Holistic Embrace
Embracing One’s Self Through Healing
Background Info:
Holly Linden is a licensed social worker in NY State. She has completed trainings within EMDR, Progressive Counting, Breathwork, Emotional Freedom Technique, Reiki, Akashic Records, Seeking Safety, etc. I cannot diagnose and I do not bill insurance companies. I do not treat medical needs. All treatment modalities attempt to optimize the body’s overall health and vitality, but it is not to be used instead of appropriate care from a licensed professional. In addition, the fact that I do not diagnose or treat illness, another difference between my services and typical visits to a medical doctor is that effective energy work requires your active involvement between sessions. Purpose:
Holistic Embrace aims to resolve or stabilize physical and emotional symptoms related to complex trauma/PTSD, chronic stress/fatigue, fear, anger, anxiety, shame, health conditions or complex syndromes, dissociation, spiritual emergencies, and addictions, as well as in restoring boundaries, regulation, resiliency, empowerment, aliveness and a healthy sense of self. In keeping with best practices, trauma therapy at Holistic Embrace follows a staged approach, beginning with safety and stabilization, fostering self-regulation and trust in the therapeutic relationship before proceeding with the processing of deeper traumatic material. Like learning to drive a car, we need to make sure there is a good brake system in place before we can press the gas pedal and drive safely. What is Energy Work? Energy Work can be described as dramatic shifts in healing happening and being recognized by channeling life force (or healing energy). These energies shape how we feel, think, and live by creating flow, balance, harmony, and vitality within the body. Holistic Embrace utilizes energy work through Emotional Freedom Technique, Dragon Activations/Healings, Akashic Records Readings/Healing, Light Work, Reiki, and crystal healing. This can be done in person or online. There are many energy work modalities. Energy work can be hands on or offered indirectly through our auric field. Our auric field or aura is an extension of ourselves. In essence, it is an energetic field that surrounds our body consisting of several layers; these subtle bodies connect each into our physical body via energy centers (chakras). Energy Work is done fully clothed, occasionally over blankets or a sheet if preferred, and is not used to manipulate, rehabilitate or repair the body as done in physiotherapy, kinesiology, chiropractic or massage. It does not constitute medical treatment and it is not a replacement for other bodywork approaches, which are different in focus, intent and method. Energy work is used primarily to explore interpersonal processing and attachment, as well as self-regulation, safe touch, healthy boundaries, as well as work through early preverbal trauma and shock trauma. It can be incorporated while seated, as well as lying face up on a table, or standing during movement-based exercises. Energy Work, especially during the release of a self-protective response or body memory, can bring up unexpected emotions, thoughts, pain, physical reactions or memories. It is also quite common for the body to vibrate or tremble during a release, and for clients to experience a sense of fatigue or soreness. This is typically temporary, and your therapist will support you to work through these in a helpful and contained way that reduces the likelihood of overwhelm. It is important to honor the body’s needs; rest and increase water intake following sessions is important to support integration. Working with the Dragons
These mythical creatures serve as a guide for those seeking transformation and personal power. I will attune the various dragon energies within you through meditation and breathwork to activate internal cleansing/clearing, internal peace, self-empowerment, greater abundance, and the ability to embody your own light. Akashic Records
The Akashic Records contains the energetic imprint of our thoughts, words, emotions, actions, and experiences across lifetimes. Being within the Records is healing and enlightening. It provides us access to our masters, teachers, and loved ones (guides & guardians). It’s like having a cosmic compass, guiding and aligning with our highest self. We can find guidance to embrace our present moment and remove old patterns, thoughts, and emotions. What is Breathwork? Breathwork describes a group of exercises that teaches you to manipulate your breathing rate and depth with the goal of bringing awareness to your breath and ultimately providing the same benefits you might get from a meditative practice. I am not a licensed physician. My breathwork classes are not licensed by the state of New York and, as a complementary or alternative practice, does not require licensing by the state. Breathwork and meditation are a complement to, not replacement for, “healing arts services licensed by the state”, ie. It is a complement to services provided by doctors, nurses, and hospitals. During a breathwork sessions, you will participate in breathing exercises with eyes closed or gently gazing down and in a safe position. Do not perform breathwork while driving. You might experience a stress release, emotional release, heightened sense of elation in the body. Breathwork is generally safe when practiced. There are a few cases when it would not be advised to do breathwork: namely for anyone with a known cardiac arrhythmia (including very slow heart rate), a history of heart block, or people taking certain antipsychotic medications. Additionally, some types of breathwork can induce hyperventilation, which can bring on dizziness, chest pain, and pounding heartbeat. Check with your doctor before you start a breathwork practice if you have a history of any of the following or are currently taking antipsychotic medications. What is Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT/Tapping)? The techniques I will be using and teaching you are based on the premise that by promoting balance and flow in the body’s electromagnetic and subtle energies, health and wellbeing are enhanced. The techniques may involve the use of certain postures or movements of stimulating by tapping specified areas of the skin on the face, upper body and hands. This helps to move, balance, enhance, and restore the body’s energies. EFT is a brief intervention combining elements of the memory of past events or the anticipation of future events, identifying associated emotions, and somatic stimulation. It is often referred to as “tapping” as it uses a two-finger tapping process with a cognitive acceptance statement. EFT has been researched in more than 20 countries, by more than 60 investigators, whose results have been published in more than 100 different journal articles. These clinical trials have shown that EFT is able to rapidly reduce the emotional impact of memories and incidents that trigger emotional distress. I do not diagnose or treat medical needs. EFT attempts to optimize the body’s overall health and vitality, but it is not to be used instead of appropriate care from a licensed professional. In addition, the fact that EFT does not diagnose or treat illness, another difference between my services and typical visits to a medical doctor is that effective energy work requires your active involvement between sessions. What is EMDR/PC? EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and PC (Progressive Counting) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from symptoms and emotional distress that are a result of disturbing life experiences. It has since been used for a variety of other life challenges, such as anxiety, panic, intrusive thoughts, core beliefs, complex grief, addictions, body dysmorphic disorders, etc. EMDR has been validated by extensive research for PTSD, and research on other applications is currently in progress. As stated by the EMDR International Association, when a person is very upset, their brain cannot process information as it does ordinarily. One moment becomes “frozen in time,” and remembering a trauma may feel as bad as going through it the first time because the images, sounds, smells, and feelings haven’t changed. Such memories have a lasting negative effect that interferes with the way a person sees the world and the way they relate to other people. EMDR/PC seems to have a direct effect on the way that the brain processes information. Normal information processing is resumed, so following a successful session, a person no longer relives the images, sounds, and feelings when the event is brought to mind. You still remember what happened, but it is less upsetting. During EMDR, the therapist works with the client to identify a specific problem as the focus of the treatment session. The client calls to mind the disturbing issue or event, what was seen, felt, heard, thought, etc., and what thoughts and beliefs are currently held about that event. The therapist facilitates the directional movement of the eyes or other dual attention stimulation of the brain, while the client focuses on the disturbing material, and the client just notices whatever comes to mind without making any effort to control direction or content. Each person will process information uniquely, based on personal experiences and values. Sets of eye movements are continued until the memory becomes less disturbing and is associated with positive thoughts and beliefs about one’s self. During EMDR, the client may experience intense emotions, but by the end of the session, most people report a great reduction in the level of disturbance. Upsetting, unresolved memories may surface with EMDR, which includes high levels of emotion or intense physical sensations during or in between sessions. Processing of targeted material may continue following your session, and other memories, dreams, flashbacks, feelings or sensations may occur. If the targeted issue included drug or alcohol abuse, the urge to use these substances may temporarily increase during or after the session, so it is important to ensure supports are in place to not act on these urges. What is Seeking Safety? Seeking Safety will be a bi-weekly (2nd & 4th Tuesday) in person (recordings will be in a private Facebook group) group setting in Cuba, NY from 6p-7p. This group series will consist of 25 integrated sessions/topics on trauma and addictions. This curriculum was developed in 1993 at Harvard Medical school and McLean Hospital. Many men and most women with addictions have experienced a trauma during their lifetime. Some people develop mental health symptoms as a result of their trauma; you will learn more about this during the group sessions. When mental health and addictions is integrated it promotes success in recovery. Each session/topic will focus on a specific strategy to help you cope with trauma and addictions. Topics: Honesty, Asking for Help, Setting Boundaries, Taking Care of Yourself, Compassion, Recovery Thinking, Creating Meaning, Self-Nurturing, Respecting Time, Getting Others to Support You, and Community Resources. The number 1 goal of this curriculum is to help you become safe. “Safety” includes the ability to: manage trauma symptoms (such as flashbacks, nightmares, and negative feelings), cope with life without the use of our addictions, take good care of yourself (such as getting regular medical exams and eating well), free yourself from domestic violence or other current abusive relationships, prevent self-destructive acts, and find ways to feel good about yourself and to enjoy life.
