Spark Center for Self Development

Spark Center's new online therapeutic support group, Postpartum Empowerment, begins this Tuesday, 3/23! This ongoing group is designed to help new moms learn how to respond skillfully to the demands and emotional ups and downs of mommy-ing, and support a secure connection to baby. Weekly Zoom sessions will be held on Tuesdays from from 11:30a-12:30pm PST. Ideal participants are... First-time moms w/infant(s) New moms challenged by postpartum depression and/or anxiety Eager to learn how to cope with the demands of caring for a new baby Moms open to sharing their unique experiences with others honestly, respectfully, and compassionately Learn more or sign up by visiting: https://sparkcenter.com/events/postpartum-empowerment/ Please note: All meetings online via Zoom $50/session fee; minimum 4-session purchase Starts 3/23/2021, then meets every Tuesday from 11:30am 12:30pm PST Pre-group screening is required to determine needs & promote group cohesion

We're excited to announce a collaboration between Soul Space and Spark Center featuring our very own, Dr. La Tanya Takla! RSVP today for tomorrow's informative, mental health management virtual workshop: Race-based Traumatic Stress & Mental Health Stigma. Free registration:: http://bit.ly/Race-Based-TraumaticStress This online workshop will be educational, interactive, and skill-building. Aimed to create awareness and support the development of coping skills to better manage ...race-based stressors faced by Black people. Group discussions will focus on defining and understanding race-based traumatic stress and its impact on Black mental health and wellness. The role of mental health stigma will be explored as a barrier to seeking mental health treatment and support. Workshop participates will learn proactive ways to protect their well-being by exploring & learning how to respond skillfully to race-based stressors related to traumatic experiences. Visit the ONTRACK Soul Space resource page for additional mental health management tools. https://ontrackconsulting.org/services-projects/soul-space/

Becoming a mom is a rewarding yet challenging journey that can feel overwhelming and isolating, especially when postpartum depression and anxiety are part of the picture. Introducing Spark Center's "Postpartum Empowerment Group" Our new online therapeutic support group designed to strengthen confidence and connection for new moms. In this group we’ll focus on... LEARNING to apply valuable child development information to your parenting approach that will help moms to take better care of themselves and their family. PRACTICING self-care, mindfulness, and other strategies to reduce stress and increase mom’s and baby’s emotional well-being. EXPLORING the REAL challenges and demands of motherhood in a supportive, non-shaming, non-judgmental, baby-friendly setting. CONNECTING with other new moms sharing the same stage in life. Learn more or sign up by visiting: https://sparkcenter.com/events/postpartum-empowerment/ Ideal participants are First-time moms w/infant(s) New moms challenged by postpartum depression and/or anxiety Eager to learn how to cope with the demands of caring for a new baby Moms open to sharing their unique experiences with others honestly, respectfully, and compassionately Please note: All meetings online via Zoom $50/session fee; minimum 4-session purchase Starts 3/23/2021, then meets every Tuesday from 11:30am 12:30pm PST Pre-group screening is required to determine needs & promote group cohesion

Mommies Matter Too Introducing Spark Center's new online discussion group for Moms of Young Children (4-10 yrs). Beginning Wednesday, 3/24, join us for weekly discussions about... Coping with the challenges of pandemic parenting... Combating parenting perfectionism and mommy-shame Getting relief from the default parent role Restoring hope in the face of unreasonable demands Emerging from isolation and connecting with others Developing a realistic self-care plan and acting on it Additional details to note: This group is facilitated by Postpartum & Parenting Specialist, April Cox-Jordan, LCSW (97761) and meets Wednesdays on Zoom from 4p-5p PST. This ongoing group is for moms w/children ages 4-10 years old. Each session is $50 with a min. of 4 sessions purchase required. Insurance accepted (Aetna, Cigna, MHN, & Optum/United Healthcare/UBH) Learn more or sign up by visiting: https://sparkcenter.com/events/mommies-matter-too/

Spark Center Announcement Our new virtual Anxiety-Focused DBT (A-DBT) Group, led by Dr. Stephanie Espinoza*, will be starting on Wednesday, 3/17. Weekly sessions will take place on Zoom from 6-7:30PM. Learn key skills to combat worry and improve your emotional confidence in every situation you encounter. This program will be tailored very specifically to individuals who are maintaining stability in their day-to-day lives but have a significant internal struggle with unwant...ed, repetitive, and intrusive anxious thoughts and worry. Please note, this is an ongoing group for adults only (18+). Join anytime. To learn more, or sign up, please visit - https://sparkcenter.com/events/anxiety-focused-dbt-group/ *Registered Psychological Assistant (94025627) to Brenda Vaccaro, PsyD (PSY29151)

Spark Center Announcement Our virtual Anxiety-Focused DBT Group, led by Dr. Stephanie Espinoza*, will be starting on Thursday, 11/5. All sessions will take place on Zoom. Learn key skills to combat worry and improve your emotional confidence in every situation you encounter. This program will be tailored very specifically to individuals who are maintaining stability in their day-to-day lives but have a significant internal struggle with unwanted, repetitive, and intrusive ...anxious thoughts and worry. To learn more, or sign up, please visit - https://sparkcenter.com/groups-workshops/ #adbt *Registered Psychological Assistant (94025627) to Brenda Vaccaro, PsyD (PSY29151)

A lot of us experience distress associated with anxious thinking patterns that lead to avoidance, constant reassurance seeking, and overanalyzingbehaviors that only provide temporary relief from discomfort. These approaches aren’t adaptive and generally make things worse over time. Thankfully, you don’t have to stay stuck in your struggle with your anxiety anymore! Introducing the Spark Center A-DBT Program, lead by Dr. Stephanie Espinoza* Anxiety-focused Dialectical Behav...ior Therapy (A-DBT) is an expansion of traditional DBT which was developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan in the 1970s to help people living with more severe, chronic mental health challenges. Since then, DBT also has been empirically validated as an effective treatment for addiction, suicidality, depression, and eating disorders, as well as anxiety. Our A-DBT programas the name impliesis focused on supporting individuals whose struggles revolve around anxiety and worry. It's the best collection of coping skillsall in one placethat provides long-lasting relief from the thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety as well as the depression, isolation, and limited quality of life that often accompany anxiety. A-DBT can help you strengthen your ability to handle distress without avoiding life or reacting in ways that undermine your goals and your connection to others. To learn more about A-DBT, please visit: https://sparkcenter.com/dialectical-behavior-therapy/ *Registered Psychological Assistant (94025627) to Brenda Vaccaro, PsyD (PSY29151)

Acceptance and compassion are essential for nurturing personal growth. . . .... #startbuildingabetterlife #SparkCenterSacramento #igniteawareness #inspireaction #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #sacramento #midtown #igerssac #exploremidtown #sacramento365 #visitsacramento #visitsac #midtownsac #rstreet #sacproud #mysacramento #exploresac #sactown #rstreetcorridor #DOCO #downtownsac #sacramentoproud #sacramento_life #sacramentolife #sacramentobusiness #sacramentocalifornia #streetsac

Bring it. We're not skurred. #noshame #startbuildingabetterlife #SparkCenterSacramento #igniteawareness #inspirechange #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #sacramento #midtown #igerssac #exploremidtown #sacramento365 #visitsacramento #visitsac #midtownsac #rstreet #sacproud #mysacramento #exploresac #sactown #rstreetcorridor #DOCO #downtownsac #sacramentoproud #sacramento_life #sacramentolife #sacramentobusiness #sacramentocalifornia

Boundaries (both internal and external) help us prevent others from intruding on and exploiting us and keep us from stepping over the line with others. They protect our very sense of self separate from the needs and will of others, and they impact nearly every area of our lives. . If you didn’t learn reliable, appropriate boundaries growing up or have been in relationships with people who couldn’t or didn’t respect your boundaries, then your confidence around establishing you...r own personal fences may have been impacted negatively. . Thankfully, therapy offers a space to experience and relearn healthy boundaries, so we can build the confidence to invite more rewarding experiences and relationships into our lives. . . . #boundaries #startbuildingabetterlife #SparkCenterSacramento #igniteawareness #inspirechange #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #sacramento #midtown #igerssac #exploremidtown #sacramento365 #visitsacramento #visitsac #midtownsac #rstreet #sacproud #mysacramento #exploresac #sactown #rstreetcorridor #DOCO #downtownsac #sacramentoproud #sacramento_life #sacramentolife #sacramentobusiness #sacramentocalifornia See more

The more we avoid our emotional experience and needfulness, the less vulnerability we can tolerate in others. . . . #projection #distresstolerance #startbuildingabetterlife #SparkCenterSacramento #igniteawareness #inspirechange #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #sacramento #midtown #igerssac #exploremidtown #sacramento365 #visitsacramento #visitsac #midtownsac #rstreet #sacproud #mysacramento #exploresac #sactown #rstreetcorridor #DOCO #downtownsac #sacramentoproud #sacramento_life #sacramentolife #sacramentobusiness #sacramentocalifornia

To connect to an injustice outside of our own experience, sometimes we just need to shut up and listen. . . . #blm #blmsacramento #blacklivesmatter #startbuildingabetterlife #SparkCenterSacramento #igniteawareness #inspirechange #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #sacramento #midtown #igerssac #exploremidtown #sacramento365 #visitsacramento #visitsac #midtownsac #rstreet #sacproud #mysacramento #exploresac #sactown #rstreetcorridor #DOCO #downtownsac #sacramentoproud #sacramento_life #sacramentolife #sacramentobusiness #sacramentocalifornia

In the first of Spark Center's Collective Healing Forums, Emily Law, MA will facilitate a 5-part online psychoeducational discussion aimed at supporting White adults and teens (16+) toward deepening critical self-reflection and developing more consistent and effective anti-racist and anti-oppression efforts. . . . #sustainableallyship #blm #blmsacramento #blacklivesmatter #startbuildingabetterlife #SparkCenterSacramento #igniteawareness #inspirechange #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #sacramento #midtown #igerssac #exploremidtown #sacramento365 #visitsacramento #visitsac #midtownsac #rstreet #sacproud #mysacramento #exploresac #sactown #rstreetcorridor #DOCO #downtownsac #sacramentoproud #sacramento_life #sacramentolife #sacramentobusiness

In the first of Spark Center’s Collective Healing Forums, Dr. La Tanya Takla, EdD, LMFT, LPCC will facilitate a 5-part online therapeutic discussion aimed at supporting Black adults and teens (16+) toward understanding and processing racialized grief and developing racial healing practices. . . . #racializedgrief #blm #blmsacramento #blacklivesmatter #startbuildingabetterlife #SparkCenterSacramento #igniteawareness #inspirechange #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #sacramento #midtown #igerssac #exploremidtown #sacramento365 #visitsacramento #visitsac #midtownsac #rstreet #sacproud #mysacramento #exploresac #sactown #rstreetcorridor #DOCO #downtownsac #sacramentoproud #sacramento_life #sacramentolife #sacramentobusiness

We must enter into our own painful inner landscape in order to walk through it. . . . #selfacceptance #distresstolerance #startbuildingabetterlife #SparkCenterSacramento #igniteawareness #inspirechange #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #sacramento #midtown #igerssac #exploremidtown #sacramento365 #visitsacramento #visitsac #midtownsac #rstreet #sacproud #mysacramento #exploresac #sactown #rstreetcorridor #DOCO #downtownsac #sacramentoproud #sacramento_life #sacramentolife #sacramentobusiness #sacramentocalifornia

Spark Team Tip of the Day: . Parents and caregivers need to provide co-regulationor what I like to call emotional mentorshipto their children to help them develop long term self-control. Children don’t learn how to self-regulate in a vacuum. . When children are struggling, they need a calm other to reliably help them contain and metabolize intense feelings. That’s how childrenand later teens and adultslearn how to tolerate and respond skillfully to their intense emot...ional experiences instead of reacting to them impulsively. Emotional mentorship usually involves a soothing tone of voice or supportive silence, warmth, validation, and the affectionate invitation to reflect and problem-solve. . Many of my clients didn’t get enough co-regulation as children and struggle with self-soothing and coping with anxiety and turbulent emotions in their adult lives. Thankfully, the brain holds on to its ability to learn new self-regulation skills throughout the lifespan. It’s never too late to build emotional confidence! Therapy can help provide the emotional mentorship necessary to learn how to handle distress without avoiding life or reacting in ways that undermine goals and connection to others. . Brenda Vaccaro, PsyD, Founder & Executive Director . #startbuildingabetterlife #SparkCenterSacramento #igniteawareness #inspirechange #attachment #emotionregulation #copingskills #distresstolerance #childhoodemotionalneglect #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #sacramento #midtown #igerssac #exploremidtown #sacramento365 #visitsacramento #visitsac #midtownsac #rstreet #sacproud #mysacramento #exploresac #sactown #rstreetcorridor #DOCO #downtownsac See more

Mothering has many different meanings and isn't an act associated with just those who share a biological connection with us. Let's celebrate today what being maternal means at its essence--offering unconditional nurturing, grace, empathy, and acceptance. . . . #startbuildingabetterlife #SparkCenterSacramento #igniteawareness #inspirechange #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #sacramento #midtown #igerssac #exploremidtown #sacramento365 #visitsacramento #visitsac #midtownsac #rstreet #sacproud #mysacramento #exploresac #sactown #rstreetcorridor #DOCO #downtownsac