5 Mental Health Touchpoints for Living Well
Even for the healthiest, the COVID-19 virus triggers threat responses within the brain, nervous system, and body, often leading to an escalating cascade of overwhelming emotions and thoughts. While we can feel helpless against something we can’t run away from or fight directly, there are ways we can turn down our body’s automatic responses, decrease our stress, and improve our resilience.
Watch the recorded version as we welcome Babette Reeves, MA, MSW, LCSW, Behavioral Medicine Specialist, and she shares tools for caring for ourselves in ways that are protective, healing, and even strengthening despite the threats around us.
As someone with dermatomyositis, Babette shares some of her own experiences living through COVID-19. The video also includes live Q&A from attendees.
Download the Slides
Save Babette’s slideshow to follow along and for access to the resources she provides during her presentation and discussion.
Silver Sneakers
Exercise tools to stay active for those 65-years-old and over as well as online, on-demand video exercise programs.
Chair Yoga drawings
View the chair yoga drawings discussed. Only practice those you can do safely.
Belly Breathing
Check out Manage Stress Through Soft-Belly Breathing, a video related to this breathing exercise Babette discusses and we followed along during her talk.
Control circles diagram
Check out the control circles diagram, Focus on the Things You Can Control. Create your own by writing down the things you can control inside of the circle and those you can’t control outside of the circle.
Tapping Song
Learn more about tapping and use this song to help guide you.
Nurturing Our Mental Health during Covid19 Pandemic
Check out this 30-minute video about nurturing our mental health during the pandemic.
From Daily Om
While these are not free, they are low-cost and pay what you can afford.
Chair Yoga
Daily Om: Chair Yoga
Yoga for Sleep
Daily Om: Yoga for Sleep
About Babette Reeves, MA, MSW, LCSW
Babette Reeves is a Behavioral Health Specialist at South River Community Health Center, specializing in work with patients with chronic pain and trauma. Her training includes completion of Level I in trauma specific Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, residency in Clinical Pastoral Education at Williamsport Regional Medical Center, PA, and internship in integrated care at St. Anthony North Hospital and Family Practice in metro Denver. She has worked in medical education, emergency departments, hospice, addiction services, private doctor’s offices, and intermediate care facilities.
Babette has spoken at national, regional, state, and local conferences as well as been a poster presenter at the Oregon OPAT Pain Conference and at the American Academy of Pain Medicine. She earned her MSW from the University of North Dakota, MA in Education from Princeton Theological Seminary, and BA in Psychology from Queens University. Oregon is the eighth state that she has called home, but her accent remains from her growing up years in metro Atlanta.
