Authenticity Associates Kim Ward PhD & Hilary Stokes PhD

04/28/2021

We have so many people asking for tools to help build strength and resilience. Here are 3 of our favorite mind body practices just published on Elephant Journal. https://www.elephantjournal.com/2021/04/3-mind-body-practices-for-emotional-regulation-resilience-dr-hilary-stokes-and-dr-kim-ward/

Resilience is…our ability to adapt in the face of uncertainty, stress, and adversity. Being flexible and durable when we are being stretched and compressed.

03/05/2021

Helpful graphic on what staying angry can do to our mind and body. A reminder to do the inner work to release and heal. Loving Kindness Meditation is a powerful way to transform anger.

10/07/2020

As we continue on this journey of uncertainty and change we have been experiencing new phases along the way. The collective shock wave has turned into the collective numbing wave where isolation and feeling couped up are bringing up new emotional challenges. Here are practical solutions that we use in our practice to help heal and restore our mind body balance. Sending you peace and hope!
https://www.authenticityassociates.com/the-collective-numbing-of-covid19/

During COVID prioritizing healthy coping is critical, practice self-care.

06/14/2020

We have been getting lots of questions about coping with the stress and anxiety of these times. So we made 11 short videos of our favorite mind body strategies. These are the practices we share with clients and use ourselves. We hope you find them supportive to your mind, body and spirit. Wishing you health and peace of mind. With love, Hilary and Kim.
https://www.authenticityassociates.com/mindfullness-meditations-and-breathing-to-cope-with-covid19/

05/18/2020

If you are feeling anxious, stressed or irritable try this technique. It combines bilateral eye movements with diaphragmatic breathing and will help release contracted emotion and regulate your nervous system. This is part of a video series we put together to support all of us to stay calm, grounded and connected! 🙏❤️https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yEKJNP4SqA

Calm your nervous system, release stress and anxiety and become centered with this meditative practice. During this meditation you will be using eye movement...

05/08/2020

Existential trauma is happening, the toll on mental health is massive. We are seeing approximately a 700% increase in mental health issues. Su***de, anxiety, and depression rates are all up. A stark reminder to be compassionate, be kind, and share your love with others. The world needs it.

Young adults and those with children experienced the most pronounced spikes

04/23/2020

We so enjoyed talking with Jessica Vilchis on California Live NBC News about strategies to deal with stress and fear during the coronavirus. We hope you are finding ways to calm your mind, relax your body and keep your hearts open💗 https://www.nbcsandiego.com/entertainment/california-live/holistic-counseling-to-conquer-coronavirus-fears/2311306/

We’re all living in fear during these uncertain times but there are ways to ease your worries. Jessica Vilchis gets advice from two doctors in San Diego who take a holistic approach to counseling and coaching.

04/05/2020

Great resource for parents and families at home needing some extra support. https://wideopenschool.org/❤️

Schools are closed. Minds are wide open.

03/17/2020

In these times of uncertainty, we wanted to reach out and post 9 practices to help calm your mind, relax your nervous system and soothe your heart. We have been using these for years in our practice. You are in our hearts and prayers! ❤️Hilary and Kim https://www.authenticityassociates.com/9-neuroscience-hacks-to-stay-calm-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

The coronavirus pandemic is causing emotional pandemonium. Here’s what you can do about it. Unmanaged Fear Leads to Panic These are unprecedented times and ripe for the seeds of fear, yet how big they grow is up to us. As such, at no other time has it been more important to not let our fears go u

11/17/2019

So powerful!
https://youtu.be/ZqoRGr3icTo

NOTE FROM TED: Please do not look to this talk for medical advice. This talk, which was filmed at a TEDx event, contains strong assertions about multiple scl...

10/13/2019

The connection between childhood trauma and psychological and physical health imbalances is significant. It’s great to finally see initiatives addressing it! Answer the 10 ACE questions to see your connection.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/california-s-first-surgeon-general-screen-every-student-childhood-trauma-n1064286?fbclid=IwAR15bYcNjAsYjGD6LBZ6aWJJyDpIKSiHRkE1kl3OUISin9mlvUS29cnqNYo

"One thing that tipped me off was the number of kids being sent to me by schools"

09/05/2019

Great infographic on Science of Happiness based on the work of an awesome teacher and friend Brian Luke Seaward!

07/21/2019

Awesome!

Look in the mirror when you are brushing your teeth, and think about something you...

07/20/2019

Trauma linked to chronic pain with or without a physical cause. Such a common experience by many with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, depression and unexplained lingering pain. Mind body approaches are highly effective for treating trauma and pain.

Changing how the mind reacts to pain can reduce the discomfort experienced, according to scientists who study brain pathways that regulate pain. A new type of therapy aims to enhance that effect.

07/08/2019

A primary reason we use mind body strategies for treating trauma, anxiety and depression...

"(CBT) has accumulated the most research support, even though we know that the whole cognitive part of the brain shuts down when people are traumatized, triggering the primitive survival part of the brain. So using CBT with trauma is like telling somebody with an amputated leg to take up running. It can certainly give people a sense of perspective on their coping options when they’re in the right frame of mind, but it has limited value with severe trauma." Bessel van der Kolk

to read the full article go to [https://psychotherapynetworker.org/blog/details/1130/the-evolution-of-trauma-treatment](https://psychotherapynetworker.org/blog/details/1130/the-evolution-of-trauma-treatment)

By Bessel van der Kolk - My hope for the field of trauma treatment is that we learn how to help people bring their imaginations more fully to bear on their possibilities. More recently, we’ve been exploring the capacity to rewire brains that are stuck in freeze and terror and develop a sense of se...

05/14/2019

Thank goodness we are expanding our knowledge on how to identify and help those who are struggling most with PTSD.

PET imaging study reveals higher levels of mGluR5 in those with PTSD who had suicidal thoughts. The findings could serve as a biomarker to assess su***de risk in people with PTSD.

04/24/2019

Good support for children and adults...