Blessed Life Counseling

01/15/2023

If I was ever asked what is the one topic I discuss every week, hands down it would be Boundaries. I draw it, act it out, and talk about it until my throat is sore. Boundaries were created in the garden with Adam and Eve, which by the way they violated. Boundaries are essential in every relationship as breath is to living.

I will be starting an online 6 week group February 23, 2023 based on the book Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are, by Lysa TerKeurst. I love the title, even though her last name is hard to pronounce. Often we throw out a boundary to others which is not in alignment with our core self and we become angry, bitter, and resentful when it is not honored. Healthy boundaries are crucial in all relationships, even with yourself. Chaos in a relationship, is an indicator of no healthy boundaries. “When we allow a boundary to be violated, bad behavior will be validated.” This is one of the many one liners in Lysa’s book. Stops and makes you think doesn’t it? You will need a highlighter I promise you.

Each participant will need to buy the book and workbook prior to the group meeting. Time will be 7- 8:30 p.m. Thursdays. Each session will consist of discussion, bible reading, and a video to watch. Although this book study can be done alone, it will more fun and challenging to engage with others who want to establish healthy boundaries.
Session space is limited, Cost: $70 current client (seen once in the last 3 months), $85 all others.
(class not covered by insurance) Please email liz@blessedlifecounseling.com if interested

12/31/2022

Happy last day of 2022. Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas? If not, how about a New Year’s gift to self, family, and friends? The gift of mental health is a gift which keeps giving all year long. Imagine a life with less chaos and stress, healthier and deeper conversations with those you love, intimate connections with your family, and a healthy support system that is reliable and dependable. Sounds amazing, right? It is possible if you invest in yourself. When we make our mental health a priority, relationships change for the better, even if some end. Since we are brain wired for connection with others give yourself or someone you care about the gift of less mental mess in 2023. Contact our Winter Park or New Smyrna office and set up a free consultation. Sessions are in person or telehealth. 407-832-8175.

03/18/2020

Circumstances are often out of our control, but when we pick up the pen and write our own story, we can soon discover we are the author of a best seller. Who is writing your story?
https://havenscounseling.com/blogs/havens-blog/who-hold-the-pen

02/07/2020

Havens Counseling February Newsletter: To be Loved

"To be loved is to be known and to be known is to be loved." I didn't say it first and I don't know who did, but it makes sense to me. I tried to google the authorship, which led to a whole lot of sappy love quotes that could put Hallmark out of business. When another human being knows me and still...

01/27/2020

Woman's 8 week Group beginning February 20, 10-11:30 am, and February 25, 6:30-8 pm. Book discussed is Intimate Deception by Sheri Keffer. Topics covered: boundaries, triggers, trust, forgiveness, and more. . Whether you are still in the relationship or you no longer together, if you are hurting and struggling come to this group to find support and healing. Have you been told you are codependent or blame yourself? This group will use the latest research to show you have no power over his behavior, you must control your own emotions and behavior. You are just as important as he is. This is a Christian group, God's word will be incorporated. Contact Elizabeth Havens, 407-832-8175 or liz@havenscounseling.com if interested.

01/26/2020

Upcoming groups and sleep -

Just saying the new year numbers out loud improves my vision, well maybe just a little bit more motivation towards greater clarity and insight in my life. I was so ready for 2019 to be gone, I actually yelled "good riddance" at 11:59 p.m. To quote my sister, "Don't let the door hit you on the way ou...

01/02/2020

Love it when my son sends me wisdom. Favorite line, "Choices don't stay choices, they become habits" and "Today's choices become tomorrow's chains."

The enemy sees your potential. Are you gonna let him take it from you? This clip is from the message "Choosing Your Chains." To watch the full message, click...

12/10/2019

What Rhymes with Spit?
https://havenscounseling.com/blogs/havens-blog/what-rhymes-with-spit-1

12/05/2019

For those who have suffered a Betrayal Trauma
starting Sunday, December 8 and running through Tuesday, December 17, the Braveful Summit is going to feature interviews with many of my APSATS (The Association of S*x Addicts Trauma Specialist) colleagues, including: Dr. Barbara Steffens, Carol Sheets, Dr. Sheri Keffer, Dr. Fran Hopwood, Lyschel Burket, Lisa Taylor, Karen Rellos, and others.

Over 40 women and men will share over 10 days information about how women can move beyond betrayal. This is a faith-based summit, so many of those interviewed will be sharing how their spiritual life contributed to their recovery AND there are many, solid science-based tools offered, too.

Among the featured topics are things like:
** Understanding Betrayal Trauma
Understanding S*xual Addiction

** How to Manage Feelings & Emotions

** How to Build Trust & Learn to Forgive
How to Implement Self-Care Strategies

** How to Create Healthy Boundaries.
The free registration is here:

Empowering Women After Betrayal

10/03/2019

Havens Counseling Newsletter
https://mailchi.mp/4d4766834efc/havens-counseling-newsletter-october-2019

08/20/2019

INTEGRITY-
As a therapist I get asked some pretty thought-provoking questions. So I thought I would share one with you. What does integrity look like? In other words, how does a person live a life of integrity? Integrity is… Imagine you were killed in a car accident on the way home and your partner, children, family and friends had the horrific task of going through your car, your phone, your computer, your drawers, your closet, your office, even your shed out back. Nothing is left unseen. Is there anything that may confuse them? Would they question who they thought you were, the man they have always known? Let’s play this out. You are dead. Your grown son accesses your phone and scrolls through your text, nothing unusual, but he didn’t know you had a friend named Linda and why you would meet her for lunch. Wonders if his mom was invited. Then he opens your photos, UGH, he sees provocative selfies. Next, he opens your internet history on your computer. What… the thought “my dad is a stranger to me”, takes his breath away. You have been viewing po*******hy and chatting with other women. You do not fit the definition of integrity. Integrity is united, whole and undivided. What you say matches how you behave. Personal and private are the same, no different, every day of the week. If you want your family and friends to believe you are faithful, then be faithful. If you want to cheat, then be a cheater. Be authentic. Be transparent. That is integrity. Question to ask yourself is simple, if I were die this second would it change how what people knew about me? If the answer is yes, then what are you going to do about it? If the answer is no, you have integrity. We all end up dead, so how do you want to be remembered? The path is yours to choose.
www.havenscounseling.com

07/29/2019

Just spent an amazing 5 days with these people at an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) intensive training. Every one of these lives experienced a transformation of a negative core belief. My life shifted. The anxiety in my chest that I have felt for 2 years, like a rubber band about to snap and give me the biggest welt of my life, is gone. The instructor and author, Dr. Andrew Dobo, wrote "The soul will not be denied its true path of wholeness and healing. EMDR does not simple treat symptoms, it dismantles the old self that is no longer working, to make way for a new self." My new self was reborn in 5 days, sounds mystical. But it is what is in all of us, the ability to surrender and let our brains, which are created by God, to do what He designed them to do. Heal from the wounds knowingly or unknowingly inflicted on us by others. In front of strangers, surrendering to the journey of traveling back into my past with very little talking, just letting go to find freedom was scary, but the gift of new healthier belief to live in this world was worth it. I am grateful.
If you are interested in EMDR therapy, I would be happy to speak to you about my experience and schedule sessions using this life changing technique.
liz@havenscounseling.com
www.havenscounseling.com