Dance moves, silly props, and lots of laughter are in store for people in the latest of a series of recovery support classes offered by Northern Lakes Community Mental Health (CMH).

Funded by a federal block grant administered by the Michigan Department of Community Health, Exercise Without Exertion classes are based on the Lebed Method, which combines sound physical therapy practice with the freeing aspects of movement, incorporating music, positive reinforcement from a group, and empowerment from information and education.

“It‘s exercise, but it’s not about exertion, working up a sweat, or competition. The Lebed method is gentle, therapeutic movement designed to help people through physical and mental challenges,” said Sharon Studinger, OTR, a certified Lebed instructor who will be leading the Northern Lakes CMH groups. “It is actually a research-based, medical model now.”

Valarie Bishop, Chief Operations Officer, explained that the class is being offered as a means to promote general health and wellness among the people served by Northern Lakes CMH as well as the general public. “A recent study shows that people with mental illness are dying on average 25 years earlier than people in the general population for a variety of reasons. We are looking for ways to empower people to take charge of their health and, at the same time, help support people in Northern Michigan who may have mild symptoms due to economic stress may not be severe enough to quality for our mental health services.”

Studinger, an occupational therapist with 30 years experience in mental health, said the Lebed method was originally designed for women recovering from breast cancer surgeries and treatments.  It was meant to help with lymphedema, a swelling caused by the removal of lymph nodes, and “frozen shoulder,” or tightness and pain resulting from scar tissue.

More than 25 years ago, Sherry Lebed Davis and her physician-surgeon brothers developed the Lebed Method, which today is also used to treat people with mental illness, chronic illnesses and fibromyalgia.  It has also been beneficial to senior citizens. For more information check out these videos.

“It is a potent package that addresses mind, body and spirit. And it is fun,” said Studinger.

Exercise Without Exertion will be offered one hour per week for six weeks in four cities served by Northern Lakes CMH, beginning July 14. The schedule by location may be accessed at Community Events on the agency’s website:

• Cadillac (527 Cobbs Street) – Tuesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m., starts July 14
• Grayling (204 Meadows Drive) – Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m., starts July 15
• Houghton Lake (2715 S. Townline Road) – Wednesdays  1:30-2:30 p.m., starts July 15
• Traverse City (105 Hall Street) – Fridays  10:30-11:30 a.m., starts July 17

The classes are free and open to the public, and no advance registration is needed.

Welcome to the first issue of Northern Lakes CMH Recovery Newsletter!

This newsletter will be published quarterly for people interested in Recovery from a mental illness. Each issue will contain tips, inspirational stories, information about different learning opportunities, conferences and classes, personal expressions, and progress reports about improvements to the Northern Lakes CMH system as it transforms to be even more focused on recovery.

We are looking for a name for this newsletter and are looking for your ideas. Leave a comment if you have a catchy name for future issues!

You may subscribe to receive future issues by email by using the form at the right.

Pathways to Recovery is a self-help class which focuses on how you can use your many strengths and resources to set goals and achieve recovery in broad areas of life such as:

• having a sense of home
• increasing your knowledge and education
• deciding what kind of work you may want to do
• developing the kind of relationships you want to have with others
• improving your sexuality and achieving intimacy
• attaining higher levels of wellness
• finding enjoyable recreational activities
• unfolding your spirituality and other important areas

John’s overall opinion of Pathways is that it is “a fantastic idea!” John says he lived with bipolar disorder for 15 years and never heard the word recovery until he moved to our area. Here’s what he has to say:

“Everything else I had ever been involved with basically just supported the idea that ‘you are depressed, you are going to live with that, that’s just how things are going to be, here’s a few tools to live with it.’ But this group is different – it is about grabbing hold of some ideals and tools to work with for recovery and then developing a very substantial recovery. I found it very, very useful… a very positive thing. I put the tools to work for myself everyday.”

“This is not a class where someone asks, well, what did you learn today? It’s almost as if it brings common sense back to your thoughts and you apply it to everyday uses. It can be a big shift.”

“I most definitely look at things differently now. For instance, say you wind up having a panic attack. Or you go into a depression. And the first thing you think is, ‘Oh, this is it, life is over, everything is over, there is no more.’ You learn to develop your train of thought that this is a temporary situation, you have felt better before and you will feel better again, and start to focus on that positive side instead of staying focused on the here and now, which is maybe full of depression and anxiety.”

“You start to change your whole focus and attitude toward pretty much everything. If you have reached wit’s end or seriously want to think and focus on recovery, this is a great place to start.”

The class can be used along with other approaches to recovery that focus on reducing and self-managing disturbing symptoms. Pathways to Recovery guides you through processes of self-assessment, self-discovery and planning that help you decide where you want to go in life. You will create personal visions, design long-term goals and action steps to make progress towards your dreams. Pathways will help you use your own inner and outer strengths and the resources that are available to you to move you forward on your pathway to recovery.

In other words, Pathways to Recovery is about getting a fuller and more enjoyable life!

Pathways is open to everyone. You do not need to be currently receiving services at Northern Lakes and you do not need a referral to participate. You just have to be willing to focus on your recovery in a positive way. Let’s get started! Check the calendar for the schedule in your area. Just click on the Pathway class you are interested in and more information will pop up.

Each person who was recently certified will be doing three individual WRAP plans with folks and then will begin WRAP groups at each NLCMH location.

WRAP stands for Wellness, Recovery, Action Planning and these individuals will be providing WRAP groups in each of our four offices to benefit adults with mental illness interested in continuing with their recovery journeys.

Mary Ellen Copeland, MS, MA (who authored the WRAP program) stated that WRAP is:

“A system for monitoring, reducing, and eliminating uncomfortable or dangerous physical symptoms and emotional feelings.”

So what exactly is WRAP? The Wellness Recovery Action Plan Program is a structured system for monitoring uncomfortable and distressing symptoms and, through planned responses, reducing, modifying or eliminating those symptoms.  It also includes plans for responses from others when your symptoms have made it impossible for you to continue to make decisions, take care of yourself and keep yourself safe.

The system was developed by people who have been dealing with a variety of psychiatric symptoms for many years and are working hard to feel better and get on with their lives.  It has been shared with people with other illnesses aside from psychiatric disorders and they feel that it can be easily adapted for use with other disorders. It consists of the following parts (in which one does NOT have to use all parts but could indeed use only some parts that more pertain to their needs).

• Wellness Toolbox is a listing of skills and strategies that you have used or want to use to keep yourself well and to help yourself feel better when you do not feel well.
• Section One is a daily maintenance plan. Part 1 is a description of how you feel when you feel well.  Part 2 is a list of everything you need to do every day to maintain your wellness. Part 3 is a list of things you might need to consider doing.
• Section Two deals with triggers. Part 1 identifies those events or situations which, if they occur, might cause uncomfortable symptoms to begin. Part 2 is a plan of what to do if any of these triggers occur.
• Section Three deals with early warning signs. Part 1 involves identification of those subtle signs that may indicate the situation is beginning to worsen. Part 2 is a plan of what to do if any of these early warning signs are noticed.
• Section Four deals with symptoms that occur when the situation has gotten much worse but has not yet reached a crisis, where you can still take action in your own behalf; in other words, when things are breaking down.  Part 2 is a plan of what to do if any of these symptoms occur.
• Section Five is a crisis plan.  It identifies those symptoms that indicate you can no longer continue to make decisions, take care of yourself and keep yourself safe. It is for use by supporters and health care professionals on your behalf as the person who developed the plan. The planning begins by using your Wellness Toolbox, a listing of skills and strategies that you have used or want to use to keep yourself well and to help yourself feel better when you do not feel well.  Part 1 of the crisis plan is information that defines what you are like when you are well. Part 2 identifies those symptoms that indicate others need to take over responsibility for your care. Part 3 names those supporters and identifies their roles. Part 4 identifies those medications which, if necessary, are all right with you, those which are not, and the reasons why. Part 5 gives you the option of developing a home, community care or respite center plan to use, if possible, in lieu of hospitalization. Part 6 identifies the treatment facilities which, if necessary, are all right with you, those which are not, and the reasons why. Part 7 identifies the treatments which, if necessary, are all right with you, those which are not, and the reasons why. Part 8 is an intensive description of what is wanted from supporters – and what is not wanted – when symptoms become this intense. Part 9 gives information for supporters to use in determining when you no longer need to use your crisis plan.
• Section Six, Post Crisis Planning is a more recent addition to the plan. It is different from other sections of your Wellness Recovery Action Plan in that it is constantly changing as you heal. For instance, it is anticipated that two weeks after the crisis you will be feeling much better than you did after one week and therefore, your daily activities would be different. The post crisis form leads you through the process of outlining your own post crisis plan.

Watch for information about WRAP groups starting in each of the NLCMH offices. We encourage you to get involved if you are ready to continue working on your recovery.

Gallery Insider Talk for visual artists will be a panel discussion with Art Gallery owners and curators. You will learn about the differences and similarities of galleries, how they approach the selection process, what they are looking for in submissions, and the basics of determining pricing. $10 includes lunch or hors d’oeuvres. Petoskey – June 13, 2008, 10 am to 2 pm at Crooked Tree, 461 E. Mitchell, Petoskey MI 49770.

Artists as Entrepreneurs: Marketing (for actors, dancers, musicians, visual artists, writers). Learn tools and techniques for marketing yourself and your art. $30 includes lunch. Visual artists bring 3 samples of their work, digital photos provided. Friday, June 27, 8:30 – 4:30 pm at Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College, 1701 E Front Street, Traverse City MI 49686.

VSA Arts of Michigan Artist Career Forum Flyer

Cadillac: Every other Tuesday, 2:30 to 4:30 on June 3, June 17, July 1, July 15

Grayling: Every other Thursday, 10:00 to Noon on June 5, June 19, July 3, July 17, July 31

Houghton Lake: Every other Thursday, 2:00 to 4:00 on June 5, June 19, July 3, July 17, July 31

The Traverse City office is proud to announce the formation of a recovery group based on the workbook, “Pathways to Recovery,” by Priscilla Ridgway.

Pathways is a strengths-based recovery program, helping its participants identify their personal strengths and building upon them. The group is open to peers only (those living with a mental illness) with a Certified Peer Support Specialist as the facilitator.

The material covered in this 6-month exploration will touch upon virtually every aspect of life as it relates to a person’s recovery. Participants are encouraged to share their stories of recovery in the meetings, allowing the group as a whole to create a shared recovery experience.

The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 4 at 1:00 p.m. at Northern Lakes CMH, 105 Hall Street, Traverse City.

A phone call or visit with a Peer Support Specialist is required prior to attending. If interested in attending, or for more information, contact Leonard Burdek, Certified Peer Support Specialist, at 231-935-3688 or Leonard.Burdek@nlcmh.org.

If you receive any services at Northern Lakes, and you decide you like the Pathways group, we will just need to add it to your Person Centered Plan. (It’s easy!) People in the community who are interested in coming, but do not receive services at Northern Lakes, are welcome too!

Pathways to Recovery classes are also happening in Cadillac, Houghton Lake, and Grayling. See our Consumer Events Calendar or Community Events Calendar for more information, if you are interested in participating in any of these these communities.