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Loving the Martial Way: Ending the Fight is my latest venture, combining my experience in addiction, martial arts, relationships, and healing shame. As a therapist in private practice, much of my work involves gently & compassionately addressing the shame-based messages that we have learned, swallowed, & projected onto others. We come by these messages in a multitude of ways and they can manifest in various forms, including addiction (to men, women, sex, love, relationships, food, work, caretaking, enabling, gambling, shopping), codependency, judging, blaming, perfectionism, self-hatred, self-sabotage, isolation, avoidance, procrastination, anger, and misery.
"Voices" of shame include:
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I'm not good enough
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I'm too much
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I'm damaged
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I'm insignificant
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I don't matter
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I'm crazy....f____up"
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I'm damned
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I'm bad....and the list goes on.....
These are the "voices" of the human condition. How to recognize these voices and how to learn how to be loving to ourselves and others given our human limitations and weaknesses is what "Loving the Martial Way" is all about. We often "fight" with ourselves and others.....struggle....get caught in the trap of fighting with ourselves and others. The goal is to "Surrender to win." Most TRUTH lies in paradox. "Ending the fight" is about acceptance of our shame and humanity and how to live in loving relationship with ourselves and others.
In helping people to heal from these self-hating thoughts, release emotional pain, & make more loving choices, I have come to believe that a physical process can assist in this healing & learning. These messages generally have actual experiences and body memories attached to them. Shame is interpersonal. Shame heals interpersonally.
In training as a martial artist with Mr. Josh Ryer of Ryer Martial Arts Academy, I have been inspired to integrate body movements and martial art techniques as "movement, metaphor, and anchor" to promote learning the healing principles for self-acceptance and loving relationships--the counter to the shame. Having a body process to mirror the cognitive-behavioral and spiritual process of becoming a loving human in the world is incredibly helpful.
"Loving the Martial Way: Ending the Fight" is an exciting project that integrates the 12 steps, shame & self-hate work, relationship dynamics, & MARTIAL arts concepts and techniques. Each group session includes meditation/body movement, personal sharing, short readings (often from my upcoming book), a MAT (Martial Arts Therapy) Exercise, and a closing process.
Call now or complete info below to find out how to become involved!
Licensed Professional Counselor.
Nationally Certified Counselor.
MSEd is in Marriage & Family Therapy.
Black Belt in Cacoy Doce Pares.
1st Class Brown Belt in Counterpoint Tactical Systems.
Military Family Life Consultant-Dept of Defense/Tricare.
Highmark Credentialed.
Health Assurance/MH Net Credentialed.
EAP Affiliate - Ceredian LifeWorks and Carebridge.
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