Psychotherapist's Journal | Thoughts and Tools to Inspire Wellness in Mind and Body by Karen Gorrin

Announcing The Five Wishes

Are you familiar with The Five Wishes? It is an an easy-to-use legal document that lets adults of all ages plan how they want to be cared for in the event they become seriously ill. Most agree that planning ahead gives people control over their medical care, as well as the peace of mind that comes from expressing their wishes and knowing the wishes of their loved ones. Medical, personal, emotional and spiritual needs are addressed. At the workshops we'll talk about the provocative issue: how do I wish to be treated should I one day be unable to speak for myself?

If the idea of planning ahead for illness sounds just plain depressing, let's take a look at this from another angle: We all know that one day we will die, right? Many of us hope that we will pass quietly in the night, without a fuss. And for many of us, this is just exactly the way it will be. Sometimes, however, we are faced with a turn of events that was not anticipated. And sometimes, these events leave us unable to fully express our wants and needs. The Five Wishes document gives us the opportunity while we are still healthy (and hopefully we will always remain healthy) to express are choices in the event we are one day unable to express ourselves. What is more, The Five Wishes relieves our family from the burden of making the decisions they can only hope we would have wanted. This way, our family knows with certainty they have fulfilled our wishes.

I will be faciliating two upcoming Five Wishes workshops. At each session, participants will receive a copy of the The Five Wishes for personal use. Copies may also be obtained by contacting Aging with Dignity. I also present The Five Wishes at Work sessions for businesses and corporate environments. Contact me for more information or to schedule a workplace program.

To register for the public programs, please call the numbers below.

Wednesday, May 2 at 6:00 PM
The Women's Center at the University of Washington
Meets in Seattle - call 206/685.1090

Thursday, May 3 at 12:30 PM
The Senior's Group at Stroum Jewish Community Center
Meets on Mercer Island - call 206/232.7115

All About Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue: The Mind/Body Connection

Last night I enjoyed the opportunity to meet and hear Jacob Teitelbaum, MD speak about Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue at the Seattle Public Library. Teitelbaum is the medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Centers and is a patient consultant that specializes in the treatment of these conditions. He also authored From Fatigued to Fantastic among other titles.

The focus of Dr. Teitlebaum's talk was the treatment protocol he refers to as SHIN: Sleep, Hormonal Deficiencies, Infections, and Nutritional Deficiencies. If FMS/CFS are an "energy crisis," Dr. Teitelbaum believes it's possible to turn the circuit breakers back ON. Included in his talk was reference to the Mind/Body connection. Here are the qualities Dr. Teitelbaum tends to see in the psychology of his patients:

Low Self Esteem
Overachiever Seeking Approval Where It's Never Received
Trying to be All Things to All People
Taking Care of Others at the Expense of the Self
Unable to say NO

From my own clinical experience, I agree with his conclusions. I'll take a step further to say that the majority of clients I have seen with a FMS/CFS diagnosis have also lived with chronic stress, often related to childhood neglect or abuse, or due to a sudden traumatic event, and many describe poor attachment to their primary caregivers, a contributing factor to developing chronic stress and the sense of aloneness and uncertainty about oneself and the world.

Naturally, this profile does NOT match everyone diagnosed with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue. But it does point to common mind/body aspects of the illness for many people. It also suggests the necessity of a multi-modality approach to healing.

I consistently use the mind/body psychotherapy Lifespan Integration when working with clients with the kind of trauma described above. Lifespan Integration helps to heal past hurts without re-traumatizing. It is especially helpful for relieving anxiety, lifting depression, and helping people re-connect with themselves and their bodies. Mindfulness Meditation also helps to reduce stress and restore people's ability to connect with themselves, and to self soothe. I believe these treatment modalities, when used together with protocols like the SHIN recommendations, can offer a very gentle yet powerful healing.

Thank you, Dr. Teilebaum, for recognizing the deep connection of mind and body in the healing journey from illness to wholeness. It was a pleasure to meet you!

Upcoming Cancer Programs at Harmony Hill

It is my great pleasure to serve on the faculty at Harmony Hill Retreat Center. My experiences working with people living with cancer are consistently heart-warming. I always walk away from my time on the hill having received at least as much as I have given. What is more, the staff and volunteers of Harmony Hill are truly the kind of individuals one calls friends. Please share this information with the people you know who are living with cancer.

In case you don't know, Harmony Hill offers Cancer Retreats at no charge. You can read all about the program, philosophy, and their inspirational founder Gretchen Schodde on the Harmony Hill website.

Here are some of the upcoming workshops and cancer retreats I'll be facilitating at Harmony Hill. For their complete this of cancer programs, please visit the Calendar.

3-Day Cancer Retreat
Friday - Sunday, March 16-18, 2007
Facilitated by Karen Gorrin, Margo Walsh, and Karen Kirsch

Harmony Hill’s cancer retreats are weekend residential programs that help those facing cancer, and their loved ones, cope with the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of cancer. Through stress reduction skills, guided imagery, daily support groups for learning and sharing, yoga, and massage, participants facilitate their own healing and restore quality of life.
Learn More >>

Thriving in Uncertainty
Monday, March 26, 2007
Facilitated by Karen Gorrin

Life after a cancer diagnosis is graduate training in living in Mystery! Nowhere has it been proven, though, that a rich life cannot exist in the presence of deep uncertainty. Learn how befriending the unknown can be the entryway into living a full, wise, and passionate life. Receive tools for turning uncertainty into possibility and adventure.
Learn More >>

Tools for the Journey
Monday, April 23, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
Monday June 25, 2007
Facilitated by Karen Gorrin and Melode Brewer

This one-day mini-retreat is a full day of practical resources and strategies for how to live fully despite the challenges of cancer, and includes simple movement, guided imagery, and information about healing tools and resources. A delicious Harmony Hill lunch is also included! Learn More >>

Announcing PD Teens

PD Teens is a new fun, interactive, community for teens aged 13-18 who have a parent living with Parkinson's Disease. I am grateful for the opportunity to facilitate this group for the American Parkinson's Disease Association, Washington Chapter.

We meet about once monthly here in the Seattle area. Our next meeting with be a Pizza Party on Sunday March 11 at 5:00 PM. We will unveil our new message boards, where teens can login to discuss topics like: Coping with Uncertainty; Understanding Parkinson's; and Lifestyle Changes. While the in-person gatherings are limited to the Seattle-area, the message boards are available to teens nation-wide. Please RSVP to receive more details about this exciting teens-only group.