies, and an M.S. in Counseling from SDSU’s Community Based Block (CBB) Multicultural Community Counseling and Social Justice Education Program. Jesus understands that while the issues people face are personally experienced, they’re also connected to systems of power, privilege and oppression and their impact extends beyond the self. Overall, Jesus is a passionate life-long student of healing, plant knowledge, emotional wellness, mental health, and spirituality. It’s ok if you don’t want to stop using a substance or stop a behavior--unless you’re causing harm to minors, dependent adults or elderly adults. Working with the assumption that one is not actively causing harm to others, can we sit with the reality that we don’t w...

By Tammah Watts(she), LMFT 111562 Tammah is a licensed therapist certified as a SMART Recovery Facilitator, Domestic Violence Advocate, Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide and Clinical Trauma Professional. She provides individual, relationship, and family counseling, and facilitates Health Services’ Recovery Group. As we come to the end of the Spring semester -first, CONGRATULATIONS for making it through! It's also a good time to consider what your recovery support will look like during the summer. To help you stay grounded and focused on your recovery goals -Consider these Tips and Tools and attendance at meetings -in person or online, local or national. Below, you'll find Resources to continue your recovery journey in ways that fit best including apps, meetings online and in-person, and more. Recovery Mutual Support Groups Don’t give up on recovery if one type of support group doesn’t work for you. Try another one! Secular and Non-12-Step Groups SMART Recovery (Self-Management and ...

By Ilan Navah (he), Mental Health Counselor Ilan Navah is a graduate student at Bastyr University, pursuing a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Holistic Nursing from California State Polytechnic University and brings over 13 years of diverse nursing experience including emergency medicine, public health, hospice, and integrative medicine. Guided by a belief in the mind–body–spirit connection, Ilan takes a holistic, integrative approach to care, supporting individuals in cultivating wholeness and well-being. In many communities, substance use is often seen as a matter of poor choices or lack of discipline. Gabor Maté, a physician and author who has worked closely with people struggling with addiction, offers a different way to understand it. He suggests that substance use is often connected to emotional pain, stress, and past trauma. In this view, addiction is not only about the substance. It is also about a person trying to cope with difficult...

By Abigail (Abby) Burd, LCSW, LCS 26867 Full-Time Faculty / Licensed Mental Health Counselor Abby is a bilingual (English/Spanish) clinical social worker with over 25 years experience in mental health. Abby is trained as a trainer in creating LGBTQIA+ safe zones, suicide prevention, and mindfulness. Abby has been a clinical supervisor on campuses and through her private practice since 2008, guiding the next generation of pre-licensed social workers, marriage and family therapists and clinical counselors. She is a culturally-humble, integrative clinician, drawing upon Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solutions-Focused Therapy, mindfulness, and trauma-informed approaches. Abby is certified in Brainspotting (a somatic therapy for trauma and more) and Perinatal Mental Health. The New Year is a popular time to “reset” our drinking habits, especially after an indulgent holiday season. Have you ever set a New Year's Resolution to stop or cut back on drinking? Many p...

By Tammah Watts, LMFT Tammah is a licensed therapist certified as a SMART Recovery Facilitator, Domestic Violence Advocate, Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide and Clinical Trauma Professional. She provides individual, relationship, and family counseling, and facilitates Health Services’ Recovery Group. Many of you are in the final stretch of the semester and all that comes with this time of year -preparing for and taking your finals and completing other assignments; the holidays are in full swing and plans you may or may not have with family and friends. To help you staying grounded and focused on your recovery goals - Consider these Tips and Tools and attendance at meetings -in person or online, local or national . This email is a tradition now -a final one (pun intended) for the end of the Fall semester. You'll find Resources for you to continue your recovery journey in ways that fit best. Recovery Mutual Support Groups Don’t give up on recovery if one type of support group doesn’t wo...