Sophia Center, Inc.

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Happy Freedom Day!

Called trauma responses or survival strategies, they are activated automatically. This can happen during an event that is overwhelming as well as after when triggered by a reminder of the traumatic event.

Notice and slow down
Honour and acknowledge
Step back and choose your action

Self-care is essential ❣️

~projecturok

🚦great resource for self-care

Do you often find yourself reacting impulsively instead of responding mindfully in challenging situations?

In today's high-pressure world, it's easy to get caught up in our emotions and react in the heat of the moment. But did you know that our ability to regulate our emotional responses can greatly impact our wellbeing in the long run?

Research suggests that practicing emotion regulation techniques can lead to improved mental health outcomes, including reduced stress, anxiety, and depression (Aldao et al., 2010; Berking et al., 2014). By learning to respond mindfully to stressors, we can reduce the intensity of our emotional reactions, which in turn lowers overall stress levels. This offers several health benefits, including reduced risk of chronic illnesses and enhanced resilience in the face of adversity (Schneiderman et al., 2005). Instead of feeling overwhelmed by adversity, we learn to approach challenges calmly and confidently, allowing us to bounce back from setbacks and face future obstacles with greater strength (Tugade & Fredrickson, 2004).

Additionally, mindful responding fosters better communication and understanding in relationships. When we respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively, we're more likely to listen actively, express empathy, and resolve conflicts constructively. This strengthens our connections with others and promotes healthier, more fulfilling relationships (Finkel et al., 2017).

Furthermore, emotion regulation techniques help us maintain clarity and focus, even in challenging situations. By calming the emotional centers of the brain, we can think more clearly, make better decisions, and solve problems more effectively (Schmeichel et al., 2003).

One such technique is the STOP technique, derived from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). It involves four main steps: stop, take a step back, observe the present moment, and proceed mindfully. It's a simple yet powerful tool that can help us gain perspective and choose how to move forward constructively in difficult moments.

Which other techniques do you find useful when faced with emotionally triggering situations? Share your tips below!

🩵 for PTSD Awareness Month

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During the month of June, we celebrate several awareness events, including:
Juneteenth❤️🖤💚
Pride 🤍🩷🩵🤎🖤❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
PTSD Awareness 🩵
Men's Health 💙
Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness 💜

Happy Memorial Day 🇺🇸
Thank you to all who serve, have served, and have died. Today and every day, we honor you
❤️

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Fun Sensory Play ❤

It's okay to be nervous about having a conversation about mental health, especially if you have been taught not to and that it would only make things worse. These are misperceptions. Talking about it actually reduces shame and isolation. It's okay to bring it up in a caring way 🩵

Our next Trauma 101 is this Friday! Anyone interested in learning is welcome to register!

💡Come learn with us and help make our community more trauma-informed at this free event!

Join us at the Franciscan Center on the Lourdes campus to heighten your awareness on trauma by defining and exploring how it impacts individuals and what you can do to provide support.
You don't need to work in a specific field to benefit from this event, the valuable information being shared is useful in any capacity both personally and professionally.

💢There are 3 pre-approved CEU's from the CSWMFT Board and Lunch will be provided

Register Here: https://Trauma101May.eventbrite.com

Letting go can also look like releasing tension and exhaling, or stepping back and observing 🍃 the only thing we can control is our response to our own thoughts, emotions, and situations.

Empathy 🌟

If you haven't been to the beautiful Glass City Metro park yet, consider this your sign to go!

The weather is warming up and this will be a fun day to take the family and enjoy some sun and fresh air. ☀

If you've already experienced the park, comment below and tell us your favorite part!

Honoring and validating our experience, regardless if it is not received by others, is essential to our well-being 🌱

Angel

An Emotional Awareness and Regulation Skill✨

Anger is both a primary emotion and a secondary emotion. When it's expressed as a secondary, ask what is underneath that my anger is protecting?

Anger is often considered a secondary emotion—a response or layer on top of a more primary feeling. What else would you add to this?

Happy Mother's Day
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Indeed 🚸

❤️ If this resonates with you
➡️ Share this with a fellow parent who needs to see this!
🏷️ Tag a loved one who would feel inspired by this

The parent-child connection is one of the most influential factors in a child's mental and emotional development.
Here are some ways in which the parent-child connection can impact mental health:

💗Secure Attachment: A secure attachment between a child and their parent provides a sense of safety and security, which forms the foundation for healthy emotional development. Children with secure attachments are more likely to develop resilience and cope effectively with stress.
💗 Emotional Regulation: Parents play a crucial role in helping children regulate emotions. Through sensitive and responsive interactions, children can identify and express feelings constructively for better mental health.
💗 Self-Esteem: Positive parental involvement and validation contribute to a child's self-worth and self-esteem. Children who feel loved and accepted by their parents tend to have a positive self-image and faith in their abilities.
💗 Resilience: A strong parent-child connection can shield against traumatic experiences. Children who feel supported become more resilient, helping them navigate life's challenges and lowering their risk of mental health issues later on.
💗 Mental Health Awareness: When parents prioritize their children's mental health, it normalizes discussing feelings and seeking help, leading to better mental health outcomes for kids.
👇 Type PODCAST below to get a link to listen to our top podcast!👇

🎙️Learn more about how to help your child thrive in today’s world; subscribe to THE CHILD PSYCH PODCAST hosted by our co-founders, Tammy Schamuhn & Tania Johnson.
🎙️ This podcast brings you the world's top parenting & children’s mental health experts. We will educate and inspire you with the most current research & strategies to help foster emotional resiliency & healing in your child or the children you work with.
🎙️Most importantly, we’re here because we need to raise a generation of children who don’t need to recover from their childhoods.
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Healing is a process and it's okay to show up as you are ✨

this is beautifully said.

Sister Rachel, Executive Director of Sophia Center, was a guest at the Rotary Club of Sylvania to receive a check from their fundraiser, Dancing through the Decades. Sophia Center is one of the organizations to recieve a portion of proceeds from this enjoyable event. The money will be used for our charity care to assist those who are seeking counseling or psychological testing services.

We at the Sophia Center as well as everyone from the Sylvania Franciscans-Sisters of St. Francis are so grateful! Thank you for all the support and this tremendous gift!

All our brain regions, especially our social and emotional center, is shaped by our environment. Children learn how to care for themselves and others through observation and practice.

Today is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. This is a special day for all of us to recognize that our children’s mental health matters!

Positive mental health is essential for kids—it means reaching milestones, learning healthy social skills & coping when there are problems. Let's bring awareness about the needs of children's mental health! samhsa.gov/newsroom/observances/childrens-mental-health-awareness-day

Beautifully said 💗

For Mental Health Awareness Month we will be posting information through the month to help increase awareness, understanding, and compassion 💜

Good Morning! Our Trauma 101 training we hosted at Lourdes University last week made an appearance in the news. We are honored to be recognized for our efforts to bring awareness and help build a more trauma informed community ✨ If you would like to attend this training, our next one is May 24th.

Here is the link to register: https://Trauma101May.eventbrite.com

Trauma 101 workshop held at Lourdes University The goal was to get a better understanding of how trauma impacts the body and the brain, how people adapt and what we can do as a community to help.

Happy Winter Solstice 🌞

At this time of the solstice, we can pause, reflect on impermanence & our interdependence, reconnect with our values, and set intentions. 💛 ✨