Professionals' Weekend

Thank you to all who joined us at The Power of Ceremony in Healing and Recovery. We have enjoyed hearing from you all and are glad you have taken your experience with you in your travels. Thanks for the feed back and for spending your time with us at The Ranch. We look forward to hosting our next Professionals Program September 17, 18, and 19.


From the Participants:

Our experience together seems to have been just the pebble we all needed, the ripples are emanating throughout the streams of our souls! I'm so glad to be a part of it! The Ranch is a special place.

"Thank you and all of the Ranch staff. It was like I had a new pair of glasses on when I returned to work. Everything was so clear. Thanks for helping us have a wonderful weekend. I have been looking at the Ranch web site for about two years. It was so good to experience it up close and personal. Ya'll have a great place and a very good atmosphere to work."

Dr. Carolyn Ross

Eating Disorder Consultant at The Ranch

I started consulting with the eating disorders program at The Ranch in February of this year. I am very excited about my work here. I am an eating disorder specialist who uses integrative medicine to treat anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and compulsive overeating. The Ranch has welcomed this approach as it includes both conventional therapies as well as the use of dietary supplements and other alternative therapies. The women's programs at The Ranch treat many co-occurring disorders and I enjoy the challenge of working with these complex patients and the very professional staff who manage them.

A physician, author, and nationally recognized speaker, Dr. Carolyn Ross is a graduate of the University of Michigan School and an alumnus of Dr. Andrew Weil's Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. She holds a masters degree in public health with an emphasis on international health. She has more than 20 years experience as a practicing physician specializing in womens health and integrative medicine. She served as the Head of the Eating Disorder Program and Head of Integrative Therapies at Sierra Tucson, an internationally respected treatment center in Arizona. Dr. Ross understands the powerful role that a mind/ body/ spirit approach plays in healing, particularly in her area of expertise - eating disorders. Her first book, "Miracles in Healing" recounts her journey of self healing while offering a mesmerizing exploration of alternative and complementary healing modalities. Her second book, due out next year, guides professional in an integrative medicine approach to the treatment of eating disorders based on the highly successful program Dr. Ross has developed at Sierra Tucson.

Yana visits the Ranch

The Ranch Staff saddles up!

New Faces at The Ranch

Greta Hillin, Program Manager and Therapist for Spring House - Greta holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX. Her introduction to the counseling profession was with Hope Alliance Crisis Center, serving domestic abuse and sexual assault survivors. She began as the Law Enforcement Outreach Coordinator, working closely with police officers and assisting them in working with rape victims and domestic abuse situations. She went on to become Director of Intervention Services where she oversaw the clinical team and intern program, facilitated support and therapeutic groups and worked with clients one on one. Upon leaving the crisis center, Greta worked at Austin Recovery as a primary therapist for men living at Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center and running a small private practice. More recently, Greta was at The Meadows where she was a Survivor’s Week facilitator, working with family of origin issues and helping clients heal childhood wounding. Greta began her own recovery journey in 1989 and her passion is in working with clients who suffer from trauma, codependency and addiction issues.

Dr. Louise Merritt, Psychiatrist - Dr. Louise Merritt is a Menniger-trained psychiatrist with additional training in child and adolescent psychiatry. She has many years of experience in the addiction and dual diagnosis fields. Her areas of interest and expertise include trauma recovery, mood and personality disorders as well as integrative/holistic psychiatry.

Kate Michael-MacLeod, Program Manager and Therapist for Lake House - Kate could not be happier about getting to work at the Ranch. Her previous experience includes crisis counseling at WomenFIRST in Charlotte, N.C., social work and program planning at the Martha O’Bryan Center in Nashville, group facilitation for teen offenders with the Domestic Violence Intervention Center in Nashville, and many hours of volunteer work teaching dance, theatre, and creative writing to emotionally disturbed youth in South Florida, where she was born and raised. Kate comes to the Ranch after working primarily with teens in state’s custody at a Level 3 lockdown facility, and is thrilled by the change of scenery. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Development Counseling and is a Nationally Certified Counselor (N.C.C.).

Karen Moran, Program Manager and Therapist for Hilltop House - Karen has held a Tennessee license as an alcohol and drug counselor since 2002 and has 19 years experience in the counseling and addiction field, working with primarily adolescents and their families with chemical dependency and trauma. She has worked in residential, outpatient, psychiatric, and sober living communities and with diverse client groups. She is originally from South Florida, but has been in the Nashville area for over 12 years. She is thrilled to be a part of the ranch team.

Chris Morrison, Aftercare Coordinator - Chris began working for the Ranch as a resident assistant for River House in August of 2007. In November of 2008 he was promoted to Aftercare Coordinator where he plans continuing care for discharging clients and works on follow-ups with Ranch Alumni. He also helps run Experiential Therapy here at the Ranch through ropes courses and team building exercises. Chris has worked in treatment centers such as Cumberland Heights in Nashville, behavioral facilities for juveniles such as Omni Vision, and taught children art and woodworking for Camp Marymount and the Appalachian Center for Arts and Crafts. He has attended colleges for art and computer science. Chris began his own journey into recovery in 1997 and has done extensive work with Nashville’s sober high school, Community High School.

Shelly Patrick, Nurse - Shelly brings 17 years nursing experience with her to The Ranch. She has worked in many different areas during her nursing career, including detox, addiction and inpatient psychiatric care. Shelly feels blessed to be part of The Ranch family. She has a husband and two wonderful children at home.

EYE on Recovery –

EMDR and Brainspotting!
by Dawn Zurlinden
Clinical Specialist for The Ranch

We, here at The Ranch, are as motivated as ever to provide deep trauma resolution therapy. In addition to addictive problems, so many people carry unresolved traumatic memories, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The treatment team at The Ranch is always researching methods that work, and methods that work together. We combine hands-on experiential techniques like psychodrama and equine therapy, with traditional and newer methods such as EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). We are now including an off-shoot of EMDR called Brainspotting.
Residents have been so pleased with the rapid results of EMDR and Brainspotting. EMDR was developed by Dr Francine Shapiro in 1989. This method is based on the premise that the mind is inclined to heal the past. It begins with targeting a traumatic memory. With a series of simple eye movements, coupled with gentle exploration, the memory is quite often reprocessed and resolved to the point where it is no longer a painful or frightening memory.
Brainspotting, recently developed by David Grand, PhD, also uses simple eye movements. It tends to work more with the emotional component of a memory, and for many, with dramatic results! The technique draws on the fact that often the fight-or-flight response to a traumatic event is not completed, but rather, “stored”. This results in symptoms like continuous anxiety or sudden anxiety when a triggering event happens. Brainspotting allows focused completion of the fight-or-flight response into the relaxation response. It can also address incomplete emotional reactions such as grief, anger, and shame. The result is the same as with EMDR – the memory is no longer disturbing. Even related memories tend to be resolved, indirectly.
Resolving issues from the past has so much to do with recovery and the future. Sometimes it’s a mystery as to why we repeat behaviors we don’t want to repeat. The answer may well be in the past. Our residents have taught us that it is so much easier to change present behaviors without the silent nudges from the past demanding immediate relief. Then the fun really begins! We love to see that here at The Ranch. The Ranch is ready to help open options for ways to embrace our true nature and create new ways of living!

Round Up

Dear Friends,

What a gift it has been to work with you over the last several years. I have a lot of gratitude for your ongoing support of the Ranch and those we serve. Transition and change is what we as and industry specialize in, and I have been fortunate to be affiliated with one of the most creative organizations in the country supporting people in their personal growth and recovery journey. The time for change and transition has come for me and I would say I struggle with it as much as those we work with. I have decided to transition from The Ranch on June 1st. Although I am very fortunate to have a great opportunity in front of me I have sadness in letting go of the incredible people I’ve been blessed to work with. I am also indebted to professionals and facilities in this community that have supported the Ranch and my growth.

The Ranch will continue to be a premier healing and recovery program specializing in trauma, mood, addictive, and eating disorders treatment. I am confident in the management and clinical teams and their ability to carry on the compassionate integrative wellness approach that has earned us our reputation for excellence in patient care. You can rest confidently in the Ranch’s dedication and commitment to you and to our clients.

I am also grateful and appreciative of the ongoing support from the owners of the Ranch. They have allowed the space and opportunity to support, develop, and be apart of a world class team. Co-owner Lee McCormick is stepping in as the executive director and is dedicated to the mission and evolution of The Ranch going forward.

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you and help guide The Ranch during my time. I continue to be humbled and honored to be a part of the professional therapeutic and treatment community. I believe in what we do and welcome the challenges our generation faces with the healing movement. I look forward to continuing to learn, advocate, and carry the message of hope to those in need of our service. The Ranch and you are a big part of the foundation that for me continues to be life changing.

Sincerely,

Miles Adcox, MS

Peace of Mind - Help to Change a Stressful, Unfulfilling Life

Peace of Mind – Help to Change a Stressful, Unfulfilling Life By Dawn Zurlinden Nov 16, 2008 - 10:38:11 AM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Imagine that you can be completely happy, all the time. If you already are, you know it’s possible. If not, have you told yourself it’s not possible? If you could believe it’s possible, would you then be willing to take your life into your own hands and begin to transform it? The truth is you don’t even have to believe it’s possible. You only have to be willing to try some changes.

See the Problem

It may be hard to imagine complete happiness, but it’s not as hard to imagine what is getting in the way of it. Many things may be obvious, such as stress from responsibilities and worry about the future. Perhaps the ailing economy, job security, or the health and welfare of your children has you on the edge of your seat. Add to that, current issues, such as your overly burdened schedule, lack of self-care, or even worse, a growing or full-blown addiction. And perhaps you’re lugging along the weight of the past: resentments that play over and over in your head that interfere with current relationships; incomplete acceptance of the death of a loved one, broken dreams or relationships. And then there are the more obscure specters from the past – imprints from unresolved events of abuse and trauma.

What all these obstacles to happiness have in common is that they create anxiety. You can get so used to worry, resentment or a hectic lifestyle that you may not even recognize that you are no longer all that happy. One of the most common symptoms of anxiety is feeling emotionally disconnected. How can you tell you’re disconnected? Recall fully, for a moment, how you felt during the best part of your life. If it doesn’t match today, there’s a good chance you’re emotionally shut down – not feeling. This is only being half alive!

It’s clear to professionals that trauma or loss causes us to create some sort of emotional coping strategy. Often the strategy is to emotionally or mentally shut off. This makes it even harder to recognize that trauma happened. Did you know that witnessing abuse causes trauma? So do losses such as an absentee parent. Sometimes more obvious symptoms of anxiety emerge, such as nervousness, poor concentration, irritability, insomnia, physical illnesses, even ragefulness. It only stands to reason that heavy artillery would be applied to such an uncomfortable state, such as drugs, alcohol, food, or compulsive behaviors such as exercise, overly focusing on the future, shopping, reading, overly focusing on helping others, you name it! There’s also resignation and re-doubled emotional shut-down.

Anxiety or emotional disconnection is truly illness. It’s illness to your physical body, your relationships, your lifestyle, and your sense of spirituality. If you want true health and happiness there are some fantastic methods to achieve this. All that’s required is a willingness to try something – to take an action. Not blaming others, circumstances or fate for your current problems makes action possible.

See the Solutions

Well, it looks like you’re already taking an action – you’re reading about solutions. There are many “home remedies” below. If you haven’t tried one (with real effort) within three days of reading this, move on to “assisted remedies”!

Home Remedies:

Learn meditation and relaxation techniques. Take two minutes to sit and breathe each hour. This one thing can change your life.

Eat healthily, drink plenty of water, get 7-8 hours of sleep and 30 minutes of exercise daily.

Practice emotional housekeeping – Don’t sweep emotions under the rug. Feel them through, or plan a time to return to them for resolution. Then calmly create an action plan to address the internal or external source.

Set healthy boundaries, live in the present and have realistic expectations.

Stay connected to a supportive group of friends.

Find things that tickle you and have a good laugh!


Assisted Remedies:

First get a full assessment by a licensed social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist or pastoral counselor. Then consider the following options:

Comprehensive residential healing programs such as those provided by The Ranch in Tennessee. These integrate treatment for body, mind and Spirit. They address core issues, especially trauma and grief using state-of-the-art techniques such as EMDR and Brainspotting. They address current issues such as compulsivity, anxiety and depression. They teach a full range of coping skills and ways to change thinking, to provide for emotional and spiritual connectedness.

Short intensive therapy programs such as those provided by Onsite, in Tennessee.

Spiritual retreat programs.

Individual, family or group therapy.

Twelve-Step programs.

Massage, cranial-sacral therapy, or medical treatment for chronic physical symptoms.

Yoga, dance, Tai Chi and other martial arts.

Peace of mind is possible. Desire it and be willing to take an action!

Dawn Zurlinden, LCSW, is a Clinical Specialist at The Ranch outside Nashville, TN. Copyright 2008

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