Vicarious Trauma Institute's Blog
Emotional Sustainability in a Changing World
March 06, 2010: Dealing with any type of trauma is draining on one's emotional health. Many of you are working towards living sustainably to restore the earth's natural balance. It is time now to also be aware of living an emotionally sustainable live to restore yourself.
One important aspect of making the shift from an addictive society to a green community is learning to develop the internal skill of emotional sustainability. As Kermit the Frog once sang, "It's not easy being green".
Change, in and of itself can be scary. Add to that the global anxiety inherent in economic crisis and terrorism and one can relate to feeling afraid. When humans feel afraid, they can get stuck in the primitive part of the brain called the limbic system; known for the reflexive fight, flight or freeze reaction. When that happens, we are at risk to distract ourselves from the unpleasant state through addictive behaviors.
Now that we are finally facing our excesses, let's make the paradigm shift by conserving our internal AND our external resources. Let's respond, rather than react, to fear with higher thinking traits such as creativity and hope.
About the Authors
Ellie Izzo, PhD, LPC
Dr. Ellie Izzo is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been in clinical practice since 1982. Ellie is co-founder and a core trainer with the Vicarious Trauma Institute. She developed the Rapid Advance Process™, which was the subject of her doctoral dissertation. She is the author of The Bridge to I Am: Rapid Advance Psychotherapy©2007 and co-author of Day After Day the Price You Pay: Managing Your Second Hand Shock and The Second-Hand Shock™ Workbook.
Ellie conducts all phases of psychotherapy. She also serves as a Divorce Coach, Child Specialist and/or Team Manager in the process of Collaborative Divorce, whereby a team of professionals help a couple move through divorce respectfully, without litigating.
Ellie is a member of the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, the American Mental Health Counselors Association, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and Collaborative Divorce Professionals of Arizona. She is married with children and grandchildren. Her office is located in Scottsdale, Arizona.
To reach Ellie, please email ellieizzo@vicarioustrauma.com.
Vicki Carpel Miller, BSN, MS, LMFT
Vicki is co-founder and a core trainer with the Vicarious Trauma Institute, utilizing the Rapid Advance Process® for treatment of Vicarious Trauma. She is co-author of Day After Day the Price You Pay: Managing Your Second Hand Shock and The Second-Hand Shock™ Workbook.
She is an internationally recognized presenter and trainer in the field of Collaborative Practice, training family lawyers, licensed mental health and financial professionals world-wide in the Collaborative Divorce Full Interdisciplinary Team Model of Collaborative Practice with Collaborative Divorce Team Trainings.
Vicki is co-founder of the Collaborative Divorce Professionals of Arizona and functions as a divorce coach, child specialist and/or case manager in Collaborative Divorce files. She is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), the American Counseling Association (ACA), a Clinical Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT), the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), and an Advanced Practitioner Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution. Vicki has received advanced training in family mediation, narrative mediation, interest-based negotiation, Collaborative Law and Collaborative Divorce Interdisciplinary Team Practice.
To reach Vicki, please email vcarpelmiller@vicarioustrauma.com.