Newsletter May 2013

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Be compassionate. Speak up. Reach out.

Blairsville, GA Office

Blairsville, GA Office

Do you know someone suffering from depression, grief, trauma or anxiety?  It’s pretty common. One in four adults will experience some kind of mental health difficult challenge during their life.

Too many people suffer needlessly. Well-meaning family members may think their loved one is just being lazy moping around the house, when in fact, they are clinically depressed. A high-achiever may believe they work best under pressure. But when they live with anxiety for several years, it may result in heart disease. Trauma from abuse (physical, verbal, emotional and sexual) may result in anxiety, addiction, depression or thoughts of suicide.  People often think they come through hurtful experiences unscathed, but rarely is that true. Emotional eating and  top the list of symptoms that are only the tip of the iceberg. We must look deeper for the true cause and heal there.

It’s not only individuals who are affected by mental illness. Marriages and parent-child relationships can be ruined when people don’t have the ability to be truly present with their loved ones.

People who grow up in families with turmoil, yelling, icy emotional distance, abuse and frequent criticism are at greater risk for mental illness. If you are a highly sensitive person, you are more susceptible to depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

You can help stop the needless suffering in your family by removing the stigma of asking for help. If you suspected your loved one had heart disease, you wouldn’t think twice about telling him or her to go to the doctor.

Smyrna, GA Office

Smyrna, GA Office

Share these videos to educate your loved ones.  Sometimes, people think they are weak if they have to ask for help. But actually, it takes more courage to reach out for help than to do nothing and continue to suffer.  Calling a professional is a sign of strength. You may contact me by clicking here.

Mental Health Awareness Month PSA

Representative Schlossberg speaks on legislation for Mental Health Awareness Month

Remember: When you take care of yourself, you help all those around you.  What we do (or don’t do) impacts others.

Are you looking faster progress than private therapy alone? Attend these intensive retreats where you have many hours to dive deep into healing.

Retreat Venue, Young Harris, GA

Retreat Venue, Young Harris, GA

Deep Emotional Healing Retreat 7/13/13.

Explore, Excavate, Express Your Authentic Self.

Do you find yourself repeating unhelpful patterns even though you don’t want to? Do limiting thoughts and “monkey-mind chatter” create unwanted worry? Do you want to create a relationship that finally works?  Unresolved emotional wounds can sabotage your best intentions.

 

 

panama-city-beach “Annual Beach Retreat” Aug. 31- Sept. 5, 2013. 

“Create the Life of Your Dreams” 5 nights at the beach.  

Dig deeper than ever before. Heal at depth so you can make your fondest dreams come true!  Register early. Tuition increases monthly. Panama City Beach, Florida

Contact Benita A. Esposito, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor to inquire about private psychotherapy or intensive retreats. In-person, phone and skype appointments are available.

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Newsletter October 2012. Why People Don’t Change & How They Can

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Flourishing Lives For S.M.A.R.T.* Women and the Men Who Love Them

Dear Friend,

I’d like to share 3 stories with you that will inspire you to keep going, even when you are filled with self-doubt. They are all written by clients who are thrilled to share their success with you.

Retreat Breathwork Stories.  We had another powerful Beach Retreat in September where participants had the delight of discovering what I mean by Peak Experiences. Abraham Maslow coined this term for those rare “a-ha” moments that change our lives forever. For those of you who have attended previous Retreats, you know how exquisite this is. To read these two women’s beautiful transformational journeys, click here.
 
Marriage Counseling Story: A True Resurrection.
“We started our journey with Benita just over eight months ago. Our 15 year old marriage was hanging on by a shredded string and I personally didn’t see any real good outcome from any attempt to try and repair it.”  Click here to read the whole story.

I love working with people who are excited about creating a flourishing life. I don’t just want you to survive. I want you to thrive! To help you move towards that goal, I’ve created a  Mini-Retreat called  “Your Authentic Life.”  Even if you don’t attend, you will learn a lot by reading about the philosophy of this retreat. Please take a minute to read this.   

“Your Authentic Life” Fall Mini-Retreat
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Early Bird Discount by 10/15/12. Couples receive an additional discount.

You’ll learn practical skills to:
1. Communicate adeptly from your heart, your Authentic Self.
2. Empathize. Develop emotional intimacy skills to deeply connect with significant others.
3. Feel your emotions, contain them, and develop the courage to be transparent.
4. Know that you are worthy to receive what you ask for.
5. Access the Wisdom stored in your body, mind and spirit.
6. Nurture yourself to create optimal health and balance.

Location: Young Harris, GA.  (2 hours north of Atlanta)
Enjoy the beautiful Fall colors in the Blue Ridge Mountains overlooking Lake Chatuge.

Early Bird Discount Date:  Monday, October 15, 2012.
Click here for complete details.

To learn about how deep transformation occurs, read this article: Why People Don’t Change and How They Can.”

Look What’s New!  2013 Schedule
Intensive Retreats offer you the most powerful format to create the life of your dreams, so I scheduled four in 2013. Save the dates for the 2013 Retreats that interest you. Click here for the 2013 schedule.

Looking for a Holiday Gift?
“Journey into Wholeness” CD is a powerful tool to help you get answers to your most important life questions. You’ll develop spiritual intimacy, reduce stress, breathe deeply, process your emotions, and build self-worth.

Get one free CD when you buy 5 CDs. To order 1 or more CDs, click here or email: Benita@EspositoInstitute.com. Indicate how many CDs you would like.
Click here  to listen to the CD audio sample.

Attention: Highly Sensitive People
I am a highly sensitive person and many of my clients are, too. We have beautiful gifts to offer our families and communities, but we have our share of challenges because we are wired differently than 80% of the population.  Check out this fascinating information in the newsletter by my colleague, Dr. Elaine Aron, the author of The Highly Sensitive Person.

  • Psychology Today Article/Why We Are Sometimes SO Emotional
  • Recent Genetic Findings (Where there were none, there are now two studies linking sensitivity to specific genes.)
  • Our Spiritual Life: The Priestly Part of Our Being “Priestly Advisors.” Part3: The Lens of Personal Experience
  • To determine if you are a highly sensitive person, take the free quiz.

Click here for The Highly Sensitive Person newsletters.
__________________________________________________________

High-achievers, like Olympic athletes, continually catapult themselves beyond their current level of success. Visit my Life Coaching blog and Psychotherapy website.
Life Coaching: www.YourAuthenticLife.com
Psychotherapy: www.EspositoInstitute.com

____________________________________________________
Counseling and Life Coaching for S.M.A.R.T.  Women

and the Men Who Love Them

S.M.A.R.T. = Spiritual+Mature+Authentic+Responsible+Trustworthy

Specialties  
Marriage Counseling, Individuals, Groups, Retreats
(I use Gottman Method Couples Therapy by Drs. John and Julie Gottman,  the most researched marriage counseling method in the world.)

2 Offices
1) 48 Haralson Place, Suite 3, Blairsville, Georgia 30512
2) Atlanta Behavioral Care. 3188 Atlanta Road SE, Smyrna, GA 30080
*** Life and Relationship Coaching worldwide via telephone and Skype ***

To Schedule an Appointment, please use the Contact page on this site.

Want to use your insurance?  I am on several insurance panels.
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Tricare, Coventry/MHNet, United Healthcare out-of-network, EAP Affinity, Medicaid via Magellan/Wellcare and Amerigroup. If you have out-of-network benefits from another company, I can process that for you.  ____________________________________________________
Benita A. Esposito, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor
With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology, I’m a psychotherapist, life coach, educator and an ordained minister.  One of my gifts is to translate people’s thoughts and feelings into words to help them understand themselves and others at depth. I  build bridges between people so they can meet each other in sacred spaces where they enjoy a quality of fulfillment they have rarely known. I especially enjoy helping people improve their relationships. Mind-body-spirit techniques combined with empathic intuition and logic facilitate deep, long-lasting change.

“Your Authentic Life, Anything Else is a Compromise.”

* S.M.A.R.T. = Spiritual + Mature + Authentic + Responsible + Trustworthy
The Esposito Institute | P.O. Box 1074 | Young Harris | GA | 30582

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Newsletter August 2012: Stress Management

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Increase Your Health & Well-being.

Are you a conscientious worker but you’re tired because there aren’t enough hours in the day to get your work done? Do you have trouble balancing the demands of your job with caring for your loved ones? Is stress taking a toll on your health and coping ability?  Are you scared to ask for what you need for fear you’ll lose your job? Do conflicts wear you down?

Stress and Productivity Statistics
Approximately 40% to 50% of all adult workers experience the negative effects of stress (American Psychological Association, 1997).
Consequences of Workplace Stress
1. Absenteeism, turnover and diminished productivity
2. Substance abuse
3. Anxiety, depression and accidents

Stress Management at Work Checklist

Anxiety Disorders – Definitions

You’re Invited to our Stress Management Workshop

Learn 4 Tools to Immediately Reduce your Stress.

(1) Examine your beliefs. (2) Breathe deeply. (3) Create balance. (4) Take breaks.

Where: Clay County Chamber of Commerce, Hayesville, NC
When: Monday, August 13, 2012. 6:00-8:00pm.
Tuition: $15.00.  Scholarships available. Please inquire.

Facilitator: Chamber member Benita A. Esposito, MA is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Office: 48 Haralson Place, Suite, Blairsville, GA 30512. For details about Benita’s work, visit www.Flourishing-Lives.com.

Call Now for Reservations.  Clay County Chamber (828) 389-3704. Space is limited to 12 seats. Or use the Contact form, and say you’d like to attend the Stress Management workshop. I will get back to you shortly.
* * *
Benita A. Esposito has 2 Offices: Atlanta and Blairsville, Georgia. Life coaching is available worldwide via the phone and skype.

Psychotherapy: www.Flourishing-Lives.com
Life Coaching: www.YourAuthenticLife.com
Specialties: Marriage and Couples Counseling, Pre-marital Counseling, Divorce Adjustment, Success Skills, Eliminating Self-defeating Patterns, Stress Management, Anxiety, Healing the Emotional Roots of Disease, Depression, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Bipolar Disorder.
Services: Corporate Training, Psychotherapy, Life Coaching, Speaking Engagements, Intensive Retreats

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Newsletter July 2012: Why Retreats are So Effective.

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I know your path is not always easy. I know you are intelligent, conscientious, and you have a big heart. I know you are courageous. Every time you take a step toward your goals, every time you speak up for yourself, every time you extend compassion to yourself or someone else, I applaud you.

Part of me cries when my you cry. Part of me aches when you feel stuck.  Part of me wails my tigress roar when people mistreat  you or neglect your needs. You are not alone. We are in this life together, connected through the web of humanity.

I’d like to tell you a little about my own transformational journey in the article below. I have struggled with some of the same issues you have, and I’ve grown and healed. I hope my story inspires you.

I’d also like to invite you to our Beach Retreat: “Your Authentic Self: Create the Life of Your Dreams” September 13-17, 2012. You’ll find several links at the end of the newsletter which will give you a fuller picture.

My Transformational Journey: An Overview

When I was doing my heavy-duty inner healing work in the 70’s and 80’s, there were two things that made the biggest difference for me:  (1) having 2 long-term teachers I trusted and (2) attending multi-day retreats. My teachers saw dynamics in me that I couldn’t begin to understand, let alone heal. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their help.

In order to break free of my past programming and the emotional wounding that held patterns in place, I had to go deep, real deep. I would never have gone there without my teachers. I had to trust them to take me into the unknown. I soaked in their love for me, and because of that I felt safe enough to let go and explore my inner wilderness. Sometimes I challenged them, and they were strong enough to let me ask tons of questions.

The toughest thing was for me to drop down into my emotions and my body, and stop being so intellectual. I had to learn how to get in touch with emotions and stay fully present in my body. That can only be learned experientially, not from reading a book.

I was willing to do that in retreats because I had enough time to pussy-foot around, and stick my toe in the proverbial water. I watched other people as they were coached by my teachers, and I learned vicariously before I asked for healing. I had plenty of time to deal with my anxiety instead of shrinking back. I was scared of the unknown, but I didn’t let it stop me because I saw other people making major breakthroughs. They’d come out smiling, even radiant.

I knew I was playing too small in my life. I felt God prompting me to unfold more of my divine blueprint.  Private counseling sessions were great, weekly groups were wonderful, but my biggest changes occurred at retreats because we had three full days to go deep. “Deep” is what I needed.

What About You?

Are you feeling an inner prompting to go deeper like I did?  Do you have a sense that God designed a blue print uniquely for you, and you want to fulfill it?  Are you feeling the need to break out of the patterns that have kept you stuck?  In my mind’s eye I see the picture of a chick tap, tap, tapping from the inside of the shell, and finally breaking it open. It is the beginning of its new life. I really want this for you, and that’s why I am writing to you today. I want you to break free.

Personally, I love to lead retreats more than any of the work I do because of the deep bonding we experience over three days and the remarkable changes that occur.

To view the current list of Retreats, click here.

If you feel your spirit urging you to explore these opportunities, please contact me now to arrange a complementary phone interview.  Phone 770.998.6642.  Or email me at Benita@EspositoInstitute.com. Tell me 3 good times to speak with you, and I’ll do my best to match one.

The tuition increases on August 1, 2012 so register early to receive a discount.  Final decisions for enrollment must be made by mid-August. There are pre-requisites to complete so if you are interested, it is important to contact me now to see if this is a good fit for you.

Links to Retreat Stories

1)    If you’d like to read about one of the first times I participated in a retreat and how I learned to be vulnerable in public, click here.

2)    To read a story about how I facilitated a client’s healing trauma in a retreat, click here.

3)    To read about a participant’s reflections after a Retreat, click here: Topic: The holy connection between body and spirit.

4)    Click here to read details, testimonials and logistics for our September 2012 Annual Beach Retreat: “Your Authentic Self: Create the Life of Your Dreams”

5) To read about Breathwork combined with our Lake Lanier Yacht Retreat with amazing Nature and animal stories, click here.

Author and Facilitator:

Benita A. Esposito, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor

The Esposito Institute, Inc.  / Counseling and Life Coaching

 2 Offices

  1. 48 Haralson Place, Suite 3, Blairsville, GA 30512
  2. 3188 Atlanta Road, SE, Smyrna, GA 30080

Psychotherapy Website: www.Flourishing-Lives.com

Life Coaching via telephone and Skype, blog: www.YourAuthenticLife.com

Specialties: Marriage counseling, divorce, emotional roots of disease, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, grief, bipolar disorders and success skills. Combining intuition and evidence-based practices, Benita gets to the bottom line quickly to help clients create flourishing personal and professional lives. Psychotherapy is available in Blairsville and Atlanta. Life coaching for high achievers is available worldwide via telephone and skype. Retreats are facilitated by Benita A. Esposito as spiritual therapy which includes hands-on-healing. Benita is an ordained minister with the AIWP.

 

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