Wednesday, December 31, 2014

This Year - guest blog by Julie Davis, MFT

This week, I invite you to appreciate YOU - not from the ego ("Look at me! Look at how great I am!"), but from your heart: "I worked hard this year, at times when I didn't want to and in ways that were scary and confusing and painful."

Think about all the times you wanted to quit - on yourself, others, God - but didn't. Sure there were times you did quit, but take some time to reflect on how, when, where, why you hung in there and took the harder path this year - towards relationship rather than task accomplishment, towards faith rather than fear, towards acceptance rather than judgment.

Instead of focusing on what didn't/isn't working in your life, unwrap the gift of compassion for yourself and reflect on the courage it took to admit and work on your shortcomings this year. If this is hard for you, I invite you to put down the whip, pick up a colorful crayon and complete the following:

This year, I learned...

...I have courage to__________________________________________________ .

...I have strength to__________________________________________________ .

...I have wisdom to__________________________________________________ .

...I have faith to_____________________________________________________ .

...I have support to__________________________________________________ .

Julie Davis
704-807-1101
Certified Rapid Resolution Therapist
Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (CA & NC)
www.juliedavismft.com julie@juliedavismft.com 

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist practicing at Clear Mind Group in Weston, Florida. Call 954-612-9553 for a consultation. Follow Autumn on TwitterFacebook, and Google+. Sign up for the e-newsletter HERE.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Prescription for a Healthy Happy Life - Guest Blog by Tomiko Fraser Hines

Drink more water. Or start drinking water. Yes, YOU.
Eat healthier. Be mindful of what you're eating. With each bite think "Is this helping or hurting?"
Exercise several times a week. Find something that you love doing that keeps you moving and GET UP AND DO IT.
Get more sleep. Turn off the computer and television and take your tired ass to bed. You know you need it.
Brush and floss your teeth twice daily. We all forget about the flossing. Let's commit to remembering.
Get annual check ups (including dental and GYN if applicable). Ask questions. Take great care of and be informed about your body temple and what it needs to function properly.
Get yearly mammograms and prostate exams (if applicable). Yes, I am talking to YOU.
Powerfully and authentically express your creativity. Whatever that is, give it permission to run free. Bottled up creativity is truly a slow death.
Forgive yourself and others. Harboring unforgiving thoughts is like giving yourself poison every day. Stop that.
Love, love and love some more. It's needed from you and for you.
Play more. Dance more. Sing more.
Surround yourself with people who recognize and appreciate your SHINE. And be that for others.
Be an example of what's possible when you really give it your all. Someone needs to see it.
Stop people pleasing. NOW. They should love you for who you are, not for what you will do for them.
Communicate with others the way you want them to communicate with you or your children (if you have them).
Accept yourself as you are as you work to better yourself. There is NOTHING wrong with you. You're already a diamond. You may just need some polishing is all.
Tell your loved ones how much you appreciate them often. Don't assume that they know. Extra credit for asking them to do the same for you.
Raise your children to love themselves and to embrace the differences in others. We CAN heal this world of ours.
Connect with nature often. Fall into its healing embrace whenever you can.
Declare your goals out loud as if they are already so (I AM..., I HAVE...). Bonus points for doing so in front of folks who will support your vision and lovingly hold you accountable.
Treat yourself kindly. Be gentle, encouraging and loving with YOU.
Live powerfully self-defined. It's YOUR life and you get to choose how it plays out. No seriously, how life affects you is YOUR choice.
*So now that you know you can stop pretending that you don't.
READY! SET! GO LIVE POWERFULLY!

Reposted in its entirety with permission from the author, Tomiko Fraser Hines. Read more of her works at her Website or on Facebook

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist practicing at Clear Mind Group in Weston, Florida. Call 954-612-9553 for a consultation. Follow Autumn on TwitterFacebook, and Google+. Sign up for the e-newsletter HERE.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Stress-Free Holidays

Would you prefer to go through this holiday season free of the stressors of last year? To move through family gatherings without feeling the pressure of living up to others' standards? To stay on budget and feel good about the savings and the purchases? To meet those little obligations, saying no to some of them without guilt or shame? To look at your to-do list with a sense of calm instead of panic? Hypnotherapy can frame your mind in a way that allows you to move seamlessly through even the formerly stressful portions of life, to gracefully handle this holiday season, and many more to come. Call Autumn to schedule an appointment at 954-612-9553.

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist practicing at Clear Mind Group in Weston, Florida. Call 954-612-9553 for a consultation. Follow Autumn on TwitterFacebook, and Google+. Sign up for the e-newsletter HERE.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Primitive Mind

Some of my success stories are merely recognizing that a client has assimilated information I've given him/her. This was beautifully illustrated recently in a group I run for recently released inmates.

One of the participants is my individual client. When asked what she had taken away from any of the groups that month, she reported, "I really liked last week's group. I was watching one person complain about his job and no matter what anyone suggested, he couldn't hear them. He was in his primitive mind and he needed to bite or run. He couldn't be logical or rational in that state of mind. It was good for me to see that, to be able to reflect on what it means when I'm angry or upset, and how I need to take a break and get out of my primitive mind and to where I can be rational again. I realize that it also means I can't ask anyone for advice, or even vent, in that state, because nothing is going to do any good until I'm calm."

She gets it.

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist practicing at Clear Mind Group in Weston, Florida. Call 954-612-9553 for a consultation. Follow Autumn on TwitterFacebook, and Google+. Sign up for the e-newsletter HERE.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Focused Attention

Rapid Resolution Therapy® is especially beneficial to individuals with Attention Deficit issues and other easily distracted individuals. Hypnotherapy can be used to focus the mind on what needs to be attended to and remove that which is unnecessary.

For instance, when you see this photo, what do you notice? 

Now look at just the sky.
Now look at the wires and city life.

Attention can shift. Mind can be taught to do this seamlessly and quickly.

Schedule an appointment to learn this mind trick and increase your daily focus to get even more done with joy.

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist practicing at Clear Mind Group in Weston, Florida. Call 954-612-9553 for a consultation. Follow Autumn on TwitterFacebook, and Google+. Sign up for the e-newsletter HERE.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Sheros - Guest blog by Tara Dickherber, LPC

Back in the 80’s or 90’s or some time like that I remember there was this push about being a Super Woman- have it all, do it all, be it all.  I look back now and think “What a load of crap.  What a great way to set women up to think they aren’t enough.”  I’ve been slowly reformulating that whole concept into this- Shero: Female Hero.  I my opinion there’s a DRASTIC difference between Super-Woman and Shero.  Let me walk you through what I have so far, and so far I’ve put together enough that I’ve roughed out a book on this very topic.  (Notice I say roughed out, it’s a project in the works and very near to my heart personally and professionally.)

As a Licensed Professional Counselor in the St. Louis area I specialize in working with survivors of sexual trauma.  I see more women than men basically.  Most of the women I work with come in with their chief complaint being self-esteem/self-confidence issues.  It’s a rarity that I see a female client who doesn’t state they have those issues.  First things first we throw the whole concept of better self-esteem out the window.  It’s such an abstract concept.  Like what does self-esteem feel like?  It feels like being comfortable in your own skin and your world.  Let’s aim for that instead!  If we can feel it, if we can conceive of it we are more likely to get there.  Most clients that complain to me about low self-esteem find it easier to conceive of comfort rather than self-confidence.  It’s definitely NOT being cocky and self-centered which is where some clients think self-esteem exists- in the realm of selfishness. 

That leads me to another phase of this- being a Shero is about taking care of yourself- FIRST.  Even if you are married, have kids, and work a full time job you take care of you first.  If you’re not OK then who’s going to be there to take care of everyone else?  I don’t know if it’s hard wiring or learned behavior but most women are care-takers in one way or another.  What’s that cliché’: If Momma ain’t happy nobody’s happy?  Well it’s truth.  If Momma is physically ill then she needs to take some much needed Momma time and get well!  In caring for yourself you are teaching your kids, loved ones, and friends that being mindful of you is OK to do.  I can not count the amount of times I’ve had clients who did EVERYTHING for their family and their family totally took advantage of that and had no respect for them in the end, nor did they know how to do anything for themselves.  That’s an equation for long term mess in my opinion.  If you have kids, seriously, they need to move out eventually and pay their own bills!

Now in caring for yourself that means learning a few skills.  1) Say No.  No is your default setting.  In order for you to say Yes there better be a good reason to say yes, and part of that reason is in saying Yes it’s to something you enjoy doing.  If it’s something you dread say NO!  2) Delegate.  Read that again- DELEGATE.  Other people are likely better at some tasks than you are.  Some of the people in your life might actually enjoy some tasks and such more than you do.  Sometimes, like with kids, they need to learn some life skills, say doing laundry.  Delegate. 3) Schedule time for you and what ever it is you need to do to rejuvenate yourself.  Some of us are introverts and need time alone to meditate, do yoga, read, watch some guilty pleasure TV.  Schedule that FIRST before anything else.  Some of us are extroverts, we rejuvenate while being with others- family dinners, coffee with a friend, etc.  Schedule that FIRST.  THEN schedule date night with your spouse/partner., and then all the other stuff.  Now your work is not going to be accepting of Tuesdays being “Me” day so I guess schedule around work.  (Silly jobs getting in the way of our well -being)

Know your limits, respect them, honor them, and keep them.  If being in a crowded noisy place isn’t your thing and you are totally able to pass up that event DO IT!  I recently did a mud run and a “cheer leader” for our team came to cheer but that person and everyone else knew busy, noisy, crowded events wasn’t that person’s idea of a good time.  Therefore it quickly became a NOT good time for that person.  One can cheer on their loved ones by having a warm meal and a glass of wine ready at home.  In my world both are just as supportive.  Frankly being honest and respecting your own needs teaches others to respect you and your needs. 

Emotionally what many people feel that struggle with “self-esteem” is worry/anxiety.  What many clients tell me is they constantly worry about how others are perceiving them, what they are thinking about them, etc.  I’m here to tell you- They aren’t thinking about you as much as you think they are.  Most humans are pretty lost inside their own head and their own world.  If someone is actually thinking about you that much well you must be pretty famous, or they have problems with obsession or something.  How others perceive you and what they think about you has everything to do with what’s inside their head.  I’ve been in the mental health field for over 15 years…you really don’t want to know what’s going on inside most people’s heads.  Truth be told the more you focus on you and yours the less people focus on you.  In fact some will begin to respect you more for doing so. 

Now this emotional part of this effects all the other parts and vice versus.  Anxiety sometimes needs some professional help to get it managed and cleared.  That’s OK.  That goes right back to take care of you!  Asking for help is key to being your own Shero.  We are social creatures us humans.  We are designed to be with other humans.  (Not saying I want to be with ALL humans but there’s a select few I enjoy being with) Therefore we are designed to help each other.  If you have been helping everyone a lot I guarantee there’s someone you’ve helped that is trying to figure out a way to give back to you.  There’s someone who’d LOVE to help you out, support you, and give back.  It’s time to let them, to ask them, to release them from this mental age of feeling like they owe you something. 

Being a Super-Woman is out.  Being a Shero is what it’s all about.  And the more you Shero on the more Sheros you will find until you have your own Shero League and with your League you will conquer your part of the world! 

Oh and lastly I have to give credit where credit is due.  The term Shero comes from Johnetta B. Cole.  Go look her up, she’s pretty darn amazing! Follow my Shero Blog and share it with your friends!


Tara S. Dickherber, LPC is a Licensed Counselor working in the St. Louis area.  When she’s not in session with her clients she can be found gardening or at the barn horsing around.  For more info on Tara check out her website:  http://www.tarasdickherberlpc.com

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Writing game

My business is words. As both a writer and a therapist, I create a scene with what I say and how it's said. I got some fellow therapists together for a little game, and invite you to play along as well.

Below are 8 pictures with no connection to one another, all simply pulled off Google Images. Your task is to write a very short story, a metaphor, or a simile for each one. Attempt to include humor wherever possible. Be brief, a phrase suffices, a sentence is plenty, or a few sentences is fine.

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist practicing at Clear Mind Group in Weston, Florida. Call 954-612-9553 for a consultation. Follow Autumn on TwitterFacebook, and Google+. Sign up for the e-newsletter HERE.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Animal Instincts - Guest Blog by Julie Davis, MFT

When a monkey sees another monkey messing with his monkey he gets angry, rushes forward, bites the other monkey and other monkey runs away. Two seconds later, both monkeys are eating a banana. When Suarez saw some guy messing with his soccer ball, his mind activated the same primitive system as a monkey to get him to do something to make the guy stop messing with his soccer ball: Anger. Blood rushed upward
Image from The Chive
into Suarez’s hands, feet and jaw setting him up to fight – which is what anger is designed to do - and he bit the guy. Two seconds later Suarez is calm and re-positioned for play.

Two hours later video of the bite was all over the internet. Protests were launched as players and fans alike expressed outrage at the aggressive behavior and Suarez has been temporarily banned from future tournaments.

We expect aggression in sports events yet are shocked when we see the results of primitive mind doing its job of removing a threat. What makes Suarez an expert soccer player is possibly the very thing that got him kicked out of soccer: his ability to access and operate out of primitive mind – and, sometimes, oops, bite people.


Julie Davis
704-807-1101
Certified Rapid Resolution Therapist
Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (CA & NC)
www.juliedavismft.com julie@juliedavismft.com

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist practicing at Clear Mind Group in Weston, Florida. Call 954-612-9553 for a consultation. Follow Autumn on TwitterFacebook, and Google+. Sign up for the e-newsletter HERE.

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Halfway to Goals

We're halfway into the year and I'm wondering about your resolutions. Are you on track? Are you a bit behind? Are you way behind?

This year I resolved to be much more mindful. I've been successful at that in most areas of my life. I've not been so great all the time, but have put effort in those directions.

The books are coming along a bit more slowly than I'd desired as I had some family stuff throw an energy-wrench into my life for a couple of months, but it's resolving. However, it's not what I'd call "way behind", so I'm fine with the progress.

The dice game for Butter Knife Concepts is also coming along and is only held up for financial reasons at this time; lawyers are expensive! This, too, is only "a bit behind" and energy is spent regularly on its progress.

I hope you are not having to run to catch up on your goals, and that if you are, you get to running.

If you are interested in using hypnotherapy for motivation or goal-setting, please call for an appointment.

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist practicing at Clear Mind Group in Weston, Florida. Call 954-612-9553 for a consultation. Follow Autumn on TwitterFacebook, and Google+. Sign up for the e-newsletter HERE.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Thoughts & Feelings Without Meaning

Here's a cycle:
I had a sudden thought about harming someone.
If I can produce thoughts about harming people, I must be a bad person.
If I'm a bad person, others should avoid me.
I should keep myself away from others.
I fear that others will know that I had a thought of harming them.
I am fearsome.

Here's another cycle:
I felt sexually excited by that person.
I'm in a relationship with another person.
I must want to cheat with that other person.
I am a bad person.
I should avoid that other person.
Or maybe I should cheat with that person.

Here's one more:
I'm a recovering addict.
I had a drug dream.
I must want to use drugs.
I should have fear of relapse.
Being afraid makes me nervous.
I'm thinking all the time about drugs now.

Did you see where meaning got assigned in each of those scenarios? Thoughts or sensations or dreams don't have to mean anything at all. Respond to neutral stimuli neutrally, attaching zero meaning. If you never act on them, they remain neutral. If you have fear and obsess over the meaning, and the meaning of the meaning, that's where we get tripped up and act irrationally.

Here's those scenarios redone with neutral stimuli response:
I had a sudden thought of harming someone.
I'm not going to harm anyone.
I'm going to go on with my day.

And:
I felt sexually excited by that person.
I'm in a relationship with another person.
Gee, that was a nice feeling.
I'm not going to act on that.

Last one:
I'm a recovering addict.
I had a drug dream.
Dreams sure are strange.
I'm going to appreciate the sober life I've built.

Learn how to respond to neutral stimuli with neutrality. Call for an appointment. 954-612-9553

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist practicing at Clear Mind Group in Weston, Florida. Call 954-612-9553 for a consultation. Follow Autumn on Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on the right under Follow by Email for the weekly blog delivered directly to you.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Anger Management


Anger is bad for the body, increasing heart disease, disrupting digestion and sleep, and creating distance in relationships. Learn to be centered, in the moment, calm, and strategic in both everyday and difficult circumstances with this solution-focused anger management class.

You will learn 10 techniques in 11 weeks!

The standard class takes place in a small group of up to 8 persons. Alternately, the curriculum can be taught on an individual basis.

The course is approved by the Department of Juvenile Justice for adolescents, and is suitable for ages 13 and up. Separate groups are held for adults and adolescents. No court intervention is necessary, however, and self-referral is welcome.

Do you know someone who could benefit from working through situations with more calm and rational responsivity? Refer them or send them this link to refer themselves.

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist practicing at Clear Mind Group in Weston, Florida. Call 954-612-9553 for a consultation. Follow Autumn on Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on the right under Follow by Email for the weekly blog delivered directly to you.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Women's Group Therapy - Now Forming

Group therapy is an inexpensive way to get support and a new perspective while helping others. Our women's group is positive and upbeat while being honest and holding members accountable.

Want to know how to work through a difficult situation with a spouse, work, kids, or friends? Want another way of thinking of the daily "stuff" of life? Bring it to the group!

We'll keep the pace moving, give everyone a chance to speak, and allow you time to reflect, contribute, and get assistance.

This is a "no whiners" group. We won't be rehashing the same problems every week or simply complaining. This group is for women ready to make a difference in their lives and tackle their problems head on with a supporting and nurturing cheering squad to ask you how it went and what's next.

Groups will be held Tuesdays from 7-8pm, but if I have enough response, a 2nd slot will be added, so please call with a preferred time and day for consideration at 954-612-9553.

New members must schedule a 1-hour intake session prior to attending group for the first time, but do not need to be ongoing clients in order to attend group. Cost is $20 per meeting. Size is limited to 7 attendees.

Please share this information with any women 18 and older that you feel might benefit from attending and call 954-612-9553 to reserve your spot.

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist practicing at Clear Mind Group in Weston, Florida. Call 954-612-9553 for a consultation. Follow Autumn on Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on the right under Follow by Email for the weekly blog delivered directly to you.