Connie Clark

I have worked in the field of mental health for over 12 years deriving a passion for people struggling with mental health issues from my own personal experience and journey. along the way I developed an awe of the resilience of the human experience, even in the face of devastating circumstances. My work has introduced me to people who are grieving a loss from sudden death of a loved one, to war veterans trying to reintegrate into our civilian way of life, to people struggling with images of self- hatred and adapting through dissociation resulting from childhood sexual, physical or emotional abuse or neglect. Each person I have encountered has renewed my belief that one can recover from catastrophic life events if one has the fortitude and when necessary, guidance to retrain their mind into using techniques that are more effective in handling current experiences. As I facilitate groups on an inpatient unit, and in my work with individuals and couples, I often discuss that by being able to acknowledge what we have lived through, we can learn from those experiences. Having the courage to believe there is a future worth pursuing permits them to make realistic goals. However, I also encourage folks to really focus and embrace this moment, as the present is about our presence and just as we receive gifts around the holidays, embracing our presence is the gift we can give ourselves. Wen this moment passes, it then becomes a part of our past experiences and we have entered into the future;only it is NOW. Herein, can we learn to find inner peace and be at one with our very essence. Connie

I am in private practice working primarily with adults recovering from childhood truama and abuse, war veterans having difficulty in the reintergration process to civilian living, and couples dealing with communication and other relationship difficulties. I also facilitate groups on an adult psychiatric unit part-time. My motivation is working with people in dis-stress is to help them find the internal resources to enjoy life even with its up and downs. people are resilient, but also are their own worst critic and my responsibility to those working with me is to help them access their strengths and abilities through goal-setting and implementing doeable action steps to achieve optimal overal health and happiness.

I have worked in the field of mental health for over 12 years deriving a passion for people struggling with mental health issues from my own personal experience and journey. along the way I developed an awe of the resilience of the human experience, even in the face of devastating circumstances. My work has introduced me to people who are grieving a loss from sudden death of a loved one, to war veterans trying to reintegrate into our civilian way of life, to people struggling with images of self- hatred and adapting through dissociation resulting from childhood sexual, physical or emotional abuse or neglect. Each person I have encountered has renewed my belief that one can recover from catastrophic life events if one has the fortitude and when necessary, guidance to retrain their mind into using techniques that are more effective in handling current experiences. As I facilitate groups on an inpatient unit, and in my work with individuals and couples, I often discuss that by being able to acknowledge what we have lived through, we can learn from those experiences. Having the courage to believe there is a future worth pursuing permits them to make realistic goals. However, I also encourage folks to really focus and embrace this moment, as the present is about our presence and just as we receive gifts around the holidays, embracing our presence is the gift we can give ourselves. Wen this moment passes, it then becomes a part of our past experiences and we have entered into the future;only it is NOW. Herein, can we learn to find inner peace and be at one with our very essence. Connie

each of us has beauty within that only needs to be nurtured