c2gether Podcast

Elizabeth talks with Shelly Sharon, a trauma-informed Hakomi therapist with a specialization in the Mother Wound. Shelly describes what the Mother Wound is, and how it can affect people's decisions, relationships, and beliefs about themselves and the world. They talk about the power in understanding and working on the Mother Wound in therapy, and how these themes can resonate through generations and society.To learn more about Shelly's work, you can check out her website: https://www.shellysharon.comTo contact her directly, you can send her an email at love@shellysharon.com

Elizabeth speaks with Bindu O. Fernandes about the Heart2Heart english support hotline. She shares her experience working with the organization and the possible usefulness of the service for english-speakers looking for support during tough and lonely times. Bindu notes that Switzerland can be a lonely place for migrants and this phone line is one way to feel connected to others.You can learn more at https://www.143.ch/en/To contact Bindu for more information, you can email her at bindu.fernandes@143.ch

Elizabeth and Zurich-based counselor Krish Phua discuss the complex interplay between sexuality and mental health. Their conversation explores how well-being can be benefitted from self-awareness, confidence and intimacy that grows in the realm of embracing and exploring one's sexuality. Krish suggests that working with clients can be enhanced by inviting them to discuss their sexual lives and identity, either in an individual or couples context. To learn more about how Krish works and to check out his upcoming events, you can visit his website: https://mindinsights.ch/or on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishphua/

The decision to separate or divorce is a huge point of stress for many immigrants, and a stressor that often shows up in the therapy room. The lack of familiarity with the legal system can be one of many barriers to taking the next step to leaving a relationship that is no longer working. Our interview with Frau Sabine Renker reveals important information about common areas of confusion and about the different resources that are available to those in challenging financial situations. You can learn more about Frau Renker via her website :https://advokatur1.chYou can check with your canton's lawyer registry for more information and resources :For example, in Bern: https://www.bav-aab.ch/de/or the Federal Registry:https://www.sav-fsa.ch/en/anwaltsregisterTo learn more about your rights, you can look on your canton's legal information website, for example in Vaud:https://www.vd.ch/etat-droit-finances/egalite-entre-les-femmes-et-les-hommes/violence-domestiqueor for example in Bern:https://www.zsg.justice.be.ch/fr/start/themen/zivilrecht/familienrecht.htmlYou can contact c2 for more information and resources: contact @ c2gether.ch

Elizabeth speaks with coach Tessa Richter about her personal journey to understand the relationship between her high creativity and neurodivergence. She reflects on the ways in which creativity is commonly misunderstood and how the potential inherent to connecting actively to creativity can be better accessed. Tessa sees neurodivergent traits as an expression of our intrinsic human genius and that we lose through a mechanistic world view and educational system. In her work, she helps clients use these traits as strengths to lead a self determined life based on knowing themselves and loving who they are. Tessa wants to raise awareness that understanding this secret potential that all humans possess could prove vital in a world increasingly ruled by the use of AI. To learn more about Tessa's coaching work, you can join one of her webinars, coaching programs or contact her directly for a conversation. Her website is https://www.oursecretpotential.com and she speaks works in English, German and French.

Elizabeth is joined by artist and therapist, Cristina Szemere, who describes a novel intervention for increasing acceptance of somatic experiences. She describes how externalising traumatic or painful events onto paper can make the experiences easier to process, and can be a way to honour the resilience of the human condition while creating a sense of being witnessed. Cristina explores how Somatic Body Mapping could be expanded to help other populations navigate illness, accidents, and trauma. To learn more about Cristina's work, you can email her at Info@dein-werk.ch To learn more about the services that she offers, you can check out her website at https://www.dein-werk.ch To read more about Somatic Body-Mapping, you can visit the website of its founder, Annette Schwalbe at https://www.annetteschwalbe.co.uk

Former HR professional Karina Schneider talks with Elizabeth about how her experiences shaped her work as a re-integration specialist for clients returning to work after a prolonged mental health absence. Her work is informed by compassion, strategy, and practical expertise and is grounded in her value to make the working world a more mentally-friendly place. For more information about the work that she does with clients and companies, you can check out her website: https://www.karinaschneider.com Or contact her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinaschneider-hrandwellbeingpartner/

There is a growing emphasis on the power of complementary body work to help people access and process emotional experiences. Psychologists are beginning to encourage clients to move beyond simply understanding and relating to their experience and into feeling their experience. As part of digging deeper into the potential of body work, Elizabeth speaks with Nadya Seeberger, a Breath Work facilitator and hypnotherapist in Biel-Bienne/Nidau. More about Nadya: nadya-seeberger.com More information about the practice of Breathwork: www.mrjamesnestor.com www.breatheology.com/about-stig-severinsen

Elizabeth speaks with her colleague, Laura Wadhwa, about her research on blended families. Laura shares some ways to talk to kids about the changes to the family constellation, and how to give space for kids to discuss and share whatever feelings they have. The importance of validating their reactions to avoid the destructive effect of shame is described. For more information, Laura recommends the following book: Van Deurzen, E., & Iacovou, S. (2013). Existential perspectives on relationship therapy. Bloomsbury Publishing. You can also contact her via email: https://c2gether.ch/professional/laura-wadhwa-msc/

Patricia and Elizabeth discuss the particularities of the process of applying for foreign training to be recognized in Switzerland to practice as a psychologist or psychotherapist. We talk about the important things to know, the differences between the BAG, PsyKo and FSP, and the pros-cons of working as a psychologist vs. a psychotherapist. We get lots of questions about this from mental health clinicians new to Switzerland so we hope that you will find this to be a handy resource as you navigate this complex and often frustrating process. The c2 website gives more information and links: https://c2gether.ch/working-as-a-mental-health-professsional-in-switzerland Contact: Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)Psychology Professions Commission (PsyCo)Schwarzenburgstrasse 157CH-3003 BernPhone: +41 (0)58 464 38 18E-Mail: psyko@bag.admin.ch

Elizabeth interviews her own father, Richard Wack, about his ADHD history. He reflects on the ways that it affected his relationship with his peers, family and himself. Despite having a successful legal career, he shares how undiagnosed ADHD affected his anxiety and addiction. He shares feedback that might be helpful to others who are discovering the ways that their brains work at a later age. You can learn more about Richard here: https://nadn.org/pdf/Rick-Wack.pdf

Many of us no longer live in the same community as our parents. Often we live oceans away. This conversation is dedicated to discussing a topic that brings up many emotions and involves many complicated variables but in the end, is the most human of experiences to have. For a recommended article that touches on some of these themes, we could recommend starting here: https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/health/a45665678/caregiving-for-aging-parents/ We are grateful for the contributions of Aoife, Patricia, and Diana in sharing their experiences in this important episode. Aoife Hoitink has lived internationally for over 25 years. She has been living in Lausanne for the last 10 years. Aoife's parents are in Ireland and her in laws live in The Netherlands. Patricia Vriesendorp is an American and Swiss trained psychologist & psychotherapist who has often had family spread out across borders.  She currently lives with her immediate family, husband and 2 teen sons in Biel, while her extended family, mother and brother live in the Netherlands.  The deterioration and eventual death of her father more than 2 years ago highlighted the challenges of navigating care for family while abroad. Diana Rusen is a body work therapist who works with her clients in Biel-Bienne. She grew up in Romania.

Elizabeth talks with Patricia about the importance of grief and grieving, and the particular ways it may impact people living away from their home countries and cultures. The collective experience of grief from the period of Covid is also discussed. Ways to navigate the experience of grief within yourself and with others were explored.  To find more information on the topic and additional resources, you can check out Patricia's blog post: https://c2gether.ch/grief-and-loss/ To join the virtual Grief Circle scheduled for 2 February, you can register here: https://c2gether.ch/event/grief-circle/ You can email Elizabeth or Patricia at: contact@c2gether.ch

Elizabeth chats with Meltem Kusku, a mental-health counselor who talks about how her own experience with psychedelics has reduced her suffering and avoidance of a traumatic childhood experience that shaped her life. They discuss current research that suggests the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy for healing trauma, and the proposed uses of psychedelics in the treatment of other mental health conditions. She encourages people who are curious to talk openly about next steps with their medical and mental health providers. If you want to get in touch with Meltem for more information, you can reach her via email at kuskum.chi@gmail.com MAPS - A leading non-profit organization in psychedelic research, information and education. https://maps.org Clinical trials that are going on in Switzerland for people to get an experience by participating in research. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results/map/click?map.x=603&map.y=876&term=psychedelic&recrs=a&map=EU&mapw=1203 A retreat center in Holland that legally offer integrative psychedelic experiences. There are many others. https://www.kiyumi.org

Elizabeth speaks with Jeremy McTeague of Scott's Kirk Church in Lausanne. He has spearheaded an initiative to create a day center for refugees (mainly from Ukraine) who are staying with local families in the area. Forced displacement results not just in disconnection from homeland, but also from a sense of identity. This day center intends to help its members stay connected to themselves and others. It is currently open on Thursday and Sunday afternoons.  For more information or to help out, please contact Jeremy and his team at: ukraine-centre@scotskirklausanne.ch This episode also discusses the organization EVAM (Établissement vaudois d'accueil des migrants).  Here are some other links that you might find useful: Hire the Ukrainian:  www.hiretheukrainian.com and V. https://www.hiretheukrainian.com/mental-health Ukraine Reborn: www.ukraine-reborn.ch Christ Church Lausanne : http://christchurch-lausanne.ch/christchurch2/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/UkrainianRefugeeDayCentre.pdf Our Lady of Faith Lausanne: https://www.catholicchurchlausanne.org/