Behavioral Health Clinic

  When we think about healing from stress or trauma, we often focus on thoughts, emotions, and behavior. But our bodies hold just as much of our story as our minds do. Somatic Experiencing® (SE), developed by Dr. Peter Levine, is a body-based therapeutic approach that helps people gently renegotiate trauma by noticing physical sensations, supporting nervous system regulation, and restoring a sense of safety and ease. Rather than diving into the details of what happened, SE focuses on how the body has stored the experience-and how we can help it finally complete unfinished stress cycles. Somatic Experiencing can be a good fit for anyone who feels stuck in patterns of anxiety, hypervigilance, emotional overwhelm, dissociation, or chronic tension. It’s also commonly beneficial for folks with a history of trauma, including complex trauma, as well as individuals navigating chronic pain, medical trauma, burnout, or symptoms that feel “beyond words.” SE is gentle, paced, and collaborative...

  The field of mental health is buzzing right now on the usefulness and pitfalls of using AI to deal with feelings and problematic behaviors. The  APA  has recently come out with guidance on the matter. Staff at Behavioral Health Clinic (BHC) have broken down the advice but first, some might wonder why people would use chatbots or AI tools for help when it comes to how they are feeling. Many people use chatbots because: They are easily accessible and usually free. Many people report that they enjoy not having to “deal with” the stigma of mental health-preferring to get help without acknowledging to others (or even their insurance company) that they are struggling and need help. Of course, wanting guidance or suggestions is normal but, according to the APA, concerns involve the fact that that: 1. Most chatbots or AI tools are not validated by research. 2. AI tools can provide harmful information By minimizing signs of a true crisis, some individuals may not get the profess...