​This past year or so under COVID, our team decided early on that we would make decisions based what we thought best for BOTH our clinicians’ and clients’ nervous systems. We transitioned to telehealth delivery for all of our IOP/PHP services immediately in mid-March, and given the uncertainty of COVID, we’ve continued to support telehealth as the best option for balancing the needs for safety and connection. Each of our gifted clinicians have shared their talents and experience with each other to help hone our skills in providing connective, somatically-based and effective care, and to address the challenges and opportunities that telehealth provides.

I am proud to say that all of our IOP/PHP clients successfully transitioned to telehealth (from in-person) and graduated the program on their expected timelines. Our IOP/PHP has continued to thrive this past year, as we continue to listen to feedback from our clients regarding what makes doing IOP/PHP via telehealth connective and successful.

To be clear, yes, there are some challenges in doing IOP/PHP ‘at home’, such as managing privacy and transition from program to home life, finding ways to connect with other IOP/PHP clients, accountability and transparency in engaging in the program, to name a few. We spend time with our prospective IOP/PHP clients and family members to address these and other concerns you may have about the suitability of our program for your needs. Please continue to raise concerns and ask questions. It’s what makes us better clinicians and a better program.

Having said all that, we are open to discussing what services may be available to you in-person. To be transparent, I anticipate that 50% or more of your program would still be via telehealth at this time.

~The New Beginnings Center

The Ventura County Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (VC-CAMFT) is a non-profit organization of mental health professionals (https://vc-camft.org/about-us/) .  We were honored to be featured in their latest newsletter.  The full-page "Spotlight" article focused on the services we offer, particularly during this time of physical distancing.  Also highlighted is a summary and "unpacking" of the recent "Neurobiology of Trauma Healing" webinar from our very own Co-Owner Susan Richter, LMFT, CEDS.  

As a Registered Dietitian, I was trained very traditionally, prepared to work in a hospital, as the "expert".  In my 17 year career, I have had a lot of time to find a perspective that makes sense to me and supports clients to find their way to a way of eating/living that does not cause harm.  

I work using principles of Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size from a place of non judgement and compassion.  There are no "good" foods, there are no "bad" foods. I do not even think of food as "healthy". I believe we, the human being, are healthy.  Food can lend to our health, is necessary for survival, and food contains nutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, fluid), so it is nutritious.  All foods contain nutrients, so all foods are nutritious.  I am not saying foods are equally nutritious (varying ratios of nutrients), but all foods provide the body with nutrients that it can use.  

First steps are in an attempt to level the playing field of food.  If we think of a certain food as "bad" or "unhealthy", and we eat it (we all know how many different directions we can take this!). Our culture sends all of us way too many messages regarding what we should/shouldn't do especially when it comes to food/body). My clients have full permission to eat what they want to eat, we work for the clients to reach this place for themselves. We want our clients to have adequacy, enough food, to allow for their brains and bodies to be ready for the work they do with all of us.  If the brain is not nourished, there really isn't capacity to work on healing when the body is attempting to survive.

From adequacy we can see how a client's history may interfere with a positive relationship with food/body.  We create a space that will allow clients to see that food is so much more than weight gain, nutrients, gluttony, etc. We also allow our clients to discover the messaging they have been receiving and be able to continue on with the belief or discard if it no longer holds true or serves them.

My belief is that when our clients can reestablish a connection with the wisdom of body, their relationship with food and body will be forever changed.  When we can acknowledge/honor/respect the cues the body provides we are working with the body instead of against it. This is where the app Recovery Record comes in. We are working to reestablish connection with hunger and fullness cues and the nuance of the many levels of hunger/fullness. When we can identify if we are hungry, when we are hungry, how hungry we are or are not, we can also look at how we are feeling and determine if food is really the thing we need at that certain time.

We were all born into diet culture, we may not be aware of the messaging and the profits gained from those who create the messaging.  The best way that I have heard it said is:
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"We were all born into the culture without consent.  I attempt to provide an alternative path for my clients. If in the end, my clients choose not to follow the path I have introduced to them, they can reenter diet culture giving consent"

The Health at Every Size component is that ALL bodies deserve respect. And that we cannot know anything about someone just by looking at them. Celebrating diversity, honoring differences, challenging assumptions (scientific and personal), valuing body knowledge and lived experiences, finding joy in movement, eating in a flexible, attuned manner valuing pleasure and honoring internal cues.

I hope that this gives a glimpse of how I work and how it contributes to the whole of our clients.  
I am happy to connect with anyone who may have questions.

Happy Holidays to Everyone!!
Aimee Hammond

In addition to the resources we offer at The New Beginnings Center, we also wanted to provide a list of other online mental health resources available during the Covid-19/Coronavirus pandemic and beyond.  Being physically distant from friends, family, and our regular social structures can cause increased anxiety and loneliness. It is important  that we care for our mental health under "normal" circumstances and even more so during these complicated times.  Please make use of these websites and share with others who may benefit from this information.  

None of us alone have the knowledge, experience and resources to end centuries of racism or heal the pain and trauma that has resulted from the hate, prejudice and white privilege woven through our governmental and societal structures. It is going to take all of us speaking out, listening up, advocating, creating and joining together to pave a future that closes the racial divide and heals the wounds of oppression.
We presented a two-part series entitled "All of Us. Together.” in order to learn about the origins of systemic racism and steps that can be taken to advocate for change.

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​Combating Racism: How To Be An Active Ally In A Society Plagued By Systemic Racism with Miaya Wright Allen & Emem Brown

We will discuss racism, its institutionalized and systemic manifestations and action steps to take in becoming well-informed as an ally in supporting African Americans

​Showing Up for Racial Justice: Reflections and Resources for this moment with Nicolette Walker & Jonathan Horton

An introduction to the organization, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), sharing of resources for anyone new to social justice work and addressing “white supremacy culture.”