Kristi Pitts

10/20/21 Team Meeting

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Life @ MCO Report  Oct. 20

Clients Loving on our Clinicians

  • Lacey: I’ve been with Lacey since she first began counseling, and I’ve seen her skills grow over the course of our relationship. Her commitment to professional development is evident, which I love.
  • September: I am so grateful for the balanced perspective that September provides in every session. She always has helpful suggestions and wise words to share.
  • Carrie: All our sessions with Carrie have been completely positive and incredibly helpful.
  • Alison: Allison is AMAZING!!
  • Britni: My counselor is very understanding and responds with good feedback to help me manage my issues
  • Alyssa: I have been working with my counselor for months and it has benefited me tremendously! I connect so well with her and always look forward to my sessions.

October Birthdays

Sherry Zerbe – October 4th 

Sherry, wishing you the happiest of birthdays and the start of an incredible new year.  You have been a wonderful new addition to the MCO family.  Your kindess, sweet spirit and love for people is evident.  Looking forward to getting to know you more!  Happy birthday Sherry!  ~ Rosie

 

Lane Jordan – October 10th

Lane, I am so glad you were born!  Your love for your clients and desire to help people is incredible.  We are blessed to have you on the MCO team.  I hope this coming year is even better than the last.  Happy birthday! ~Rosie

 

Shaun Lotter – October 13th

Shaun, We respect you for so many reasons! You are a man of integrity. You work SO hard and are an excellent therapist and leader. We also appreciate your humor and your ability to make us all laugh.  We do not know where the company would be without your leadership and hard work. Hope you feel as special as you are today! ~ Melissa

 

October Celebrations

Ryenn and Nick tied the knot! 

Before starting her place here at MCO, Ryenn and Nick tied the knot! The nuptials took place in Kansas with 360 of their closest friends and family. It was a classy affair with confetti cannons and Busch Lattes. Here are some of Ryenn’s favorite photos from her and Nick’s special day! #yabroswedding

Prayer Requests

Lacey- family is in need of your prayers. Our 8 y/o grandson, Jensen Lee has just been diagnosed with Leukemia. We are in shock and trying to get our kids everything they need before they head to St Jude’s today. Please pray for our sweet boy as he has to walk this journey.  Please pray for our son and his wife as no parent is ever prepared for this. Please pray for us as our grandparent and parent hearts are breaking as our kids hurt.
Kiran– My husbands health and healing. Healing for my sons broken leg
Sarah: Soldiers across the country, including my husband, are being escorted and “ordered” to take the vaccine on a new timeline and are being told that if you request any exemptions, you’ll be denied and chaptered out of your military career before they can ever look at your paperwork. Our family is directly being negatively impacted by the events of our country today and feel very helpless. Please pray for our peace of mind and for how this is impacting other aspects of our life plans and physical/family planning goals.
Mary- Pray for the single mother of 2 precious girls, my former students in Vietnam. Girls drowned close to their home. The mother was not a believer last year although the girls were. They were all she had. Praying for comfort for this tiny community of the underground church there in northern Vietnam.
Mary – My aunt is now on hospice care after a 6 year battle with cancer. Prayer support for my uncle and the two teenagers in their foster care home.
Britni– My nana had surgery to remove breast cancer. Everything is looking fine but please pray for my mom and her heart as she helps my nana recover. 
Josh Lolling-  IBS, changes in my role at MCO, MCO is growing and changing.

Fun Fact about JoLeesa Bell

I recently spent my first day at a mud pit! My dad and brother have both built Mud trucks! I had mud caked onto my scalp! I showered when I got back to the house that night…but the next day I realized I still had mud in my ears! I think I got all of it off now! It is not my everyday jam, but it was great to hang out with my 3 daughters and my dad and brother!

10/13/21 Team Meeting

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Life @ MCO Report  Oct. 13

Google Shout Outs

Clients Loving on our Clinicians

  • Tara: Tara has been vital in saving our marriage.
  • Carrie: Overall, I’ve found counseling helpful and I almost always feel heard and challenged by our sessions.
  • Aliuwa:  Great Experience
  • Alyssa:  Alyssa is a compassionate, caring therapist. I appreciate her ability to get me, pray with me, and share truth with me.
  • September: I really appreciate the applicable “assignments” that my counselor gives me. It helps me remember our discussions and actively think about those things throughout the week.

October Birthdays

Sherry Zerbe – October 4th 

Sherry, wishing you the happiest of birthdays and the start of an incredible new year.  You have been a wonderful new addition to the MCO family.  Your kindess, sweet spirit and love for people is evident.  Looking forward to getting to know you more!  Happy birthday Sherry!  ~ Rosie

 

Shaun Lotter – October 13th

Shaun, We respect you for so many reasons! You are a man of integrity. You work SO hard and are an excellent therapist and leader. We also appreciate your humor and your ability to make us all laugh.  We do not know where the company would be without your leadership and hard work. Hope you feel as special as you are today! ~ Melissa

 

October Celebrations

Ryenn and Nick tied the knot! 

Before starting her place here at MCO, Ryenn and Nick tied the knot! The nuptials took place in Kansas with 360 of their closest friends and family. It was a classy affair with confetti cannons and Busch Lattes. Here are some of Ryenn’s favorite photos from her and Nick’s special day! #yabroswedding

Prayer Requests

Lacey- family is in need of your prayers. Our 8 y/o grandson, Jensen Lee has just been diagnosed with Leukemia. We are in shock and trying to get our kids everything they need before they head to St Jude’s today. Please pray for our sweet boy as he has to walk this journey.  Please pray for our son and his wife as no parent is ever prepared for this. Please pray for us as our grandparent and parent hearts are breaking as our kids hurt.
Kiran– My husbands health and healing. Healing for my sons broken leg
Sarah: Soldiers across the country, including my husband, are being escorted and “ordered” to take the vaccine on a new timeline and are being told that if you request any exemptions, you’ll be denied and chaptered out of your military career before they can ever look at your paperwork. Our family is directly being negatively impacted by the events of our country today and feel very helpless. Please pray for our peace of mind and for how this is impacting other aspects of our life plans and physical/family planning goals.
Mary- Pray for the single mother of 2 precious girls, my former students in Vietnam. Girls drowned close to their home. The mother was not a believer last year although the girls were. They were all she had. Praying for comfort for this tiny community of the underground church there in northern Vietnam.
Mary – My aunt is now on hospice care after a 6 year battle with cancer. Prayer support for my uncle and the two teenagers in their foster care home.
Britni– My nana had surgery to remove breast cancer. Everything is looking fine but please pray for my mom and her heart as she helps my nana recover. 
Josh Lolling-  IBS, changes in my role at MCO, MCO is growing and changing.

Fun Fact about Becca Elliott

I currently have a 10 month old 110 lbs great dane puppy we call, “Lucy”. She is big and sweet, but I am ready for her to not have her puppy energy.

9/22/21 Team Meeting

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Life @ MCO Report Sept. 22nd

Clients Loving on our Clinicians
  • Aliuwa: I feel like my counselor is very well trained in understanding body language and bringing that understanding into therapy.
  • Robbin:  I feel like I have made progress in the issues I struggle with already after just a couple of sessions.

August Birthdays

Sherry Hodge – Sept., 3rd 

Happiest of Birthdays my friend. Thank you for being so amazing……at work, in life and as a human. I am beyond blessed to get to work alongside you, and I treasure our friendship. I hope you have a SPECTACULAR birthday…..you deserve it every ounce of goodness that comes your way! ~ Jodi

 

Kiran Worcester- Sept. 9th 

Kiran! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! It has been great to have you a part of this team! Your passion for others and desire to see healing take place in the lives of others is evident! I am so excited to see how God grows and uses the gift he has given to build his Kingdom and I am grateful that MCO is a part of the journey! I hope you have a great next year! – Lane Jordan

 

Samantha Poole – Sept. 17th

Happy birthday Samantha!  We are grateful to have you join our team and look forward to the great work we know you will be a part of in the years to come. ~ Ted

 

Prayer Requests

Mary: Pray for the single mother of 2 precious girls, my former students in Vietnam. Girls drowned close to their home. The mother was not a believer last year although the girls were. They were all she had. Praying for comfort for this tiny community of the underground church there in northern Vietnam.

Britni– My nana had surgery to remove breast cancer. Everything is looking fine but please pray for my mom and her heart as she helps my nana recover. 

Josh Lolling-  Anxiety and IBS is still bad. Please pray for healing.

Alyssa B– We have sold our townhome and are needing to find a transitional place to live for a month and a half while we wait for our home to be finished being built. With a newborn who isn’t sleeping through the night, we’re a little stressed.

Brandyn- My teenage girls are in full summer time mode! Prayers needed that they can be productive and that camp will make an impact on their walk with God!

Anonymous- My scoliosis has worsened and I’m in the process of trying to find corrective care in my area. The current positions of my bone structure are causing a lot more daily pain than ever before and impeding many important daily functions for me. This is disheartening and may take a lot of time and money for the care I need. Praying for God to open doors to lead me to an affordable but good chiropractor.

Fun Fact about James Maasen

I would say a fun fact about me is that I am very much into cooking and baking. I enjoy learning how to cook and bake new things all the time. Some of the things that I’ve made include homemade pasta and noodles, homemade burger buns, chocolate croissants and babka, 10 hour smoked brisket, and I even roast my own coffee! 

9/15/21 Team Meeting

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Didactic Material

[ Dis]Connection Through an  AEDP  2.0 Lens by Ken Kokoska

Download

 

MCO - CEU Tracker

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9/1/21 Team Meeting

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Practice Management

A reminder to all employees, please adjust your Google Calendars/Acuity Calendars when taking time-off.

Life @ MCO Report Sept. 1st

Clients Loving on our Clinicians
  • Aliuwa: I feel like my counselor is very well trained in understanding body language and bringing that understanding into therapy.
  • Robbin:  I feel like I have made progress in the issues I struggle with already after just a couple of sessions.

August Birthdays

Sherry Hodge – Sept., 3rd 

Happiest of Birthdays my friend. Thank you for being so amazing……at work, in life and as a human. I am beyond blessed to get to work alongside you, and I treasure our friendship. I hope you have a SPECTACULAR birthday…..you deserve it every ounce of goodness that comes your way! ~ Jodi

 

Kiran Worcester- Sept. 9th 

Kiran! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! It has been great to have you a part of this team! Your passion for others and desire to see healing take place in the lives of others is evident! I am so excited to see how God grows and uses the gift he has given to build his Kingdom and I am grateful that MCO is a part of the journey! I hope you have a great next year! – Lane Jordan

 

Samantha Poole – Sept. 17th

Happy birthday Samantha!  We are grateful to have you join our team and look forward to the great work we know you will be a part of in the years to come. ~ Ted

 

Prayer Requests

Mary: Pray for the single mother of 2 precious girls, my former students in Vietnam. Girls drowned close to their home. The mother was not a believer last year although the girls were. They were all she had. Praying for comfort for this tiny community of the underground church there in northern Vietnam.

Britni– My nana had surgery to remove breast cancer. Everything is looking fine but please pray for my mom and her heart as she helps my nana recover. 

Josh Lolling-  Anxiety and IBS is still bad. Please pray for healing.

Alyssa B– We have sold our townhome and are needing to find a transitional place to live for a month and a half while we wait for our home to be finished being built. With a newborn who isn’t sleeping through the night, we’re a little stressed.

Brandyn- My teenage girls are in full summer time mode! Prayers needed that they can be productive and that camp will make an impact on their walk with God!

Anonymous- My scoliosis has worsened and I’m in the process of trying to find corrective care in my area. The current positions of my bone structure are causing a lot more daily pain than ever before and impeding many important daily functions for me. This is disheartening and may take a lot of time and money for the care I need. Praying for God to open doors to lead me to an affordable but good chiropractor.

Fun Fact about James Maasen

I would say a fun fact about me is that I am very much into cooking and baking. I enjoy learning how to cook and bake new things all the time. Some of the things that I’ve made include homemade pasta and noodles, homemade burger buns, chocolate croissants and babka, 10 hour smoked brisket, and I even roast my own coffee! 

8/25/21 Team Meeting

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Life @ MCO Report Aug. 25th

Reviews

Clients Loving on our Clinicians
  • Robbin: I’ve been to other therapists and counselors, yet only here have I found those that truly understand the spiritual reality that I struggle against.
  • Josue: It has been helpful so far to slowly work through what we came to counseling for. Everything feels very thorough.
  • Danielle: My counselor is great.
  • Sarah: IT WAS WONDERFUL!
  • Paul: Very helpful.
  • Mary: So far everything has been great, and I’m interested to see how things progress.

MCO Holiday Time-Off Clarification

We’d like to offer clarification about MCO’s policy regarding Holidays and your ability to take time off (“PTO”).  In calculating PTO, MCO considers the following events as “Company Holidays”:

  • New Year’s Day (Jan. 1st)
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day (July 4th)
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Eve (Dec. 24th)
  • Christmas Day (Dec. 25th)

Employees are to flex their time, meaning to add in the time they miss to other days within the same pay period, or utilize PTO.

For the upcoming Labor Day holiday, the pay period is August 31st to September 13th.  Employees wishing to utilize the flex option should add in the hours which would have been worked Monday, September 6th, at points within this pay period.  For clinicians, the number of client hours should be added and placed in time slots that are comparable to when they would have occurred on Monday the 6th.

The MCO leadership team continues to evaluate our salary and compensation packages in an effort to provide the best options available to all employees.  Any changes for the 2022 Calendar year will be communicated by the end of the 4th quarter.

Labor Day Announcement

In reference to Labor Day, please be sure to begin informing your clients that on Labor Day, Monday Sept. 6th the MCO office will be closed. With that being said, If your client is scheduled with you on Tuesday, Sept.7th and needs to cancel, they must call the receptionist team no later than Friday, Sept 3rd by 5 pm CST to prevent any unwanted fees because the office will not be open on Monday. Here at MCO we value our client’s and clinician’s time so please help us inform our clients.

Just so you are aware, we are also putting an announcement on our website, our social media and our phone system to properly communicate and prevent any unwanted fees or scheduling issues.

With Gratitude,
Rosaria Z.Gillis

Experience Advocate of MCO

 

August Birthdays

Tara Riggs Aug 2nd
Thanks for being born Tara!  Because of your sweet counseling skills, passion to care for others and love for God’s people, so many lives have been impacted through you here at MCO.  You are an incredible part of MCO and we are so grateful to have you on our team.  Enjoy your special day! ~Rosaria

 

September Trent – Aug 13th  
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEPTEMBER!  So glad to celebrate this special day with you.  Getting to work with you in the Springfield Office is such a blessing.  Here’s to another amazing year! ! Shaun

 

Kristina Paris – Aug 14th 
Happy birthday Kristina!! I am so grateful to have you on our team! I love getting to know you and I find your passion for learning so inspiring! I hope you feel so loved and celebrated today! ~ Alison

 

Prayer Requests

Britni– My nana had surgery to remove breast cancer. Everything is looking fine but please pray for my mom and her heart as she helps my nana recover. 
Josh Lolling-  Anxiety and IBS is still bad. Please pray for healing.
Alyssa – We have sold our townhome and are needing to find a transitional place to live for a month and a half while we wait for our home to be finished being built. With a newborn who isn’t sleeping through the night, we’re a little stressed.
Brandyn- My teenage girls are in full summer time mode! Prayers needed that they can be productive and that camp will make an impact on their walk with God!

 

Let’s Welcome Our New Team Members To MCO!

Matthew Thrower- Content Creator

   
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Lagrange College in Lagrange, Georgia, which gave me an unnecessary plethora of music knowledge. I also earned my Masters of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty University. I am currently the Lead Pastor and church planter of Refuge City Church here in Cedar City, Utah. 
I have served the church in various capacities my entire adult life whether through planting, preaching, worship or creating graphic and video content. I love explaining theology on my YouTube channel, talking about the Bible and current events on my churches midweek podcast and creating social media graphic art. 
I have been married to Merinda for 17 years and we stay pretty busy raising our three kiddos; Jude, Nora, and Ezra. In my free time I love exploring the glorious mountains in my backyard here in Utah. So, if you need a good place to vacation, I know a few places. I am looking forward to working with you guys and using my gifts and experiences to advance King Jesus’ kingdom. 

 

Samantha Poole – Reporting Analyst 

I grew up in Virginia Beach, VA with both of my parents in the Navy. I have had the opportunity to work in and experience several different industries and really enjoy learning what makes a company tick.  I prefer to do that by looking at the data and helping to focus on key metrics and processes. My other job is a Mom to my six year old son, Ronan. He has my love for music and dance and his father’s love for mechanics and games. I hope my eye for detail and analysis skills can contribute to the continued growth at MCO and I look forward to working with and getting to know the team. 

 

Kristi Pitts – Webmaster 

Kristi is a Chicago native living in Columbus, Georgia who loves people, pizza and Pilates! She is very comfortable with all things digital as she founded a women’s ministry online and met her husband, Jay, on the web! Kristi is mom to two fine young men, aged 17 &14, who light up her life. She serves on the prayer and worship team at church and goes on local outreaches to help reach women in sex trafficking. She is so excited to join the team and help further the mission of ministering to those who minister. 

 

Sarah Williams – MCO Resident

I  have lived outside Nashville, TN for the past six years with my four children and cuddly dog. I have a daughter (12), and three sons (10, 8, and 6). There’s a lot of energy in my house! I graduated from King University and Richmont Graduate University. For the past 14 years, I have been a stay-at-home mom, taught undergraduate psychology classes at Cumberland University, and worked with writers as a certified book coach. I am recently divorced, and returning to my calling as a therapist and joining MCO is a part of God’s redemption for my story. I am so excited to work with you all!

 

Kiran Worcester – MCO Resident

As a former client and trauma survivor, I recognize the bravery and discomfort that comes with inviting another person into our pain.  My deepest hope, is that my clients experience an authentic sense of care and connection through our relationship. I consider it a privilege to journey alongside my clients and hold hope with them as they pursue healing and wholeness. Before becoming a counselor, I worked as a developmental vision therapist, serving clients with learning delays and traumatic brain injuries. I also have experience counseling financially disadvantaged children and families. I consider my work as a counselor to be a calling rather than a career.  It is my great joy to serve the Lord and my clients.
Kiran Worcester is a wife and mother of two, who resides in Kansas City.  Her professional background began in education, special education and early intervention.  A native Oregonian, Kiran prefers to spend her free time hiking, kayaking and experiencing the beauty of God’s creation through nature.  Kiran is an amateur photographer, vocalist and avid reader. She also enjoys a good cup of coffee (and a little chocolate) with friends and family. 

 

Brittany Miedema – Client Experience Advocate

Hello! I’m excited to join everyone at the MCO team! Over the past decade I’ve supported mental health and education in various capacities with a bachelor’s in psychology and communication and a master’s in business administration. I’ve been working to synergize my calling with God’s purpose, which has lead me here! I look forward to working with you and our clients to support the MCO mission while pursuing licensure in mental health counseling.
My husband and I are Florida natives from the Space Coast. We love to spend time walking with our dog, working out in our home gym, or kicking each other’s butts in Krav Maga classes. We are also pretty big comic book and fantasy nerds, so you can find us hanging out at Universal Studios on the weekends. I can’t wait to meet you!

 

Sherry Zerbev – MCO Resident

I am very excited to join the team at MCO! I am beginning my journey into counseling after working in fields of education and human resources. I have lots of leadership experience under my belt, but I am  new to the counseling profession. I am excited to learn and grow alongside of each of you, as I begin  this new journey God has placed me on.  
I absolutely love people, and I have experienced many blessings as a direct result of the humans God has  placed in my life. I have 4 wonderful (almost all adult) children and a corgi named Rosie. We just  recently (as in this week) relocated to Florida where I will work my way to licensure. I have always  wanted to live near the beach and pursue a career as a therapist, so I am very excited to begin my MCO  residency! 
I love to read, walk, sit by the water, and spend time with family and friends. I look forward to building  meaningful relationships and experiencing fellowship with each of you as we all work as one to further  God’s kingdom and the mission of MCO. 
Thank you so much for letting me join the team!! I ask for your prayers as I begin this new journey, and I  will certainly be praying for each of you and this wonderful organization that I feel privileged to be a part  of. 

 

Ryenn Johns – MCO Resident

HI! I am Ryenn (Ry-N)! I am about to move to South Carolina with my Husband, for no other reason than the beach being a lot closer than it is in Kansas, where we both grew up! I love the outdoors and it is where I feel the most connected to God. I love working with teen to college aged young women as they navigate relationships and identity development. I have a big heart of sex education in the church and how we can better care and love for Christian women in this area. I just graduated from MidAmerican Nazarene University in May and just got married in July, so it has been a crazy couple months! Excited to get settled in South Carolina and here at MCO! I already feel part of this family! Cannot wait to meet more of you and give out hugs in October! 

Team Discussion

MCO - CEU Tracker

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8/18/21 Team Meeting

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Practice Management

Labor Day Announcement

In reference to Labor Day, please be sure to begin informing your clients that on Labor Day, Monday Sept. 6th the MCO office will be closed. With that being said, If your client is scheduled with you on Tuesday, Sept.7th and needs to cancel, they must call the receptionist team no later than Friday, Sept 3rd by 5 pm CST to prevent any unwanted fees because the office will not be open on Monday. Here at MCO we value our client’s and clinician’s time so please help us inform our clients.
Just so you are aware, we are also putting an announcement on our website, our social media and our phone system to properly communicate and prevent any unwanted fees or scheduling issues.

With Gratitude,
Rosaria Z.Gillis

Experience Advocate of MCO

 

Pre-Didactic Material

EFT w. Highly Escalated Couples

Introduction
There is nothing more dysregulating for an emotionally responsive therapist, trained in the art of vulnerability and connection, than a reactive couple, shouting and yelling in our sessions, talking over each other, and hurling insults at each other right before our eyes. We long to help our couples connect but there seems to be so much in the way. Perhaps you respond to this reactivity by getting frustrated with the clients and losing empathy. Perhaps you feel anxious and insecure, not knowing what to do or how to move forward. Or perhaps your feel helpless and lose your own strength, succumbing to the intensity of the couple. We all have our reasons for becoming a therapist, and for many of us, this came from having a naturally empathetic disposition, and playing the role of peacekeeper in our homes of varying levels of dysfunction. 

 

Person of the Therapist

Before we begin, take about 15 minutes to feel into your relationship with anger by asking yourself the following questions: 
  1. Check in with your own inner child. How does he/she feel in the presence of anger? How does he/she respond to it? Does he or she feel permission to engage her/his own anger? What happens when he/she does? 
    1. Ask these same questions to your teenager and your young adult (if applicable).
  2. What is your relationship like with anger now? What feelings do you notice that accompany it as it rises within you? Guilt? Fear? Sadness? Disgust? What feelings accompany it when the anger comes from others?
  3. Get to know your own anger: The next time you feel angry in your romantic relationship (if applicable), notice how it feels in your body. What is the anger trying to do or accomplish (i.e., it’s function)? Notice how it makes you feel. Notice the quality of it: the temperature, energy, sensation of it. Is there an image that could symbolize your anger? (Mine began as a fireball 🙂 As you understand it, can you befriend it by turning kindness and compassion toward it? Notice how it shifts when you do. 
  4. Share something about this experience with a safe other, i.e. a trusted friend, colleague, therapist, family member, etc. 
Reactivity and Secondary Emotion Through An Attachment Lens
Now that you have understood and befriended your anger, let us examine anger through an attachment lens. Remember that “emotion organizes actions toward others, and emotional signals set up and constrain the actions of others to the self. These signals also set up habitual interaction patterns or “dances,“ that then feedback into and frame the experience of each of the dancers. Each emotion is linked to a discernible action tendency. So anger is an approach emotion that sets up the assertion of needs and the removal of blocks to satisfaction…(Johnson, 2019).”  In other words, emotions link us to our needs, and then drive action toward meeting that need and this becomes part of our dance with our partners.  When we send an emotional signal to our partner, we need to know that they hear it and will respond accordingly. Like the baby in Ed Tronick’s Still Face Experiment, when we do not get responsiveness, we will panic. “Easily triggered anger and hypervigilence are likewise functional when the alternative appears to be that one is inevitably dismissed or deserted.” (Johnson, 2019)

 

Reread pages 40-49 of Created for Connection as a refresher on the “primal panic” which hijacks our bodies in disconnection, and the “demon dialogues” which ensue in an effort to regain connection. 
These demon dialogues will play out before your eyes in session, you just need to know how to identify them. In relationships with a “Find the Bad Guy” dance of attack-attack, you may see higher levels of reactivity in the session as the two sparks are bound the start a fire. Pursuers anger is often “proximity seeking” and in their minds, any response is better than no response. Pursuers will poke by taking shots and jabs at their partners, criticizing, blaming, and accusing their partners in order to get a response and in order to stave off their worse fear of being abandoned or rejected by their partner. Withdrawers anger is usually “distance-seeking” in an attempt to get away from the tension of the relationship, calm their nervous system, and await the storm of conflict to pass. This will likely look like stonewalling, flat affect, and unresponsiveness. However, there are times when, if backed into a corner and/or enough shots are taken at them, the withdrawer will come out swinging (metaphorically) in defense of themselves. This is what is playing out in front of you in a highly reactive couple. 

 

Role of the Therapist
Your job is to validate and understand the anger, so that you can help the partner send a clearer signal to their partner, which will elicit the response they actually want- relationship security and connection. Your stance is one of unconditional positive regard and non-judgement which will allow for safety and thereby curious exploration of the partner’s inner experience. You will need to continuously and constantly redirect your client back to their own experience (view of self), as they will likely be using blame, accusation, and criticism toward their partner (“view of other”), even when talking to you. Your goal is to organize the emotion with your client, helping them to understand what they feel and why, offering them a felt sense that they make sense. We are helping clients “name it to tame it” and moving emotional experience from chaotic and overwhelming to normal and valid. You will do this by assembling the elements of emotion, what we call TEMP elsewhere, but more technically includes the following:
  • Trigger or cue
  • Initial perception
  • Body response
  • Meaning creation
  • Action tendency
However, they way you will do this is very different than in other, less reactive sessions. 
Interventions for Working w/ Reactivity in Session
  • Match and Drop-When working with reactive emotion in session, we are not able to use a typical “low and slow” tone, as this feels dismissive of the anger in the room, and does not match or join with the anger. As therapists, we must have several levels of energy and tone that we bring into a session, in order to best attune to our client, whatever the emotion. You may have experienced trying to contain reactivity and feeling mowed over by a freight train. This is often because we are not joining and matching the emotion to the degree that is needed. As mentioned earlier, the anger must be named, understood in it’s function and validated as response to the trigger. Therefore, the first key to working with reactivity in session, is to match the anger. We do not need to do so to the extent the partner is feeling it, but they need to feel understood by us. Remember that anger helps us to feel powerful, seen, and heard in the face of feeling ignored, dismissed, and insignificant, therefore we must show our clients with our tone, facial expression, and body language that we see, hear, and understand them. Once anger is understood in this way (named), it softens (tames), and often the softer, more vulnerable emotion beneath it will begin to emerge. We will use our own tone, attachment framing, and conjecture to lead the client into the “drop” into core emotion and attachment fears which is inevitably fueling the reactivity, usually as a fear of rejection or abandonment. 
One of the primary issues in working with reactive couples, is that they often both want to speak at the same time, and continuously interrupt one another while the other is speaking, especially as you are beginning to finally get somewhere with their partner. Interruptions and Blocks, in the words of EFT Trainer George Faller, are “mistrust in action.” As we use the map of the EFT Tango to focus the session, partners will inevitable break in and, if we are not aware of where we are and where we are going, these interruptions will derail our session and prevent us from being of help to our clients. 
First, determine the type of interruption using the following descriptions: 
  • Using Red, Yellow, & Green Lights
    • Green Lights are interruptions of empathy. These are kind, encouraging, and supportive responses from the partner, which can be deepened and used to facilitate the partner you were originally working with to take greater risks and go deeper into their own vulnerability. 
    • Yellow Lights are interruptions that are partially empathetic, but also partially mistrusting. We will “part out” the response, close validate the “red light“ mistrust (do not explore), and privilege the positive “green light,“ asking the partner to enact this empathy (turning it into a green light). If the partner cannot stay with the empathy, and the yellow light becomes red, see next section. CPR, described below, is a great technique in working with “yellow lights” as well. 
    • Red Light interruptions are entirely mistrust and will likely feel like bullets (or grenades, or missiles, or bombs- think deadly) going off in the session. Determine whether the block is INTRApersonal (about self), or INTERpersonal (about other/relationship). Make your transition explicit to the partner you were working with and explain that you want to understand what is happening for the interrupting partner, but will return to them (called tying a tourniquet) and explore the block that arose. 
Use CPR to maintain alliance with both partners and the focus in the session: 
  • CPR
    • Capture the live reactivity- recognize this as an interpersonal block and emotion breaking through
    • Provide permission for the action tendency – name, make sense of, understand, and validate what the partner is saying WITHOUT exploring (called a closed validation)
    • Return to your original focus before the interruption
Sometimes, interruptions persist and the CPR is ineffective in resuscitating your session (pun intended). In these cases, you will have to be more direct. TERROR is a way of working with higher levels of reactivity in session. 
  • TERROR
    • Take charge of session
    • Explicitly explain intention/process
    • Restrain interruptions and close validate
    • Regulate affect by matching
    • Organize meaning of secondary emotion
    • Restore safety and bridge distance by honoring defenses
  • Catching Bullets: Reactivity & Mistrust in Enactments- Sometimes, you will be able to tame reactivity and deepen the underlying emotion enough to be able to pass it in an enactment, but one or both partners will not be able to stay with the vulnerability and/or will experience mistrust of the new experience. This can happen as the enacting partner pops out of emotion and into defense or anxiety, or by the receiving partner who cannot trust what is emerging in their partner. 
    • When this happens for the enacting partner, we track and make this explicit with kind curiosity about “what just happened” and invite them to enact” from their hearts” and “let this part speak” to their partner. 
    • When this happens with the receiving partner, we will validate the mistrust, understanding why this shift is so hard to take in, and ask them to imagine if what their partner was saying is true, what would that be like (using the imaginal channel). 
  • Moment to Moment Tracking
    • “The best defense is a good offense” and this applies to working with highly escalated couples as well. If you are connected and attuned to your clients, you may be able to read facial expressions and body language which would cue you into what is happening in their internal world far before it erupts into reactivity. Remember that by tracking both partners closely, you are able to read them, and move toward emotion with curiosity and compassion before it overtakes your client and pops them outside of their window of tolerance. If one partner is escalated, it will often cause reactivity in your session, so be sure to continue redirecting an escalated partner back to their own experience in order to catch bullets and facilitate emotional regulation and meaning-making. 
Conclusion
My goal in this didactic is to help you to maintain a sense of balance in your reactive sessions, both by better understanding your own internal responses, as well as giving you tools to use in these moments when emotions are high and cause you to feel disoriented. I encourage you to take the tools and use them, practicing with and sharpening them as you go. I am here to support you each step of the way, and am right here growing alongside you. Go Team MCO!

Team Discussion

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8/11/21 Team Meeting

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Practice Managemnt

Labor Day Announcement

In reference to Labor Day, please be sure to begin informing your clients that on Labor Day, Monday Sept. 6th the MCO office will be closed. With that being said, If your client is scheduled with you on Tuesday, Sept.7th and needs to cancel, they must call the receptionist team no later than Friday, Sept 3rd by 5 pm CST to prevent any unwanted fees because the office will not be open on Monday. Here at MCO we value our client’s and clinician’s time so please help us inform our clients.
Just so you are aware, we are also putting an announcement on our website, our social media and our phone system to properly communicate and prevent any unwanted fees or scheduling issues.

With Gratitude,
Rosaria Z.Gillis

Experience Advocate of MCO

 

HR Folders in Box

MCO Employees-

We are making changes to the level of access to employee’s HR Folders within BOX. Previously, employees had access to their own HR Folders. This is not the industry norm for HR, and as such, is ending. Instead, HR Folders will now only be accessible through the following designated employees:

 

Jodi Mooney

Emily Wilhelm

 

Any requests for access to these folders by the employee, supervisors, or any other staff member should be directed to these employees via email for review and approval.

Special Note For Clinicians: CEU Folders and Guide Folders, have been moved from the employee’s HR Folder to their Private Workspace Folder. This will ensure clinicians can maintain access to these folders and be able to upload training documentation.

If you have any questions or concerns, please address these with your immediate supervisors. Thank you for your help in making this important change.

 

Life@MCO

Farwell from Chad Warner (Media Production Manager)

To the clinicians, support staff, and leadership team at MCO,
Working at MyCounselor Online has been an incredible experience and I am so thankful for my time here. I have enjoyed getting to know you all through process groups, editing/filming your videos, and any other interactions we have had. I am getting the opportunity to work in ministry full time at a church, but unfortunately that means that my time at MCO is coming to an end. You have all been wonderful co-workers and friends. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at (512) 567-9169 or chadwarner4@gmail.com.

Clients Loving on our Clinicians

Aliuwa: I specifically chose to have my first session with Aliuwa because after watching her video and learning more about her I felt this instant connection and feeling that she would be able to help me in the way I needed. My very first session proved this only a few minutes in. I look forward to my next session.
Rachel:  Rachel was very friendly and easy to talk to. She made us feel comfortable despite talking about challenging subjects. We definitely recommend Rachel as a counselor.
Josue: Fantastic help especially from Josue who is committed to Christ and His dominion over his life
Danielle:  Very professional and supportive approach. Thanks

 

August Birthdays

Tara Riggs Aug 2nd
Thanks for being born Tara!  Because of your sweet counseling skills, passion to care for others and love for God’s people, so many lives have been impacted through you here at MCO.  You are an incredible part of MCO and we are so grateful to have you on our team.  Enjoy your special day! ~Rosaria

 

September Trent – Aug 13th  
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEPTEMBER!  So glad to celebrate this special day with you.  Getting to work with you in the Springfield Office is such a blessing.  Here’s to another amazing year! ! Shaun

 

Kristina Paris – Aug 14th 
Happy birthday Kristina!! I am so grateful to have you on our team! I love getting to know you and I find your passion for learning so inspiring! I hope you feel so loved and celebrated today! ~ Alison
Prayer Request
Britni– My nana had surgery to remove breast cancer. Everything is looking fine but please pray for my mom and her heart as she helps my nana recover. 
Josh Lolling-  Anxiety and IBS is still bad. Please pray for healing.
Alyssa – We have sold our townhome and are needing to find a transitional place to live for a month and a half while we wait for our home to be finished being built. With a newborn who isn’t sleeping through the night, we’re a little stressed.
Brandyn- My teenage girls are in full summer time mode! Prayers needed that they can be productive and that camp will make an impact on their walk with God!

 

Let’s Welcome Our New Team Members To MCO!

Matthew Thrower- Content Creator

   
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Lagrange College in Lagrange, Georgia, which gave me an unnecessary plethora of music knowledge. I also earned my Masters of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty University. I am currently the Lead Pastor and church planter of Refuge City Church here in Cedar City, Utah. 
I have served the church in various capacities my entire adult life whether through planting, preaching, worship or creating graphic and video content. I love explaining theology on my YouTube channel, talking about the Bible and current events on my churches midweek podcast and creating social media graphic art. 
I have been married to Merinda for 17 years and we stay pretty busy raising our three kiddos; Jude, Nora, and Ezra. In my free time I love exploring the glorious mountains in my backyard here in Utah. So, if you need a good place to vacation, I know a few places. I am looking forward to working with you guys and using my gifts and experiences to advance King Jesus’ kingdom. 

 

Samantha Poole – Reporting Analyst 

I grew up in Virginia Beach, VA with both of my parents in the Navy. I have had the opportunity to work in and experience several different industries and really enjoy learning what makes a company tick.  I prefer to do that by looking at the data and helping to focus on key metrics and processes. My other job is a Mom to my six year old son, Ronan. He has my love for music and dance and his father’s love for mechanics and games. I hope my eye for detail and analysis skills can contribute to the continued growth at MCO and I look forward to working with and getting to know the team. 

 

Kristi Pitts – Webmaster 

Kristi is a Chicago native living in Columbus, Georgia who loves people, pizza and Pilates! She is very comfortable with all things digital as she founded a women’s ministry online and met her husband, Jay, on the web! Kristi is mom to two fine young men, aged 17 &14, who light up her life. She serves on the prayer and worship team at church and goes on local outreaches to help reach women in sex trafficking. She is so excited to join the team and help further the mission of ministering to those who minister. 

 

Sarah Williams – MCO Resident

I  have lived outside Nashville, TN for the past six years with my four children and cuddly dog. I have a daughter (12), and three sons (10, 8, and 6). There’s a lot of energy in my house! I graduated from King University and Richmont Graduate University. For the past 14 years, I have been a stay-at-home mom, taught undergraduate psychology classes at Cumberland University, and worked with writers as a certified book coach. I am recently divorced, and returning to my calling as a therapist and joining MCO is a part of God’s redemption for my story. I am so excited to work with you all!

 

Kiran Worcester – MCO Resident

As a former client and trauma survivor, I recognize the bravery and discomfort that comes with inviting another person into our pain.  My deepest hope, is that my clients experience an authentic sense of care and connection through our relationship. I consider it a privilege to journey alongside my clients and hold hope with them as they pursue healing and wholeness. Before becoming a counselor, I worked as a developmental vision therapist, serving clients with learning delays and traumatic brain injuries. I also have experience counseling financially disadvantaged children and families. I consider my work as a counselor to be a calling rather than a career.  It is my great joy to serve the Lord and my clients.
Kiran Worcester is a wife and mother of two, who resides in Kansas City.  Her professional background began in education, special education and early intervention.  A native Oregonian, Kiran prefers to spend her free time hiking, kayaking and experiencing the beauty of God’s creation through nature.  Kiran is an amateur photographer, vocalist and avid reader. She also enjoys a good cup of coffee (and a little chocolate) with friends and family. 

 

Brittany Miedema – Client Experience Advocate

Hello! I’m excited to join everyone at the MCO team! Over the past decade I’ve supported mental health and education in various capacities with a bachelor’s in psychology and communication and a master’s in business administration. I’ve been working to synergize my calling with God’s purpose, which has lead me here! I look forward to working with you and our clients to support the MCO mission while pursuing licensure in mental health counseling.
My husband and I are Florida natives from the Space Coast. We love to spend time walking with our dog, working out in our home gym, or kicking each other’s butts in Krav Maga classes. We are also pretty big comic book and fantasy nerds, so you can find us hanging out at Universal Studios on the weekends. I can’t wait to meet you!

 

Sherry Zerbev – MCO Resident

I am very excited to join the team at MCO! I am beginning my journey into counseling after working in fields of education and human resources. I have lots of leadership experience under my belt, but I am  new to the counseling profession. I am excited to learn and grow alongside of each of you, as I begin  this new journey God has placed me on.  
I absolutely love people, and I have experienced many blessings as a direct result of the humans God has  placed in my life. I have 4 wonderful (almost all adult) children and a corgi named Rosie. We just  recently (as in this week) relocated to Florida where I will work my way to licensure. I have always  wanted to live near the beach and pursue a career as a therapist, so I am very excited to begin my MCO  residency! 
I love to read, walk, sit by the water, and spend time with family and friends. I look forward to building  meaningful relationships and experiencing fellowship with each of you as we all work as one to further  God’s kingdom and the mission of MCO. 
Thank you so much for letting me join the team!! I ask for your prayers as I begin this new journey, and I  will certainly be praying for each of you and this wonderful organization that I feel privileged to be a part  of. 

 

Ryenn Johns – MCO Resident

HI! I am Ryenn (Ry-N)! I am about to move to South Carolina with my Husband, for no other reason than the beach being a lot closer than it is in Kansas, where we both grew up! I love the outdoors and it is where I feel the most connected to God. I love working with teen to college aged young women as they navigate relationships and identity development. I have a big heart of sex education in the church and how we can better care and love for Christian women in this area. I just graduated from MidAmerican Nazarene University in May and just got married in July, so it has been a crazy couple months! Excited to get settled in South Carolina and here at MCO! I already feel part of this family! Cannot wait to meet more of you and give out hugs in October! 

MCO - CEU Tracker

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8/4/21 Team Meeting

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Life@MCO

Farwell from Chad Warner (Media Production Manager)

To the clinicians, support staff, and leadership team at MCO,
Working at MyCounselor Online has been an incredible experience and I am so thankful for my time here. I have enjoyed getting to know you all through process groups, editing/filming your videos, and any other interactions we have had. I am getting the opportunity to work in ministry full time at a church, but unfortunately that means that my time at MCO is coming to an end. You have all been wonderful co-workers and friends. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at (512) 567-9169 or chadwarner4@gmail.com.

 

August Birthdays

Tara Riggs Aug 2nd
Thanks for being born Tara!  Because of your sweet counseling skills, passion to care for others and love for God’s people, so many lives have been impacted through you here at MCO.  You are an incredible part of MCO and we are so grateful to have you on our team.  Enjoy your special day! ~Rosaria

 

September Trent – Aug 13th  
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEPTEMBER!  So glad to celebrate this special day with you.  Getting to work with you in the Springfield Office is such a blessing.  Here’s to another amazing year! ! Shaun

 

Kristina Paris – Aug 14th 
Happy birthday Kristina!! I am so grateful to have you on our team! I love getting to know you and I find your passion for learning so inspiring! I hope you feel so loved and celebrated today! ~ Alison

 

Counselor Shout Outs From Our Clients

  • Mary’s client – Yes that I am getting amazing insight of myself and understanding and healing
  • Anna’s client – My sessions are a life line right now, providing hope and healing
  • Rachel’s Client – We are very impressed so far. Thanks!

Prayer Requests

Britni– My nana had surgery to remove breast cancer. Everything is looking fine but please pray for my mom and her heart as she helps my nana recover. 
Josh Lolling-  Anxiety and IBS is still bad. Please pray for healing.
Alyssa – Continuous prayer for a semi-balance routine, longer sleeping hours and hubby went back to work on no sleep.  Please pray for the special but challenging season.
Brandyn- My teenage girls are in full summer time mode! Prayers needed that they can be productive and that camp will make an impact on their walk with God!

 

Fun Fact From Paul Stephenson

 

I committed my daughters to join me with a Venture Crew to hike the backcountry of Philmont Scout Ranch for 12 days in July in the mountains of northeast New Mexico. As the trip loomed closer my younger daughter, Grace, became increasingly discouraged (and appropriately intimidated) by the intensity of the trip. The week before departure, in a conversation punctuated by tears she told me, “Dad, I will NEVER forgive you for this.” Admittedly, I felt some fear of my own at that point.
Since getting back from Philmont her most frequent refrain has been, “I miss Philmont.” Now she’s trying to convince me she needs to go back next summer. I am grateful to God for such a precious blessing to share with my girls!

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