The expressions It took my breath away and I felt like my heart would jump out of my chest aren’t just euphemisms. What is happening in our mind is often evidenced throughout our bodies.

This month, therapist Holly Schweitzer Dunn, LISW, is completing her training with the HeartMath Institute and will be offering biofeedback options so we can learn how to read the signals of the body. These physiological signals can cue us to use many of the tools available to us, such as controlling the breath and focusing in a state of mindfulness.

It’s one thing to feel a sensation – now you will be able to see the evidence on a computer screen in front of you.

Curious to know more about the brain and body connection? The HeartMath Institute has a free ebook available! If the research and the science seems overwhelming, then come in for a session with Holly to see it in practice.

Michele Minehart is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) through Yoga Alliance. Michele earned her Masters of Divinity (M.Div) degree from Ashland Theological Seminary. She teaches public yoga classes in Upper Sandusky, Ohio and to clients at Mind Body Health Associates as a supplement to ongoing or concluding treatment with the counselors. Michele uses yoga – which means yoke or unite – to bring together the mind, body, and spirit using the breath and mindful movement as a guide. 

No prior yoga experience is necessary for an appointment. 

If you have questions about yoga before scheduling you can contact her via email.

Looking for a practical way to bring you back into the present moment? Therapist Holly Schweitzer Dunn, LISW, recommends a quick check in with your senses. Briefly ask yourself:

• What am I hearing right now?
• What do I see?
• What do I taste?
• What do I feel touching against my body or skin?
• What do I smell?

Taking  the time to simply notice, without judgment, what you are experiencing can take you out of habitual patterns of fearing the future (anxiety) or reliving the past (depression). Pair this with a few deep belly breaths, expanding the belly on the inhale and letting the belly fall on the exhale, to help you “reset” the nervous system.

Holly Schweitzer Dunn is a Licensed Independent Social Worker who holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her goal is to provide treatment that emphasizes the imperative nature of finding balance in all areas of life.

Currently Holly is focusing on youth, adult, and family treatments. She provides counseling for a variety of issues including eating disorders, sexual abuse/sexual trauma, self-esteem difficulties, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, and grief work. She utilizes a solution-focused approach using sensory motor, cognitive behavioral and motivational techniques to assist people in making positive changes in their lives.