c2gether Podcast
By Dr. Elizabeth Frei, licensed clinical psychologist
c2gether PodcastJun 04, 2021
Blended Families: Navigating Grief and Transition when the Family Changes
Elizabeth speaks with her colleague, Laura Wadhwa, about her research on blended families. Laura shares some ways to talk to kids about the changes to the family constellation, and how to give space for kids to discuss and share whatever feelings they have. The importance of validating their reactions to avoid the destructive effect of shame is described.
For more information, Laura recommends the following book:
Van Deurzen, E., & Iacovou, S. (2013). Existential perspectives on relationship therapy. Bloomsbury Publishing.
You can also contact her via email: https://c2gether.ch/professional/laura-wadhwa-msc/
ADHD Diagnosis Later in Life: Implications for Work, Relationships and Self-Image
Elizabeth interviews her own father, Richard Wack, about his ADHD history. He reflects on the ways that it affected his relationship with his peers, family and himself. Despite having a successful legal career, he shares how undiagnosed ADHD affected his anxiety and addiction. He shares feedback that might be helpful to others who are discovering the ways that their brains work at a later age.
You can learn more about Richard here: https://nadn.org/pdf/Rick-Wack.pdf
Supporting Ageing Parents through Illness and Death from Abroad
Many of us no longer live in the same community as our parents. Often we live oceans away. This conversation is dedicated to discussing a topic that brings up many emotions and involves many complicated variables but in the end, is the most human of experiences to have.
For a recommended article that touches on some of these themes, we could recommend starting here: https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/health/a45665678/caregiving-for-aging-parents/
We are grateful for the contributions of Aoife, Patricia, and Diana in sharing their experiences in this important episode.
Aoife Hoitink has lived internationally for over 25 years. She has been living in Lausanne for the last 10 years. Aoife's parents are in Ireland and her in laws live in The Netherlands.
Patricia Vriesendorp is an American and Swiss trained psychologist & psychotherapist who has often had family spread out across borders. She currently lives with her immediate family, husband and 2 teen sons in Biel, while her extended family, mother and brother live in the Netherlands. The deterioration and eventual death of her father more than 2 years ago highlighted the challenges of navigating care for family while abroad.
Diana Rusen is a body work therapist who works with her clients in Biel-Bienne. She grew up in Romania.
Navigating Professional Recognition as a non-Swiss Psychologist and Psychotherapist
Patricia and Elizabeth discuss the particularities of the process of applying for foreign training to be recognized in Switzerland to practice as a psychologist or psychotherapist. We talk about the important things to know, the differences between the BAG, PsyKo and FSP, and the pros-cons of working as a psychologist vs. a psychotherapist. We get lots of questions about this from mental health clinicians new to Switzerland so we hope that you will find this to be a handy resource as you navigate this complex and often frustrating process.
The c2 website gives more information and links: https://c2gether.ch/working-as-a-mental-health-professsional-in-switzerland
Contact:
Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)
Psychology Professions Commission (PsyCo)
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
CH-3003 Bern
Phone: +41 (0)58 464 38 18
E-Mail: psyko@bag.admin.ch
Grief and Grieving as an Immigrant in the Post-Covid World
Elizabeth talks with Patricia about the importance of grief and grieving, and the particular ways it may impact people living away from their home countries and cultures. The collective experience of grief from the period of Covid is also discussed. Ways to navigate the experience of grief within yourself and with others were explored.
To find more information on the topic and additional resources, you can check out Patricia's blog post: https://c2gether.ch/grief-and-loss/
To join the virtual Grief Circle scheduled for 2 February, you can register here: https://c2gether.ch/event/grief-circle/
You can email Elizabeth or Patricia at: contact@c2gether.ch
Changes to the System: How will Insurance cover Psychotherapy?
Elizabeth and Patricia outline and discuss the upcoming changes to how psychotherapy will be covered by the insurance in Switzerland starting in 2023.
This episode is for:
Any existing psychotherapy clients curious about if and how their services will be reimbursed,
Anyone considering starting psychotherapy in the future,
or any mental health practitioners who may be curious about how these changes might impact how they interact with the healthcare system, and how this might contribute to the current demand crisis in healthcare.
For a written outline and more information, you can check out c2's website: https://c2gether.ch/c2-news/
There is also additional information via the Federal Office of Public Health: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/berufe-im-gesundheitswesen/psychologieberufe.html
We encourage you to talk with your healthcare and insurance providers about how these changes might impact you and your family.
Psychedelics, Mental health and Therapy with Meltem Kusku
Elizabeth chats with Meltem Kusku, a mental-health counselor who talks about how her own experience with psychedelics has reduced her suffering and avoidance of a traumatic childhood experience that shaped her life. They discuss current research that suggests the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy for healing trauma, and the proposed uses of psychedelics in the treatment of other mental health conditions. She encourages people who are curious to talk openly about next steps with their medical and mental health providers.
If you want to get in touch with Meltem for more information, you can reach her via email at kuskum.chi@gmail.com
MAPS - A leading non-profit organization in psychedelic research, information and education.
Clinical trials that are going on in Switzerland for people to get an experience by participating in research.
A retreat center in Holland that legally offer integrative psychedelic experiences. There are many others.
Writing for Mental Health: Be the Journalist of your own Life's Stories
Professional journalist and writer, Tara Giroud, shares her experience of writing for her mental health and her current inspiration to help others use this medium to support their own well-being. She discusses the importance of reflecting on our experiences and communicating with ourselves and others. Tara gives a number of practical tips to help when self-criticism shows up in your writing.
c2 will host Tara's workshop on this topic on 11 June at 10-12:30. To sign up, please contact Tara directly via email: taragiroud@gmail.com
You can check out her website: https://taragiroud.com/
or find her on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn
You can also see more about the details about the workshop via the c2 website: https://c2gether.ch/events/
Ukrainian Day Center in Lausanne: Creating a Place of Respite for Those Fleeing War
Elizabeth speaks with Jeremy McTeague of Scott's Kirk Church in Lausanne. He has spearheaded an initiative to create a day center for refugees (mainly from Ukraine) who are staying with local families in the area. Forced displacement results not just in disconnection from homeland, but also from a sense of identity. This day center intends to help its members stay connected to themselves and others. It is currently open on Thursday and Sunday afternoons.
For more information or to help out, please contact Jeremy and his team at: ukraine-centre@scotskirklausanne.ch
This episode also discusses the organization EVAM (Établissement vaudois d'accueil des migrants).
Here are some other links that you might find useful:
Hire the Ukrainian: www.hiretheukrainian.com and V. https://www.hiretheukrainian.com/mental-health
Ukraine Reborn: www.ukraine-reborn.ch
Christ Church Lausanne : http://christchurch-lausanne.ch/christchurch2/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/UkrainianRefugeeDayCentre.pdf
Our Lady of Faith Lausanne: https://www.catholicchurchlausanne.org/
How to Help in Uncertain Times: A Conversation about Trauma, Migration and Well-Being
Elizabeth talks with Lyla Schwartz about her broad experience providing psychological support to people who have been affected by trauma in different places around the world, and how this has led to her current research at the University of Basel. In this conversation, she suggests some ways that we can help support migrants and refugees who are settling in Switzerland.
Jeremy McTeague of the Ukraine Day Centre in Lausanne email : ukraine-centre@scotskirklausanne.ch
To participate in Lyla's research survey (OPEN TO ANYONE WHO HAS SETTLED IN SWITZERLAND, preferably with a B or C permit), please read the description and click the link:
We are researchers at POMA, a non-profit focused on providing psychological protection to at-risk populations. We are conducting a study to better understand the needs of refugees and asylum seekers and identify the gaps in legal, social and health services afforded to them by host countries in Europe. We have designed a survey, to be completed by people of varying nationalities, now living in Europe.
We believe that the barriers refugees and asylum seekers face cause a significant amount of stress to the person, and it is therefore an important topic to explore. With the information gathered from this survey, we hope to develop support and to inform policy and interventions moving forward.
We would like to ask you to share this survey with your patients, residents and colleagues with lived experiences as a refugee or migrant. The survey is or soon will be available in English, French, German, Ukrainian, Arabic, Farsi, Tigray and Turkish.
Please find the survey by following this link:
Blokes and Black Dogs Peer Support Group with Carl Wahlers
Elizabeth chats with Carl Wahlers, the founder of the Lausanne-based Blokes and Black Dogs support group. This peer-to-peer group is for men who are needing support around mental health issues like isolation, loneliness, depression or anxiety. He talks about how the idea of the group arose and how he hopes it will be a resource that english-speaking men across Switzerland use to reduce the shame and build community.
Link to the Blokes and Black Dogs podcast:
Web site:
https://www.blokesandblackdogs.ch/
Facebook page:
Blokes and Black Dogs | Facebook
LinkedIn:
Blokes and Black Dogs: Company Page Admin | LinkedIn
Black Dog WHO:
I had a black dog, his name was depression - Bing video
Movember Movement to decrease death by suicide among men:
The Realities of Practicing Self-Compassion: The Struggle is Real!
Elizabeth talks with Dr. Patricia Vriesendorp about the ways in which challenges to self-compassion show up in day-to-day life, and how to make self-compassion a practice that could potentially benefit motivation, mental-health and well-being. The particularities of practicing self-compassion as a foreigner or migrant are discussed, as well as some ways that this uniquely vulnerable group can learn to be kinder to themselves. We will discuss this topic further in our upcoming webinar on 23 March, 30 March and 6 April. Check out c2's Facebook page for more information or to register.
We also share some of our favorite resources on this topic:
ADHD in Adulthood: One Woman's Journey
ADHD advocate Renée McClure shares her ADHD story, and some of the resources that she found useful along the way. If you have any questions for Renée about her journey or about joining her Facebook support group, Women Who Rock CH (the ADHD Edition), you can contact her via email at mcclurer@hotmail.com.
Some other resources mentioned are:
"Brain on Fire": Nutritional therapy and functional medicine with Kerry Fugard
Elizabeth interviews nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner, Kerry Fugard. We discuss brain health and how to eat to prevent dementia. Ways to use nutrition and other aspects of daily life to help your brain function well and deal with common challenges (including seasonal change) were explored.
To contact Kerry, you can visit the following sites:
https://www.nutri-360.com/
https://www.facebook.com/nutri360.nutrition/
https://www.instagram.com/nutri360swiss/
Resources discussed include:
Dr. Dale Bredesen's book: The End of Alzheimer's Program
The mind-body connection with Jaya Saunders
Elizabeth chats with body work therapist and coach, Jaya Saunders, about her way of helping people connect the mind and body. She talks about how working with the body can help us better understand ourselves and reduce tension. Jaya gives us a preview of her two upcoming workshops with c2, including the Women's Health Day and her mindfulness meditation workshop on 16 October, 2021. She also presents a brief mindfulness to the breath exercise.
If you'd like to sign up for Jaya's mindfulness meditation workshop on the 16th, you can find more information here: https://c2gether.ch/event/mindfulness-meditation-with-jaya-session-1/
If you'd like to learn more about Jaya and the work she does, you can check out her website: https://jayasaundersconsulting.com/about
Supporting parents and families: Graines de Vie family café and how to find an english-speaking doula
Elizabeth speaks with Agnes Leonetti, a therapist/doula in Biel/Bienne, who discusses ways in which parents and families can build community with other parents and families. She discusses a new family café project called "Graines de Vie" which brings together families and kids with therapists, educators, and creatives in order to build connection and support. Agnes also talks about her work as a doula, and why having a birth support person as a non-native Swiss resident can be particularly useful (for example, as a translator).
You can find more about the resources discussed in this episode by clicking the following links:
Agnes' Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/agnes.leonetti.7
Find a doula in Switzerland: https://doula.ch/
Graines de Vie family center: https://grainesdevie.ch/services/
Graines de Vie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grainesdevie.Bienne
Luna Birth House in Bern: https://www.geburtshausluna.ch/
c2gether Podcast Episode #4, Kids and household chores
In this episode, Elizabeth interviews Stéphanie Goffaux, a psychologist who works with kids and their families to set up systems that help kids participate more actively in family and household tasks while building autonomy and self-confidence. Stéphanie shares a number of practical ideas and tips for navigating common areas of daily challenge for parents and their kids, like hygiene, mealtime, and homework.
You can find more information about Stéphanie on her website: https://psy.goffaux.ch/en/home/
c2gether Podcast Episode #3, Menopause and mental health
Elizabeth interviews Angela Warm about what women can do to support their health and mental health during perimenopause and menopause. We cover topics related to nutrition, stress, sleep, communication and sex.
c2gether Podcast Episode #2, Working with Perfectionsim
Elizabeth interviews Sandrine Dennler, a shiatsu therapist, about how perfectionism shows up in the body, preventing vulnerability and interfering with connection. She shares ways that people can identify and resolve issues related to anxiety, perfectionism and stress by working with it in their bodies and in their lives.
c2gether Podcast Episode #1, Open Space Day
Elizabeth interviews Patricia about c2's Open Space Day event occurring 30 April 2021. Patricia explains the element of co-creation of the schedule that make this event particularly dynamic.