Next Meeting: Tuesday September 25th from 7 – 8:30pm

Where: 124 E. Court St. in the Tamarin Center

Topic: The Neuroscience of Stress and Trauma on the Brain – and How to Heal From it

Speaker:  Renee Hettich, LMSW

 

* From Lynn (the group organizer) – Renee has literally changed my life with her information.  Knowing what occurs is key to understanding why we can’t simply “snap out” of behaviors or patterns as easily as w’d like.  

 

Not only has she helped me understand myself as an adult, but has helped me with understanding my 4 year old and his struggles with trauma and loss.  My parenting is better because of her.

 

I would HIGHLY recommend attending this session if you can.  Renee often speaks to waiting list only rooms and since this group is so new… it’ll be a chance to get in and hear from her, meet her, and learn from her.

 

RSVP: if you can RSVP please do so the speaker knows how many photocopies to bring.  However, if you do not RSVP and want to come… you are wanted and welcome.

 

More info about who we are as a group as well as this month’s speaker and topic are below.

 

== MEETING FORMAT ==

 

We are a peer-led group that brings in a featured speaker for each meeting.  The speaker leads the conversation about their area of expertise or experience.

 

The rest of the group can ask questions or chip in the conversation as well.  We are aiming for a dialogue instead of a lecture  :) 

 

It’s informal, friendly, and conversational.

 

We want to be sure those in the group get their questions answered so that they get what they need when they need it.

 

We do have an on-call therapist should anyone feel the need to speak with a trained professional.

 

== WHO WE ARE AS A GROUP==

 

We are a group of folks that understand that we are stressed on some level that is having an impact in our lives – and we’re interested in lessening that burden and living with more ease.

 

Some of us come to heal childhood stress that is affecting us now as adults.  Some come because we find parenting to be taking a toll on us.  Some come because work is having an ill-impact on them.  Some come because anxiety is frustrating.  Some come because dealing with an aging parent is no joke.

 

Regardless of why we gather, we are interested in learning how stress affects us – and what we can do to heal ourselves.

 

We are a peer-led group that brings in a featured speaker for each meeting.  The speaker leads the conversation about their area of expertise or experience.

 

We do have an on-call therapist should anyone feel the need to speak with a trained professional.

 

== WHEN WE MEET ==

 

We meet on the 4th Tuesday of each month, are peer-led, and bring in speakers to educate ourselves on everything from different healing paths to the neuroscience behind it all.

 

== ABOUT THIS MONTH’S SPEAKER ==

 

Renee Hettich, LMSW is a leader in the field of child welfare, adoption and parenting and is a highly respected child and family advocate.  She is an accomplished speaker and author on the topics of therapeutic parenting, trauma and resiliency, and adoption.

 

She is the author of the book My Kids Know More Than Me! 15 Life Lessons from Foster and Adopted Children published by Robert’s Family Publishing.  She has also published articles in the national magazines Adoption Today and Adoptive Families.  

 

Renee has been parenting children with histories of adversity for almost twenty-five years. She is currently the mother of five children: two daughters who were born in the People’s Republic of China, a son adopted from Guatemala, a son in kinship care, and a son who joined her family after he lived in an orphanage for children with special needs in China.  She was a foster parent before becoming an adoptive mother.

 

Renee earned a Master of Social Work degree from Marywood University, a Master’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor’s Degree from Ithaca College.  She is currently the Project Director for a post-adoption support program offered by the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York. 

 

== ABOUT THIS MONTH’S TOPIC ==

 

Renee will go over the brain and what happens to it when we are stressed – both as a current situation or as a situation that has passed (ex. childhood stress).  

 

Knowing what happens in the brain helps us better understand our responses as an adult and how it impacts our every day life.  Also she will be going over ways to heal from the stress and its affects.

 

== QUESTIONS ==

 

Please direct any questions to Lynn Coffey (lynn@lynncoffey.com).  We are also actively looking for featured speakers if you or anyone you know is interested.

* Please RSVP if you can.  See ya on Tuesday the 25th!