Episode Details

Chris Bruno- Founder and Counselor at Restoration Counseling in Colorado
Beth Bruno - Chief of Strategic initiatives at Restoration Counseling
Tracy Johnson - Spiritual and story work counselor, leads virtual team at Restoration Counseling, she is also the founder of Red Tent Living.

We start with a Together but Separate check in - How is everyone holding up?

Tracy she has grown kids out of the house as well kinds living at home. After almost 30 years plus of avoiding homeschooling, she is homeschooling her youngest and “it’s as bad as I thought it would be.” She is feeling the distance with her grown kids being far away and being without any family near by. Tracy has “all the feelings” including what she is holding for her clients as all.

Maggie can relate to avoiding homeschooling her kids and fo course has found herself in the same place as most people. Her kids say it’s not their favorite to which she whole-heartedly agrees and then acknowledges that she is not a teacher and has not been trained as a teacher so they are all having to make the best of an awkward and difficult situation.

Beth started by reeling from so much loss —  so many cancelled exciting things that were coming up for her. Feeling so sad and disappointed led to anger, fear and anxiety. She describes it as a sense of feeling out of control, of not knowing really what we’re really dealing with. She has begun to limit her news consumption to avoid the panic that begins to rise as she reads too much news and media. They have been very purposeful about getting outside and do something that gives them life everyday.

Chris mentioned they emptied out their garage rafters and found a giant 12’ x 25’ photo backdrop that they then put out along their fence and invited people in their neighborhood to come journal, draw, write things they are grateful for and prayer requests… They provide space for people to express and communicate to each other as a way to do something communal in a time of separation.

Danielle notes how much complexity this time is — its full of grief, having kids home or being alone, working at home, losing a job and not being able to get unemployment… issues with the internet—which is a chief source of connection—because the internet was not made for the whole world to be on at the same time. It’s all overwhelming.

Restoration Counseling is offering virtual help and support, for leaders and pastors and it’s open for all people. Chris says that mental health field has gone online the past few days in light of the decreased access to care. Beyond just one-on-one counseling, which many places are offering (including them), it’s actually the group spaces in the moments of trauma that create an ability to process as a community, and uniquely in this time when our group spaces are so deeply limited. They are offering group spaces to offer communal lament as well as celebration.

They started by asking their teams what they are passionate about, what themes are already coming up in their individual practices and spheres of influence… and then to create a digital space for groups to connect: group for women who’ve experienced trauma, trauma-informed yoga, college freshmen who’ve been displaced, high school seniors who have lost their last year of high school, etc.

Tracy’s group for women who’ve experienced trauma starts this coming week (Thursday April 2nd) and meets for a half an hour. There are still spots available—see link at the bottom—and the goal is to provide space for the women to be able to name what is happening in them right now, what is coming up for them now as opposed to past trauma or story work. How are they noticing what’