Mindful Living

Happy Holidays from Kettle Moraine Counseling.  We hope you take the time to be with friends and family this season.  Things are busy at the clinic.  Sara Tabaska is offer social skills groups in January, and Layne Burkette will be restarting her yoga therapy for children in January also.  Layne does yoga with the staff once a week and I love it!  I have started to do a regular yoga practice at home now too, and I feel stronger, have less anxiety, am more flexible and have less aches and pains.   I highly recommend Layne and yoga in general for physical and mental health! I asked Santa for some new yoga accessories for Christmas, so lets hope he was listening ; )   In this newsletter, we have some tips on how to be more positive.  Our brains have a "negativity bias" and it takes regular practice in order to overcome our tendency to look for the negative.  I have also included information on Sara Tabaska's upcoming groups.    Be well!! Devona Marshall Rick Hanson e

Greetings from Kettle Moraine Counseling!   Happy Fall!  Things are going good here; we have some new groups starting in the next few weeks that I am so excited about.  I have included the information for the groups in this newsletter.  From Yoga Therapy to Social Skills, and an Art Therapy group, I have some very talented therapists working here.  Our groups are insurance billable.  Personally I am enjoying the fall weather- I have more energy and have been exercising more : ))   Julianne Morrison has written a peice for the newsletter on transitions and what has helped her adjust to her youngest heading off to college a few weeks ago. I still have one more child to go before the empty nest, but each time one of my children have left home it was a huge adjustment for me!  I am looking forward to the extra time with my husband though.  We have instituted a Saturday "date night" weekly that has been a lot of fun.  There is life after raising children : )  Enjoy the changi

I was recently introduced to that poem by Wesley McNair and I was moved to tears. So much of our lives we want to see it come in a certain package and when it doesn't we rebel, complain, feel sorry for ourselves and refuse to see the life in front of us.   Examples from my own life include having my kitchen flooded and feeling very sorry for myself for a few weeks - I miss out on the life in front of me when I am having a pity party.   Insisting my children plan and have a life I imagine for them instead of allowing it to unfold the way they design it or more likely, stumble their way to. We wait for our lives to be perfect or just right. When The house is remodeled or clean. When Our bodies are smaller or more muscular. When We have more money.  When we graduate or have a better job. When we retire. Waiting is not living. I say this as much for myself as others.   As Tara Brach says. "This too" The Rules of the New Car After I got married and became the s

Layne Burkette LPC RYT returns to Kettle Moraine Counseling, and we are beyond excited about it!  She will be providing yoga therapy at the clinic in small group settings.  She will be providing a child's and adult group starting on Tuesday June 10th.  I have included both flyers in this email.  It is billable to insurance. Please pass this information along to whomever you think could benefit. Thank you! Kids YOGA Therapy Group Tuesdays, 2:30-3:30pm, 6-week series: June 10 th -July 15 th At Kettle Moraine Counseling Center in West Bend, WI      Would you like to enhance your child’s ability to manage stress, symptoms of ADHD, depression, anxiety, trauma, improve overall health and well-being, and learn new coping skills? Yoga Therapy teaches healthy coping skills to manage symptoms and stress, encourages children to develop personal confidence and strength, along with connection with themselves and others. Yoga enhances ones physical, emotional, and

Chandell Demera is a certified Substance Abuse Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Training.  She is a graduate of Marquette University with a Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Addiction.   Chandell has always had a desire to help those in distress and  she communicates that well to clients.  She takes a client-centered approach to counseling and believes counseling is a team work effort between the therapist and client.  She values honesty and trust in the therapeutic relationship. Chandell’s specialties and interests include: Depression Anxiety Substance Abuse Couples counseling Adolescents Adult Counseling Trauma Under the direct supervision of Devona Marshall and Erin Perez * fluent in Spanish chandell@kettlemorainecounseling.com

What if stress was not the enemy we make it out to be?  That would change a lot of things wouldn't it?  We wouldn't keep trying to protect ourselves from it, we wouldn't be complaining about our stress levels to others, and we wouldn't feel so badly about stress! Stress is not the problem, but how we think about stress is;  and how we act when we feel stressed is the problem.   When there is so much to do and we think we do not have enough time, remember that we perform better when we are challenged versus under-challenged.  When we have too much time on our hands, we tend to waste it with passive activities (internet surfing or TV watching), but when we have limited time to accomplish things, we tend to keep moving to get things done. So seeing stress as challenges that help us perform our best is one way to reduce stresses effects on our bodies.  If we tell our bodies that the stress our body is feeling (increased heart rate, feeling "amped" up)

Happy Spring!!  Those 60 degree days sure felt good.  Research shows that climate does not make a difference with our general well being, but I think I disagree!  I know others and myself sure seem happier on the nice weather days.  One of the challenges I am undertaking this year is to take up stand up paddle boarding.  It looks like fun, and will help my balance, that's if I can actually stand up on it!  The summer newsletter should have an interesting story or two about my new adventure.  Things have been changing here at Kettle Moraine Counseling.   JoEllyn Schulz is slowing down and nearing retirement after over 30 years of providing psychotherapy to our community.  I have greatly enjoyed working with her over these past 10 years.  She will still be around, but in a limited capacity, and she is on to her own new adventures!  We have recently hired 3 new therapists, and are very excited to work with them.   Sara Tabaska , who's biography is in this newsletter, Gina B

From the director : Greetings from the cold!  It seems like we are having a winter of my youth.  I remember lots of snow and cold as a child growing up in Wisconsin.  The dog isn't getting walked as much as she would like, and I think I am just making excuses as to why I won't walk her!  At the clinic we have an intern from Concordia with us, Suzanne Kordas, who is taking on some clients for no fee.  Please call the clinic if you or someone you know may benefit from seeing her and we will do a screening on the phone to see if it is a right fit.  We have a new phone system at the clinic and it seems to be helping with getting messages out faster and more accurately.   In this newsletter we will explain the types of therapy we do so that people have a better understanding of what counseling is all about.   Until next time, stay warm and cozy! Devona Marshall   Clinic Director/Psychotherapist Types of Therapy at Kettle Moraine Counseling: Deb Graf, Angela Waldoch, Jenn