Renee Michaels, Ph. D, LCSW

02/22/2024

Working on my next book : HEALTHY COUPLES

12/17/2023

10/18/2023

NEW TOOL.

PITY PARTY TIMER

Set a timer for a reasonable amount of time, say 1 to 2 hours, and allow yourself to feel bad during that time. Then, when the timer goes off, get up and change your environment and get on with your day, you have just given yourself permission to feel bad, and then move on.
Congrats!

01/03/2023

I think there are extenuating circumstances that could prove this wrong. We have to take into account, where we are in the present what is real? What is true? And then we ask ourselves-  where are the areas that we can do better? Give yourself some grace and put your best foot forward.

How to Stop Making about Your Ability to and Manifest https://ninaamir.com/excuses-ability-change-manifest/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ReviveOldPost

05/29/2022

VIRTUAL DBT FLORIDA FOR TEENS

03/13/2022

Ventral Vagal Moments

When I was a child, I longed for summers with my Nana.

These were my get-a-way times, from yelling, name-calling, and belt buckle imprints on my behind.

At Nana’s, there was no second-guessing, no judgment, no giving up on me.

Only slaw dogs from Bloodworth’s soda counter, ices from the Meadow Mart, and 35 cent comic books—double issue. The cozy green sofa allowed me to float on it as Spiderman and Superman came to life in my nine-year-old brain.

On days where the summer rain glazed the lead windows and I could not walk the railroad tracks and kick up the stones, or balance my little frame on the tracks, the red-wing back held me in its sturdiness so I could enjoy hours of reading Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys; books I had gotten from the white statuesque library with creaky steps and the smell of old books and welcome.

The bridge party and sewing club ladies allowed me to shine for them as my funny voices breathed a cacophony of delight into the living room and into their hearts. Serving percolated Maxwell House and cake to them made me all the more important.

Words, books, and unconditional positive regard followed me into high school creative writing class with Mrs. Gray and American Lit with Mrs. Lundregan, who taught me my first attempt at a short story was good enough.

Nana’s birthday gift of a year's subscription to Writer’s Digest at 16, goaded me into putting pen to my white lined paper.

The glimmer of acceptance and appreciation of words and writing followed me intermittently into my writing life as time drew faster.

The old Victorian, a far cry away from scared days and nights in my parents’ house, anchored me in a sense of connection, acceptance, and warmth that I feel to this day when I recite the pictures in my mind.

These are the ventral vagal moments of our hearts. Ones that conjure attachment, safety, and co-regulation between the hearts of two souls.

When I take gentle breaths today, fewer left than I had when I was nine, I make them count.

I write in a made-up place now at the end of my closet with pictures of typewriters and pinned words of great authors on my corkboard in front of me.

Anchoring the memories of enough-ness brings to me the safety of my summers as I type from the place called Acceptance.

Where can you find your ventral vagal moments?





Dr. Renee

03/10/2022

Audra M wins FB today!

03/03/2022

The national flag of Ukraine has two equally sized horizontal bands of blue and yellow (Constitution of Ukraine, Article 20). The combination of blue and yellow as a symbol of Ukrainian lands comes from the flag of the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia used in the 12th century. As a national flag, the b...

02/22/2022

Get involved in the care of your teen with the DBT Parent Group. We begain last night and it was a great group. All said they were grateful for the group. We will be getting into the good stuff next week! Don't miss it.
Call to save your seat for next Monday at 7:15.
727-278-8375

02/19/2022

Does your teen deserve a chance to have a life they can love? Are you tired of the upheaval in your home?
Bring joy back to your home.
DBT is a preeminent treatment for high emotional arousal, stress intolerance, problems in relationships. Our DBT program is a coaching group for both the teen and the parent, we go further than traditional DBT groups. DBT usually has 4 components, we do six.
Parent group is separate.
Certified DBT Specialist coaching these groups.
Give yourself peace of mind. Call now 727-278-8375

02/15/2022

DBT PARENT GROUP BEGINS MONDAY FEB 21 AT 715PM EASTERN. It does not matter what state you live in. You may attend if your teen is in a DBT group or not. If your teen has big emotions or impulse control problems or has recently had a psychiatric hospitalization, or if you are at the end of your rope, this group is for you. You may pay upfront to save a few bucks or $70 a session for both parents to attend. Hurry, time is limited. Call now for more info. 727-278-8375

02/11/2022

I just joined Apple Fitness+
Give yourself the gift if you Apple😄

02/05/2022

Wonder why you respond the way you do to many things?
Tired of pushing people away?
Tired of feeling rejected?
Call now to end the suffering. 727-278-8375

Not only does it control how you function, it does it so unconsciously, we often don't connect the behavior to the trauma!

02/05/2022

-cleaning oven
The va**na is a self-cleaning oven. It's ok if there are drips and spills, as long as the va**na maintains its natural flora. Love your kitty!
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/health-and-wellness/sexual-and-reproductive-anatomy/what-are-parts-female-sexual-anatomy

**Planned Parenthood video**

Learn about and understand the different parts of sexual anatomy typically called female, including the v***a, va**na, uterus, and ovaries.

02/04/2022

Does your teen suffer with big emotions? Have they recently had a mental health hospitalization? DBT may be right for them and YOU.

02/04/2022

WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?
YOUR STRENGTHS ARE ALSO TRAITS/TALENTS THAT CAN HOLD YOU BACK. IS IT TIME FOR A COACH TO HELP YOU WITH CREATIVE PURSUITS?

02/04/2022

Time to write a new story!
Mistakes are opportunities for learning. , blame and guilt are not productive. Begin with a blank page and use what you have learned so far. Look for the lesson and the blessing in the mistakes. After all, you are human.

01/26/2022

Parents:it is your turn!
You are invited to DBT for Parents beginning in Miid-Feb for parents whose children or teens are in a DBT program and struggling with self-harm, emotional dysregulation, inability to tolerate distress and BIG EMOTIONS!! HELP GUIDE YOUR TEEN TO A LIFE THEY CAN LOVE! CALL NOW TO SAVE YOUR VIRTUAL SEAT. THIS IS NOT THERAPY. DBT IS A SKILLS-BASED GROUP.

01/25/2022

Putting the power back in your hands to have a peaceful home! DBT Parent Group starts in Feb 2022. You may attend as your teen attends DBT group on their own to learn same skills you will learn OR you can attend the parent group on your own.
Call now to save your virtual seat.

01/23/2022

Self care isn't selfish, it's necessary!

Make it a priority to schedule some time just for you.

Take a walk, listen to your favorite music, light a candle...it's the simple things in life that help keep your mind happy, healthy and wise.