Wendy K. Belding, LMFT

Thomas Harker is the Acting Secretary of the Navy. Please see the new stance on addressing mental healthcare early. Thank you for leading the way Tom!

In honor of mental health awareness month Tom Harker, Acting Secretary of the Navy, shared his experience with mental health treatment.

Tom Harker, Secretary of the Navy, sharing about his personal experience with mental health treatment. Please share widely.

Here is a great resource for mantram repetition developed by Jill Bormann, PhD. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov//Mantram_Repetition_for_Em

Here is a good resource promoted by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. https://www.disastercopingresources.com/disastershock-manual

Telehealth psychotherapy services now available!

Mindful Self Compassion is another method of helping soothe the soul during challenging times. I particularly like the Loving Kindness meditation. Here is Kristen Neff’s website that walks you through different meditations. https://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/

So many of us are needing a way to find some balance in these very uncertain times. I find going to the ocean to be healing. What are some healthy ways you cope with stress?

This is an overview of a method of calming the mind that is called Mantram Repetition. I learned this method in 2003 from Dr. Jill Bormann who is a nurse research scientist at the VA. We taught classes to Veterans and employees at the VA to help facilitate bringing the heart rate down and blood pressure down. In this very challenging time I think we are all needing some tools to help cope. I hope this is helpful for you.

Recently there was an abrupt change at the San Diego VA In relation to veterans accessing care in the community. I am one of the therapists in the community who works with these veterans. Several of my colleagues and I are very concerned that this recent change will lead to dire consequences for veterans. I believe this is a move from the Veterans Choice program to The Mission Act which was promoted as a program to provide more options for veterans to access services in the c...ommunity. In fact it is significantly reducing access to services creating long wait times for mental healthcare and other types of care. It appears that this transition was suddenly implemented at the end of the Federal Fiscal year without proper staffing at the VA to manage this massive influx of veterans. Please know I worked at the VA in San Diego for years and have met some of the best clinicians I have ever seen. Many people there are very hard workers and 100% committed to caring for veterans. Unfortunately, lack of funding often leaves these great people without options. We all are concerned about the potential increase in depression, PTSD, substance abuse and panic attacks resulting in an increase in suicide. So why am I posting this here? As I understand it the VA is funded by taxpayers and our elected officials serve on the Veterans Affairs committee. The only way to make change within such a massive program is to put pressure on our local representatives, Scott Peters and Mike Levin, to address this as soon as possible. Please let your representative know we cannot let those who have served our country fall through the cracks in this very challenging time. Here is the story: https://www.kpbs.org//utrage-among-therapists-and-veteran/ See more

I found this great article in doing some research for a presentation. It is my belief that there is much more sexual abuse of boys and men than we know. I think we are on the precipice of a monumental revelation. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com//other-me-too-male-sexual

Nature is so restorative!

Many people are finding it challenging to refrain from drinking too much alcohol during this difficult time. Please see this if you think you might have a problem with alcohol. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov//overview-/alcohol-use-disorders

A friend just told me about this interview with Martha Beck that helps highlight what good things can emerge from this very difficult time. Enjoy https://youtu.be/bhrQr8LjDbw