Helpful Information and Resources
Character Strengths are the positive parts of your personality that impact how you think, feel and behave. Scientists have identified 24 character strengths that you have the capacity to express. By taking the VIA Survey you will discover your unique profile of strengths. Knowing and applying your highest character strengths is the key to you being your best self.
Guided meditations, journal prompts, and other informal practices for cultivating self-compassion
Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN)Â is often subtle, invisible, and unmemorable.
How do you know if you have it? Take the CEN questionnaire.
Dr. Sue Johnson is an author, clinical psychologist, researcher, professor, popular presenter and speaker and a leading innovator in the field of couple therapy and adult attachment. Sue is the primary developer of Emotionally Focused Couples and Family Therapy (EFT), which has demonstrated its effectiveness in over 30 years of peer-reviewed clinical research.
Just as Masters and Johnson were pioneers in the study of human sexuality, so Dr. John Gottman has revolutionized the study of marriage. For nearly four decades he has conducted research on all facets of relationships, including parenting issues. At the Institute, in collaboration with Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, he developed an approach that not only supports and repairs troubled marriages and committed relationships, but strengthens happy ones. The Gottman Institute provides live workshops and take-home training materials for couples, while The Gottman Referral Network provides therapy referrals to couples.
How do you give and receive love? Learn your Love Languages.
Psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she helms a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her celebrated TED talks have garnered more than 20 million views and her international bestseller Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence became a global phenomenon translated into 25 languages.
Video: Introduction to EMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma.
Research demonstrates that neurofeedback is an effective intervention for ADHD and Epilepsy. Ongoing research is investigating the effectiveness of neurofeedback for other disorders such as Autism, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, substance abuse, TBI and other pain disorders, and is promising.
The Somatic Experiencing® method is a body-oriented approach to the healing of trauma and other stress disorders. It is the life’s work of Dr. Peter A. Levine, resulting from his multidisciplinary study of stress physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics, together with over 45 years of successful clinical application. The SE™ approach releases traumatic shock, which is key to transforming PTSD and the wounds of emotional and early developmental attachment trauma.
We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
AFSP raises awareness, funds scientific research and provides resources and aid to those affected by suicide.
Successfully equipping complex trauma survivors and practitioners with compassionate support, skills, and trauma-informed education since 2014. Complex PTSD comes in response to chronic traumatization over the course of months or, more often, years. This can include emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuses, domestic violence, living in a war zone, being held captive, human trafficking, and other organized rings of abuse, and more. While there are exceptional circumstances where adults develop C-PTSD, it is most often seen in those whose trauma occurred in childhood.
A list of guidelines & resources for those who are experiencing domestic violence.
San Diego County Domestic Violence 24 hour hotline at 1-888-DVLINKS
Rape and sexual assault are traumatic and may impact many different aspects of a victim’s life. Survivors of sexual assault and rape often find themselves in complicated criminal justice proceedings and social service systems. CCS Sexual Assault Victim Advocates help survivors navigate these complicated systems and make informed decisions. Sexual Assault Victim Advocates provide information, support, and referrals to other resources. All services are free and confidential.
Power and Control Wheel and other wheels developed by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs (DAIP)
The Center for Reproductive Psychology is dedicated to addressing the psychological impact that men and women experience when faced with obstacles in becoming parents. Drs. Martha and David Diamond, and Dr. Janet Jaffe, co-founders of the Center, know from the inside what it feels like: we have each experienced our own reproductive trauma, and have come together to provide education, psychological counseling, and supportive services to individuals and couples struggling with: Infertility, Miscarriage and Stillbirth, Surrogacy, Donor Technology, Adoption, Multiple and Complicated Births, Premature Birth, and Postpartum Adjustment.
A self-help organization offering friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved families that have experienced the death of a child.
We offer a wide range of counseling and support group options for grieving children and adults to help them understand their feelings and thoughts, and increase their feelings of hopefulness.
SOSL reaches out to and supports people who have lost a loved one to suicide.
Violent Loss Resources is an online website for those who work with and live with the murder of a loved one and other violent deaths. This National resource provides information, resources and opportunities for networking with others. Programs and services exist in different forms in several different states. They offer assistance and support to families who have lost a loved one to a violent death and training for those who work with them.
Support for Developmental Conditions
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Children & Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
CHADDÂ (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a leading non-profit organization with chapters throughout the U.S.
Sensory processing refers to the mechanisms of how we feel. It is how we use what we sense to make sense of the world around us, and it underpins every aspect of human functioning. Everyone processes sensation. The sensory messages we receive from our bodies and the world around us are responded to in every single thing we do in life. In each instance our sensory systems provide vital information that we use to be successful. Sensory processing and integration is foundational to healthy development, function, participation, learning and psychological well-being.
SMART Recovery® (Self Management And Recovery Training) helps individuals gain independence from addictive substances and activities.
Our approaches are based on scientific knowledge, and those approaches evolve as scientific knowledge evolves.
Resources for Eating Disorder Recovery
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National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders
At least 10% of the population are struggling with an eating disorder, disordered eating, and or body image. For 45 years, ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders) has been here to help. We are the leading nonprofit in the U.S. providing free support services to anyone struggling with an eating disorder, disordered eating, and body image.