Peace – Harmony – Balance
Our World Needs a Global Intervention for Mental Health
Some clients have called me “The Midnight Rider”, “An Urban Legend” or PENG. If you’ve never heard of it that’s great! Let me explain – 911. The specialty services and my identity has always been on a need-to-know basis.
High–profile people sometimes need strategic low–profile professional help.
A confidential, discreet service for people concerned about their substance use or gambling, who require absolute anonymity, trust, and safety. “PENG’s anonymity protects your privacy; because in the future PENG never existed.”
One client, a movie producer & screenwriter in Hollywood, said, “I know you’re the best in dirty situations with hard-core individuals. Hollywood needs you; my friends need you”. Let me write the copy for you, so your services will be understood by the “Bad Boys”. The copy is graphic yet has been successful. Word-of-mouth referrals have been my best calling card.
I am providing you with the background for the effective tools I have developed in 30+ years. If you are fortunate to live where universal healthcare is available the intention is for a seamless service. Let’s face it, if you’re lucky! There are many excellent medical specialists in mental health. I worked for 10 years as a therapist in addictions & mental health, and it is fantastic to work in a multi-disciplinary team. I have taught these skills as a trainer in Trauma programs & conferences for medical professionals. They work!
The best advice I ever received was from Dr. Howard Schaffer, Director of Addiction Medicine at Harvard. He said, “If what you’re doing isn’t working it’s not your client that’s the problem, it’s your Model or approach that’s the problem.” That one statement started a search for a key to Pandora’s Box. To be the most effective in the least amount of time. My philosophy is, if you only have one opportunity with a person, what is the very best you may offer for their greater good? (Future Blogs)
Another belief I have is, we are given assistance entering this world and to provide assistance making a transition. When I started in Wellness, I worked for 3-years in hospice/palliative care. I was honoured because it was so “real” and authentic. I would say at the end of the week, “I’ll see you next week.” and their reply, “I hope so.”
The year 2020 was the “Tipping Point”. The global tragedies and growing statistics. One person (child) died of starvation every 4 seconds; one person ended their life every 40 seconds; one person died of an accidental opioid overdose every 8 minutes. The straw that broke my heart was a report from Japan at the end of October. The total Covid deaths – is 2,065. The shock was, 2,800 people ended their lives just in October; 80% were women.
I made a decision to reinvent Brain Fitness International for a humanitarian mission while still offering premium services for private clients. Check out: https://brainfitnessinternational.com/product/discover-yourself-cbs-assessment/
I have all these skills that have assisted thousands of individuals. There are billions more that need you to teach them these skills. It will make a huge difference in putting together this one-of-a-kind unique jigsaw puzzle.
Do these skills work with children? They work great!
After 10 years in addiction & mental health, I saw an overwhelming number of clients who shared with me horrific, early childhood trauma. I discovered something that is supported by evidence-based research. The serendipity of life gave me an opportunity to observe my hypothesis in action. I became the first male children’s facilitator at Canada’s first shelter for Women & Children of Domestic Violence.
I was at Ground Zero to confirm the hypothesis that I had worked on for 10 years. The children were usually from ages 4 – 12. They loved how playful, interactive, and FUNN were the skills. Functional Understanding Not Necessary. I had a precise focus to teach these children how to be aware & self-regulate. The greatest counterbalance to swing the Pendulum of Life from the trauma they witnessed or experienced, I did it through play. I was teaching awareness and calming, comforting skills. I asked a 4yr. old what they noticed? “Nothing”. I asked if it was a “Good Nothing or a Bad Nothing”. They answered, “Good.” The skills are so easy to learn and use, the children would teach their mothers. Together they learned to cope with rebuilding the pieces of their lives. (Future Blogs)
Knowledge & Imagination + Applied Experience = Wisdom
Are you ready for the hypothesis of our world, according to Paul Hyman?
Follow the Dots: addiction clients unable to focus on recovery – introduced techniques to assist attention – started to investigate ADD/ADHD – published research to list priority characteristics – #1 characteristic, Procrastination – developed an approach of quick, easy effective techniques that clients noticed a change in minutes – clients are challenged with delayed gratification – approach worked great & was highly rated by clients – conclusion ADDictions – Harvard 10 yr. study of pre-schoolers experiencing domestic violence reported characteristics of ADD but NOT the cause. At 10 yrs. started abusing alcohol – Pittsburgh Medical School 5yr. research with ADD/ADHD adolescents, reported a higher rate of substance abuse for relief by self-medicating – 10 yrs. worked with addictions & mental health clients, a significant percentage of clients experienced childhood trauma – get relief using various substances – substance use becomes a greater problem than the original issue – starts a vicious cycle of multi-drug cocktails to achieve same relief – children’s facilitator working with women & children of domestic violence – Trauma Informed Care – empowerment of these children & mothers – Wellness approach because I believed in their inner untapped potential – contributing author of Becoming Trauma Informed, specifically about a body-centered approach – a bottom-up approach to trauma that integrates perfectly with a top-down “talk therapy” approach. The End.
Trauma recovery takes time and may require an array of approaches. Medical professionals who specialize in the effects of trauma are absolutely necessary! These skills are NOT the answer to everything, but in the immediate crisis, they offer something when there is nothing.
Summary: 2020 Global Trauma – Mental Health Needs “Off the Chart” – Domestic Violence Increases – Work, School, Personal “Bubble” – Isolation – Suicide Rockets – Increased Alcohol & Substance Abuse – Change in Supply Sources – Transition to Pharmaceutical Opioids – Worldwide Opioid Crisis – Financial Instability – Geopolitical Changes.
AND, What About the Children? My Blueprint presented is based on 30+ years as an International Wellness & Lifestyle Consultant.
Challenge: I pray with all my heart you prove it wrong and become a piece of peace learning BFI skills for yourself and sharing them with someone.
PENG-911’s specialty is Chaos. The details may be sketchy when you parachute in. There is no plan because upon first contact anything may happen. I enjoy the excitement of being the first to dive into the unknown rabbit hole. I’m not talking about a structured intervention with pieces to pick up. I’m talking about a nasty detonation and making “Magic out of Dust”. Time in many situations is critical. The situation requires dancing on a chessboard with the agility of a laser-focused goal to provide rapid relief with exceptional tools to get the job done.
“What seems like Magic is almost always the result of tiny moments of choice.”
As you think, listen to your heart. Let’s bring Hope.
“You’re never wrong for doing the right thing.” –Mark Twain