Pragmatic Alchemy Courtney Edwards, MS, BCC

"We will all be hit with a level of adversity, and many listeners probably already have. How do we use that to fuel us and to inspire us to keep moving forward? How do we use that to find meaning in our lives, to find that energy so that we can continue forward.”



We are so excited to welcome Daniel Gospodarek to the show! Daniel is a licensed certified social worker in private practice in Colorado, and he is also living with a traumatic brain injury (TBI).



In this heartfelt conversation, Daniel shares his experience following a car accident that changed the course of his life forever. He shares the ways that accepting the truth of this new reality helped his own healing journey and the ways others can take a similar approach. Daniel is truly living alchemy every day, as he incorporates support and advocacy for the TBI community into his professional life.



From our guest

My name is Daniel Gospodarek, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, Colorado. I sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) going into my senior year of high school that nearly took my life. This directed me to the 'helping profession.' My TBI needed immediate medical attention and I continue the recovery process to this day. I started my private practice which focuses on trauma/PTSD, anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, and TBIs to support and empower those who experience these challenges live the lives they desire.



https://www.revitalizementalhealth.com/

IG: @revitalize_mentalhealth https://www.instagram.com/revitalize_mentalhealth/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069066712379




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This amazing conversation with Carrie Allen explores the importance of community and the impact of capitalism, among other things, on our ability to form and maintain meaningful connections.



In this episode, Carrie and Courtney discuss the importance of community and the challenges of building and maintaining connections in today's society. They explore the idea that community happens in inconvenience and that true community requires effort and support.



They emphasize the simplicity of belonging and provide concrete steps for individuals to start building community in their lives. They also discuss the importance of consistency and finding the right fit for community engagement.



The conversation highlights the power of curiosity in forging new friendships and concludes with a call to continue the journey of community.



Takeaways


Community happens in inconvenience and requires effort and support.


Belonging is a simple yet essential aspect of community.


Concrete steps to building community include identifying existing communities to participate in and taking small actions to connect with others.


Consistency is key in building and maintaining community connections.


Finding the right cadence for community engagement is important, as different communities have different cycles.


Active participation and curiosity are essential in forging new friendships and connections.


The journey of community is ongoing and requires continuous effort and learning.



About our guestCarrie Allen is a visionary community builder and advocate, renowned for her transformative insights into the importance of genuine, interconnected communities. Drawing from her personal journey, she inspires us to remember the significance of true community and connections in various aspects of life, from parenthood to entrepreneurship to the core essence of being human. Her wisdom urges us to rethink our roles within communities, rediscover the magic of authentic connections, and actively foster empowering, uplifting environments. As the founder of The Human Array, Carrie brings over 20 years of community-building experience to create connected and conscious spaces for living, growing, and creating, where she empowers individuals to embrace authenticity and contribute to thriving, uplifting communities.

Find Carrie online at The Human Array or on Instagram!


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"Whenever we've talked about community of care, it's really been talking about how the systems have been built against us and how we're pushed to be independent, very productive.

And “self-care” is a form of just putting a bandaid on yourself when that's really not a way to have longevity within any sort of field; especially in something where you're caring for other people.”

We have arrived at our final episode of Season 3 and so we made sure to make it extra special! Courtney is joined by student affairs professionals Julie Olson Rand and Alyssa Klenotich to discuss all the ways #selfcare is a less effective strategy than a community of care.

The timing of this feels especially relevant - the hectic pace of the holidays and the imminent arrival of “New Year’s Resolutions” (if you’re into those sorts of things!). As we move forward, Julie and Alyssa offer this perspective that shows us where true wellbeing, healing, and support can take root in our frazzled lives.

About our guests:

Julie Olson Rand (she/they) serves as the Associate Director for Access Programs at the University of Minnesota.  Prior to beginning her role at the U of MN, she served as Director for Student Accessibility & Accommodations at St. Catherine University.

Her previous experience includes over ten years as an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter and an educator in the ASL interpreting program at St. Catherine University, overseeing students during their internships.

Julie is an alumni of the University of Minnesota, where she earned a B.A. and M.Ed. She also holds a post-baccalaureate certificate from St. Catherine University in ASL Interpreting.  Julie currently serves on the Board of Directors for ThinkSelf, a Deaf-led non-profit serving the Deaf community with advocacy and education programs.

In her free time, Julie enjoys making beaded jewelry and doing hot yoga.  Julie lives in Minneapolis with her partner and three children.

Check out her jewelry work at https://www.instagram.com/abel_and_jule/



Alyssa Klenotich (She/Her) serves as the Associate Director of  Disability Services at Macalester College. She previously was introduced to  Julie at St. Catherine University where she served as the Assistant Director of Student Accessibility and Accommodations. 

Prior, she received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Winona State and her masters degree in college counseling and student development from St. Cloud State University, which was rooted in helping skills with a lens of social justice.

During that time she worked with students on academic warning and probation along with completing her thesis exploring students with disabilities experiences with faculty members.

She currently lives in the suburbs of Minnesota with her two dogs.



We will be taking a short break over the next few weeks to rest and finish prepping for Season 4! You can expect new episodes in January. In the meantime watch for some of your favorite and most listened to episodes during our Pragmatic Winter Replay.

Contact the show at courtney@shineandsoar.com with guest suggestions, topic ideas, and other feedback.

Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe wherever you are listening. Create YOUR community of care by sharing this episode!


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"It's medicine; it's an invitation into the medicine of expansion, contraction, but also where might you be invited into a different energy.”



We are thrilled to offer this incredibly special episode! Courtney had the opportunity to sit with rebel therapist, Debbie Mediate, and explore the intersections, parallels, benefits, and compatibilities of Western psychotherapy and "woo" practices: in this case, specifically astrology and tarot.



At the conclusion of this robust conversation, Debbie pulls out her deck and offers Courtney a tarot reading! You'll have to stay tuned to the postscript to find out the impact that reading had on Courtney's career explorations!



From our guest:

I have never had a sense of fitting in. I have always leaned into my love of adventure and rather impulsive nature. I am curious about most everything and love to explore my inner and outer worlds.

Thus was the birth of my private practice, Rebel Therapy.

My love of wisdom traditions and divination has been lifelong. What began as curiosity has, over the decades, become a deep knowledge and understanding of the power of tarot, astrology, and shamanic work to assist us with deepening our understanding of self. My own journey with these tools is an ever-present guide.

I am, by education and training, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. My career has taken me to both the west and east coast and has included working on acute inpatient psychiatric units, in residential facilities for folks living with schizophrenia, as a member of a mobile crisis team, and most recently as a psychotherapist for several private practice groups, an outpatient mental health clinic, and my own private practice.

With my own private practice, I have clinical expertise in traditional modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed work, solution-focused therapy, and psychodynamic therapy, all offered with compassion and warmth in a safe and empowering environment.

My passion for the metaphysical combined with my expertise and love of insight therapy brings me to this offering and a change to meet you on your journey to gaining and trusting your inner wisdom.

You can find Debbie at the following places:

Rebel Therapy: https://www.rebeltherapy.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com › rebel_therapy

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/debbie-mediate-kingston-ny/848868



Listeners, you can always reach the show at courtney@shineandsoar.com! We'd love to hear from you.



Please share with a friend and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you are listening!




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"Every time you journal, you're opening yourself up to more insight and information about yourself.”

We are so excited to host Lauren Remer on the show! Lauren is a psychotherapist who integrates journaling, as well as mindfulness, meditation, and lunar cycles into her work with clients!

This conversation is fun and fascinating and Lauren offers some practical techniques to listeners who are wondering how and whether to incorporate journaling into their own wellbeing practices!

About our guest:

Lauren Remer is a licensed mental health counselor in the state of New York in the Hudson Valley region where she resides with her family. Lauren has always valued a holistic approach to life and has been fascinated by the science of the interconnectedness of the world since childhood. This interconnectedness serves as a big source of imagination and creativity in her life.

Lauren is an avid practitioner of mindfulness and healing practices, such as yoga, Reiki, meditation, breathwork, and journaling, and has expertise in person-centered, mindful, and trauma informed approaches in her work with others and clients. She offers individual counseling and guidance through her private practice that she runs out of her home.

Lauren is defined by her sense of care and nurture. Home and hearth being the domain Lauren feels most comfortable in and is where she also stays home to care for her family and their pets as well as the local flora and fauna and a garden she and her son grow and tend together.

You can find Lauren online:

Psychology Today Page

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/lauren-remer-new-paltz-ny/781735

Social Media - Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/lauren.remer.lmhc/

Bee Well Garden Podcast - Free Guided Meditations

https://open.spotify.com/show/36B8mav1V20Q0LVgqcho7i



We will see you back here next week for an all new episode! While Season 3 is winding down, we are excited to be working on Season 4! Send us your commentary, questions, and suggestions to courtney@shineandsoar.com!

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you are listening and please share this episode with a friend!






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"If there's self judgment, it's gonna get in the way of our healing every step of the way. So if we can choose to believe that all behaviors make sense and all the ways that we are currently functioning make sense, we then can ask, well, why would it make sense? What is being reenacted in order for me to do something different this time now that I'm an adult and now that I am safe?”



We are so excited to welcome Natalie Gmora-Nyman to the show! Natalie is a licensed creative arts therapist who utilized drama therapy to help individuals heal from trauma.



In this episode Natalie and Courtney discuss the ways trauma shows up in the brain and the body and Natalie educates us on the efficacy of creative modalities in treatment. Themes of hope, play, curiosity, and creativity abound and the overall tone of this episode is optimistic and fun!



About our guest:

Natalie is a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist and a Registered Drama Therapist who specializes in working with interpersonal trauma.  Since becoming a New York State Licensed Therapist in 2016, she has worked in a variety of clinical settings offering treatment that is developed for addressing sexual trauma, abuse, neglect, and domestic violence.  Her treatment approach is integrative, active, and embodied.  She facilitates a virtual therapy group for survivors of sexual trauma and also provides training to other clinicians on trauma therapy techniques.  

Natalie Gmora-Nyman, Creative Arts Therapist, Newburgh, NY, 12550 | Psychology Today

Meet the Staff | Integrating the Self



Join us again next week for a brand new episode! Don't forget to rate review and subscribe wherever you are listening and please share with a friend!

You can reach the show at courtney@shineandsoar.com.


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