The Importance of Touch: the search for embodied safety

Have you ever let adversity or trauma stop you from living your life and achieving your dreams? American Actress, Speaker, Author and Entrepreneur, Melanie Anderson thought the traumatic diagnosis of Lupus, an auto-immune disease, was the end of her. She transformed this death sentence into a Life Sentence.... and began to live her life, fully! Tune in to hear how she worked through adversity to achievement. What dream have you been avoiding to actualize? If you could choose 1 thing and know that you wouldn't fail.... what would YOU choose?

Marjorie McKinnon, the author of a series of books called: REPAIR Your Life: A Program for Recovery from Incest & Childhood Sexual Abuse, speaks about her journey that included incest by both parents, domestic violence, numerous suicide attempts, 2 nervous breakdowns and time spent in psychiatric wards. She is a mother of 3 childhood sexual abuse victims: two sexually molested by an ex-husband at the ages of 4 & 5, to which he said it was the children's fault and 1 raped at gunpoint while she worked at a fast food restaurant. Margie spent time in a women's shelter in the Los Angeles area as a sexually, physically, mentally and emotionally battered wife. Margie will speak about: - how to spot the signs of children being sexually abused - what symptoms show up in adulthood due to childhood sexual abuse - the behavioural patterns of survivors of childhood sexual abuse - choices...... destroy or discover? - did you know its NOT your fault? - the Lamplighters Movement: REPAIR the damage

Dr. Frank Gerbode created a very effective and efficient technique that rapidly reduces trauma stress from emotionally and/or physically painful events. This process has a client gently confront and re-view a traumatic incident several times, in a non-judgmental and non-interpretive environment, until the incident has no charge on it. The key to resolving a traumatic incident is fully processing it rather than blocking it, which stores as unfinished business and will continue to exert negative effects. Dr. Gerbode's unique, structured, client-centred approach has a person examine events that have been fully or partially blocked so that all resistance and painful emotions and negative thought patterns are released allowing one's attention to be available in the present, rather than holding the past. The intention is to return to a more productive and satisfying life. What would it take for each of us to embark on a journey of personal growth?

Orthopedic surgeon and pain medicine physician, Australian-trained Dr. Owen Williamson, speaks about how treating trauma patients can create secondary trauma in health care professionals. What is the link between trauma and chronic pain? What are signs of burn-out? What are some self-care tips to prevent PTSD from developing? What is the link between trauma and mental health? What are the stages of processing and re-framing a traumatic incident in order to reduce / eliminate its ill effects?

Audience can call in and email questions they would like to be answered on the show: - Bullying - Repeated health concerns - How to remove triggers of trauma - How does long-ago trauma affect current physical issues? - How does previous trauma show up in intimate relationships? - What beliefs have you adopted to be true... that are keeping you stuck? - How do you support someone who has been traumatized? - How do you help adopted children address previously unknown trauma?

Losing a loved one can be traumatic! How can one get through the grieving process with more ease? Clair Jantzen, a Funeral Director, Author, Grief counsellor (with advanced training from the Grief Recovery Institute), and Marriage & Family therapist, speaks about Grief & Loss and what it entails. He will explain this difficult and painful process, what to expect, how to deal with each stage of grieving and how to overcome it..... or rather... get *through* it!! Grief and Loss can be a show stopper and stop you from moving through your life. Tune in to find out how to grieve with more grace......

Have you ever had a physical trauma that turned your life upside down? Are you fully aware of how that trauma impacted your body.... your mind....your spirit? Gena Lock was riding her motorcycle one day and was hit by a vehicle. She tells her story and how this traumatic incident affected every aspect of her world, including occupationally, socially, financially, emotionally, mentally, physically and physiologically. Tune in to hear her talk about her healing!

Have you ever wondered how the effects of trauma get stored in the nervous system and how this can compromise our sense of safety and attachment? Kirsten Vinge, a registered physiotherapist and clinical counsellor will be delving into this topic. How can parents foster a secure attachment in children? How important is touch in creating safe human connection? Kirsten has training in the brilliant work of Dr. Peter Levine, Kathy Kain and Steve Terrell and she will be sharing her knowledge about somatic experiencing and the Polyvagal theory. We will also be talking about the A.C.E. study that clearly shows that Adverse Childhood Experiences cause heart disease, compromise the immune system and can result in early death, addictions, increased suicide risk etc...... Kirsten will be sharing her unique view of neurophysiology from an embodied perspective, rather than a cognitive, psychological approach. What would it take for each of us to heal trauma and embody a sense of safety?

Trauma stress gets stored in our bodies and affects our internal organs and mental, emotional and physical functioning. Acupuncturist, Ward Willison, owner of All Body Care in Kelowna British Columbia, speaks about how suppressed emotions show up as disease and disorder in our organs and how acupuncture can help move energy though the body to promote health and well-being. When emotions are not ex-pressed they become de-pressed.... in the body! Acupuncture is a catalyst for moving the vital life force, Qi (pronounced 'chee') through the body propelling chemicals in the brain to discharge emotions. What emotions have you not expressed that may be causing dis-ease and dis-order?

Most people think that Trauma has to be something catastrophic. Repeated mental and emotional abuse can be traumatic. This episode will explore how mental and emotional abuse can affect your self-image, your self-esteem, your relationships, your ability to function, and your overall health. Guest speaker Teresa Diemand, owner and operator of Cherish FertilityCare, will speak about how abuse affected her and her business. We will talk about a very effective method, EMDR, that clears the symptoms of abuse. Tune in to find out how therapy helped this dynamic woman heal! There is help, there is hope and there is healing!