Andreece Freeman, Age 26
Portland, Oregon Senior in Psychology/Psychotherapy who we are mattersShe had a fire in her soul that far too many dared to extinguish but all consistently failed at. This fire was alien to this world and was impossible to put out; and somehow inevitably kindled flames in others. Sometimes the flames were dim and other times they were iridescent and lit up a room but with out a doubt... the flame was always burning and fueled everything inside of her. Everything that was good and lovely. And so that's who she became; radiance in the dark." Healing is a journey, not a destination! |
Sacred groundWelcome to Sacred Ground!
Conversations surrounding Mental Health Awareness and Social Justice have been especially prevalent in our society over the last two years. Navigating a global pandemic and civil uprising has forced us all into a way of life that requires that we live differently. Differently is an ambiguous word that is often used when we are aware that things are not as they should be but we haven't yet gained language or an awareness of the ways in which things need to be changed. Living differently leaves us in a space that is symbolically speaking; under construction... Differently for me, meant that we needed to live in way in which we are well enough to be fully present in our identifies, our narratives, and our relationship to the world around us. Different can not happen without us practicing empathy. Empathy is a shared understanding of an emotional experience. We may not have gone through the exact same situation as another but we all experience the same emotions. Empathy is a way of relating to and understanding others emotional Living in who we are requires that we begin addressing the behaviors that we have learned as survival skills to navigate difficulty in life. When we do this we are able to have empathy for ourselves and others. We are all people that at the very least experience this world in a unique and deep way and are just trying to live. When we can identify our own stuff and we can own the messier parts of our identities, walls that separate us bring us closer because we are able to see that we are more alike than we are different and that is when empathy is born. Practicing empathy is a strong tool that allows us the opportunity to find truth and address our unwellness... Wellness begins with WE. When we begin to work through our own trauma we can give and receive the gift of living freely without our traumas and hardships causing others harm. Deciding differently for me meant that we needed to be present in our various identifies in a way that owns and transforms our pain and life obstacles into opportunities for connection, empathy, equity, shared narrative, and collectivism. Sacred ground is what I desire for this online space to be. A space that allows us to honor and identify the areas in which we have been wounded or harmed and find grounding in our identity as human. I desire for this to be a space where we have permission to start/continue the journey of exploring and express our identities and learning ways to heal and show up in the world in wellness. My hopes are that YOU would be inspired to find the courage to adopt a culture that views personal wellness/health as a social responsibility and commitment and a way to practice self-care. I want to express my passion and personal belief that "We are better when I am well!". As someone doing my own work in therapy and preparing to do therapy as a profession I hope this virtual space offers inspiration and resources for moving into wellness and empathy as a commitment to living differently! |
a closer look at empathy...
wounds and wellness
I was born to the world as a Black/Multi-Racial woman in poverty to a single teen mother of four. By the time I turned 19 I would be diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder, Depressive Disorder, chronic illness which resulted in an Avoidant Attachment Style.
I was living in a way that was expressing that I was in pain. Hurt people hurt people. Unknowingly and at very little control of my own was my trauma and hurt spilling out into my personal relationships, education, work, and my relationship with myself. I did not recognize who I was, I was unwell. I like may people did not understand that healing was a journey and it would be a journey that I was able to choose for myself and it would be a lifelong commitment. Healing is something that is often a privilege in our culture and it has been accessible mainly to white cisgender persons who have access to the resources required for wellness to happen. Through the many circumstances that have shaped me since childhood and through an ever growing passion for wellness, health, equity, representation, and liberation I have been lead on my own journey for wellness. I was lead into parts of my story where I learned empathy, compassion, and awareness and have been in a process of unlearning and programming versions of me that are harmful or no longer serve me and those around me.
My life circumstances have taught me that healing is for every human and I get to make a commitment to show up in spaces where I work on healing myself and then I get to show up personally and professionally equipped with the skills to hold people's stories, to offer a safe space, and to provide support to create our version of wellness. I get to be a representation for other peoples who look like me and who have stories like mine. I get to choose wellness for myself and for others. The places that I have been the most wounded are the same spaces that I get to guide others into in their own healing. We all have beauty and riches to offer from things that have been through. My life story created in me a deep yearning for systematic and personal reformation. Wellness is where equity, empathy, and healing co-exist. We get to choose to be in that space! what does "unwell" look like? |
"The wound is where the light enters you" -RumiPhoto of Colorado wildflowers
"Beauty In the Unexpected Places" By Andreece Freeman |
Healing is for every human!
A photo from 2014 representing the diversity and beauty within our community of summer interns I had the privilege of guiding through their personal narratives for the first time.
Steps Toward Healing
Every Human is Different!
There are endless ways to approach therapy & healing! Starting therapy may be an overwhelming process for many as there are so many unknowns. No worries! Here are 3 steps that you can take today to best set yourself up for the therapeutic process.
There are endless ways to approach therapy & healing! Starting therapy may be an overwhelming process for many as there are so many unknowns. No worries! Here are 3 steps that you can take today to best set yourself up for the therapeutic process.
1. Start Mindfulness Activities Such As Yoga, Meditation, Journaling, or Breath Work
Starting mindfulness activities can have immediate effects on the mind, body, and spirit that are accessible and applicable in the spaces and scenarios that we are encountering in our daily lives.
Grounding Practices and Meditation are proven to lower blood pressure, increase oxygen flow, calm the nervous system, and have positive effects on sleep.
Mindfulness activities can inspire body movement and often times focus on the mind and body connection. Mindfulness as a practice can offer amazing benefits for tackling anxiety, depression, and negative thought patterns.
2. Find Which Type of Therapy May Be The Best For You
Understanding what type of therapy you may need can help reduce anxiety by narrowing down parameters in looking for a therapist.
Having an idea of the type of therapy you are seeking can also help to mentally and emotionally prepare for your sessions and aid in setting goals.
Keep in mind, it is common for more than one type of therapy to be used throughout your journey. We ALL change and grow, that's the good news! What we need according to those changes will vary and there are numerous ways in which your therapy can be adaptable to those changes.
3. Schedule A Consult With A Therapist That You Think May Be A Good Fit
Often Therapists will offer a free 10-20 minute consult to learn about who you are what your needs are. These consults will help uncover if the therapist would be someone that is equipped with the skills needed to guide you on your journey.
Like all human relationships, the therapeutic process can be awkward and can take some time to develop. Not every Therapist will be a good therapeutic match for you! That's okay! Know that it may take some time to find someone that you connect with and that is completely normal!
Don't give up on your search and your journey! You are one phone call or email away from the best version of yourself!
Starting mindfulness activities can have immediate effects on the mind, body, and spirit that are accessible and applicable in the spaces and scenarios that we are encountering in our daily lives.
Grounding Practices and Meditation are proven to lower blood pressure, increase oxygen flow, calm the nervous system, and have positive effects on sleep.
Mindfulness activities can inspire body movement and often times focus on the mind and body connection. Mindfulness as a practice can offer amazing benefits for tackling anxiety, depression, and negative thought patterns.
2. Find Which Type of Therapy May Be The Best For You
Understanding what type of therapy you may need can help reduce anxiety by narrowing down parameters in looking for a therapist.
Having an idea of the type of therapy you are seeking can also help to mentally and emotionally prepare for your sessions and aid in setting goals.
Keep in mind, it is common for more than one type of therapy to be used throughout your journey. We ALL change and grow, that's the good news! What we need according to those changes will vary and there are numerous ways in which your therapy can be adaptable to those changes.
3. Schedule A Consult With A Therapist That You Think May Be A Good Fit
Often Therapists will offer a free 10-20 minute consult to learn about who you are what your needs are. These consults will help uncover if the therapist would be someone that is equipped with the skills needed to guide you on your journey.
Like all human relationships, the therapeutic process can be awkward and can take some time to develop. Not every Therapist will be a good therapeutic match for you! That's okay! Know that it may take some time to find someone that you connect with and that is completely normal!
Don't give up on your search and your journey! You are one phone call or email away from the best version of yourself!
healing allows parts of us that have felt dead to come alive again & inspire life in others!
A photo of myself being my usual silly playful self upside down in a giant chair in the mountains.
The process of therapy for me has been a collection of narrative sharing, talk therapy, EMDR, art therapy, and group therapy. ALL of these forms of therapy have inspired beauty in me as I learn to heal and navigate my own trauma narrative. Having therapeutic and healthy hobbies and forms of expression can help us focus on gratitude and keep us grounded.
As someone who is still managing chronic depression, anxiety, PTSD, Racism, Sexism, and Chronic illness I have done a lot of work on my own identity and oppression in this world. I am grateful to share with you all personal photos that are of great significance to me as they have been birthed from art as a therapeutic practice. I began recording and expressing the beauty of some of the people, things, and places that make me feel the most alive and like myself through a photo journal of pictures that I have taken to remind me of the journey of healing I have been on so far. I hope that these photos inspire healing and freedom in who you are also. When we are well we are able to see the beauty in the world and in the people and things that surround us. That is my hope for all of you!
Best luck on your journey! You get to decide how you move throughout life, chose to move in a way that dances with others around you.
-Andreece Freeman
As someone who is still managing chronic depression, anxiety, PTSD, Racism, Sexism, and Chronic illness I have done a lot of work on my own identity and oppression in this world. I am grateful to share with you all personal photos that are of great significance to me as they have been birthed from art as a therapeutic practice. I began recording and expressing the beauty of some of the people, things, and places that make me feel the most alive and like myself through a photo journal of pictures that I have taken to remind me of the journey of healing I have been on so far. I hope that these photos inspire healing and freedom in who you are also. When we are well we are able to see the beauty in the world and in the people and things that surround us. That is my hope for all of you!
Best luck on your journey! You get to decide how you move throughout life, chose to move in a way that dances with others around you.
-Andreece Freeman