At Living Well Psychotherapy, we know that healing doesn’t happen in isolation. It unfolds in context—in the stories of our ancestors, in the wisdom carried by our bodies, and in the quiet rhythms of the Earth. This June offers us a sacred convergence: Juneteenth, Pride Month, and the Summer Solstice—three distinct, yet deeply connected invitations to liberation, love, and light.

Juneteenth: Honoring the Sacred Labor of Freedom

As we reflect on Juneteenth, we honor the long-delayed but fiercely fought-for emancipation of enslaved Black Americans. This is a day of truth-telling and remembrance, of grieving what was stolen and celebrating what has endured. As therapists, we witness both the echoes of generational trauma and the enduring strength, joy, and wisdom that lives in Black communities.

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is not a passive inheritance—it is sacred labor. It calls us to dismantle the systems that still bind and to uplift the voices, dreams, and brilliance of Black lives—not just once a year, but every day, in how we listen, live, and lead.

Pride Month: A Celebration Rooted in Resistance and Joy

Pride Month, too, began as a protest—not the vibrant parade we see today, but a courageous stand against violence and erasure. Born from the radical resilience of trans women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, Pride is a declaration of dignity and truth. It reminds us that our queer and trans clients deserve more than inclusion—they deserve celebration, safety, and spaces where their whole selves are welcomed and witnessed.

The Summer Solstice: A Seasonal Invitation to Illumination

And then, there is the Summer Solstice—nature’s own embodiment of light. The longest day of the year invites us into a fullness of being. It’s a moment of radiant clarity, when growth feels possible and authenticity begins to bloom. The Earth herself is in full expression—flowers unfurling, light lingering, everything awake and alive.

It feels right that these days of liberation and pride are held within this season of warmth and revelation. We are being asked to step forward—to be bold, to be seen, and to live more freely in our becoming.

Living the Invitation: Healing as Sacred Rebellion

Together, Juneteenth, Pride, and the Solstice are more than symbolic moments—they are embodied invitations. They call us toward a way of living that honors complexity and celebrates wholeness. Healing, after all, is not just personal. It is communal. It is political. It is sacred.

At Living Well, we believe that to be in the healing profession is to take a stand—for freedom from shame, freedom from silence, and freedom to be fully human.

So this June, we honor Black liberation, queer pride, and the light that lives in each of us. May we walk with reverence. May we celebrate truth. And may we continue to build spaces where all identities are met with care, respect, and radiant belonging.

Summer is full of brightness, movement, and activity—but even joy can become overstimulation. By the time the sun sets, many of us are still buzzing. Sleep doesn’t just happen—it’s something we arrive at with intention.

Here’s a simple, sacred wind-down ritual:

• 🌙 Dim the lights — Shift into evening gently
• 🌸 Wash the day off — Let the water carry your stress away
• 📚 Create a landing space — Swap screens for something tactile
• 🌿 Let stillness be your friend — Sit, breathe, be

This isn’t another item on your to-do list. It’s your body’s way of saying:
“This day is complete. I am allowed to rest.”

Whether you are celebrating, grieving, growing, or simply being—
You are allowed to be all of yourself and LOVE that self.

That is where healing begins.
That is where connection is born.
And that is what this season, in all its warmth and wonder, is truly about!

Imagine you’re sitting somewhere quiet—a sun-dappled porch, your favorite spot on the couch, or the stillness of your car before walking inside. You place one hand on your chest or belly. And you breathe, slowly and intentionally.

This is box breathing, a simple technique that calms the nervous system and brings you back to your center:

• Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds
• Hold your breath for 4 seconds
• Exhale slowly through your mouth for 4 seconds
• Hold again for 4 seconds

Repeat 3–5 times. Let the rhythm form a square in your mind—a gentle structure, holding you with quiet steadiness.

You don’t need a special mat or meditation app. You just need your breath. A few moments. And the permission to pause.

Grief is an energy we all carry, and more often than not, it settles deep within us—especially in our bellies, where emotions are stored and processed. That’s why we call our retreat Belly Monster—a space dedicated to acknowledging, honoring, and releasing this held grief so healing can truly begin.

For a limited time, we’re offering $200 off your retreat registration—because we believe in making healing accessible. Secure your spot before June to claim this special offer!

We will be providing five different workshops in one day all focusing on healing through grief energy. Our workshops are perfect for beginners and those who haven’t explored alternative healing modalities such as talking circles, writing to heal, art therapy, or compassion inquiry. It’s all about having fun and trying something new! Our creative approaches to healing ensures that everyone feels welcome and that the focus is on the experience rather than the skill level. We will be focusing more on spiritual healing and collaborating with local spiritual healers.

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FULL AGENDA

Welcome to the 3rd Annual Belly Monster healing retreat!

Location of event in the AMAZING new space called The Aux: https://theauxevanston.com/

More details please go to https://www.approachablehealer.com/

Immerse yourself in a transformative journey of healing and self-discovery at the 3rd Annual Belly Monster Retreat. This year, our theme is grief, and we invite you to explore various creative and spiritual approaches to healing.

Event Overview: Join us on Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Evanston, IL, for a day of workshops designed to help you process and heal with grief energy. Our retreat offers an accountable and supportive environment where you can connect with others and learn from experienced practitioners.

BRING YOUR OWN Yoga Mat, blankets, pillows, crystals to charge (if that’s your thing), eye masks and other comfort needs for the Sound Healing

BRING OBJECTS that represent what you are grieving or who you are grieving

Workshops Include:

• Guided Healing: Bilateral Meditation for Grief: Led by Jenny, this workshop uses bilateral beats to guide you towards healing through connection with your higher self or others. Whether you believe in the afterlife or prefer to connect with your wisest self, this meditation will help you set the ideal intention for your personal healing journey.
• Art Therapy with Amy: Engage in creative strategies to confront and tame your ‘belly monster.’ Amy’s art therapy sessions provide tools to process grief and integrate wellness practices into everyday life.
• Breathwork for Grief: A Healing Workshop: Led by Ruth and Steve

Grief is a profound and personal journey, often held in the body as unspoken emotions and tension. This Breathwork for Grief workshop offers a safe, supportive space to explore and release the pain of loss through conscious breathing techniques. Through guided breathwork, meditation, and gentle somatic practices, participants will be invited to connect with their emotions, process grief at their own pace, and find moments of relief and renewal. This practice helps to soften the weight of sorrow, allowing for clarity, acceptance, and a deeper sense of inner peace.

Led by an experienced facilitator, the workshop will include:

• A grounding meditation to create a safe container for healing

• Instruction on breathwork techniques designed to move stagnant emotions

• A guided breathwork session with curated music to support emotional release

• Time for reflection, journaling, and optional sharing in a compassionate group setting

• Soul Sounds workshop: led by Musical Mindset.

This intimate session features an intuitive acoustic sound healing set that celebrates the beauty of feeling what is alive within us.

Through the vibrant tones of the didgeridoo, melodies of the native flute, and soothing ukulele songs, accompanied by his overtone vocals, this sound journey will create a rich tapestry of sound that invites deep emotional connection and exploration. These instruments, steeped in ancestral traditions, serve as powerful catalysts for expression and awakening, connecting us to the wisdom of those who came before us.

This workshop is a sacred space where you can fully experience the depth of your emotions and connect to the essence of what it means to be alive.

• Courageous Embodied Grief: led by Becky Carter

Elements of grief weave their way through our lives and our bodies as we navigate different experiences of loss. Whether anticipated, sudden, cultural, ancestral, societal, or existential, each loss takes shape within us as we move through the cycle of life force energy and the counter vortex of death and grief. In this experiential session, participants will explore how they embody grief while recognizing and nurturing the capacity within self to endure the current of grief with courage and curiosity.

Heart Healing: Release & Renewal: A Closing Sound Ceremony for Grief led by Saints and Angels Healing Through Sound

This guided sound meditation is designed to gently support emotional release, heart-centered healing, and energetic integration at the end of a powerful day of grief work. Using crystal singing bowls tuned to 432 Hz, along with Solfeggio frequencies (417 Hz for release, 528 Hz for transformation, and 174 Hz for grounding), Peter layers in ocean drum, rainstick, Zen singing bowls, tuning forks, gong, and the sacred rhythm of the shamanic drum to create a multidimensional field of sound. This ceremony seals the day’s deep emotional processing with breathwork, visualization, and vibration—offering a soothing, vibrational embrace to close the retreat and carry participants forward in peace and renewal.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to transform, heal, and grow in a supportive and nurturing environment. We can’t wait to see you there!

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Grief and how it messes with our gut:

How Grief Affects the Vagus Nerve:
Grief triggers a strong emotional stress response, which can activate the vagus nerve. This can lead to a “fight, flight or freeze” response, where the vagus nerve is constantly engaged, even when there is no real danger.

Digestive Issues: 
The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in digestion. When it’s overstimulated or dysregulated due to grief, it can lead to problems like nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, and difficulty swallowing.

Dysfunction of the vagus nerve is linked to altered emotional states like anxiety and depression.

COME HEAL YOUR BELLY MONSTER WITH US JUNE 21ST at THE AUX in Evanston, IL

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At Living Well, we deeply respect and care for ALL individuals, irrespective of their citizenship, race, gender, economic status, or sexual orientation. Our mission is rooted in love, and we strive to spread this love throughout our world, making everyone feel valued and respected. You are an integral part of this mission, and we are here to support you.

We want to acknowledge the weight, unrest, and upheaval of the past two weeks in our country. As we witness the recent turmoil, we understand that many of us grapple with a profound sense of fear, uncertainty, and grief. We recognize that for those of us who value compassion, it can feel like the pillars of safety and freedom are trembling. This sentiment is particularly true for those directly impacted or targeted: members of the LGBTQIA+ community, migrants, people of color, women, and anyone whose livelihood is affected by policy and leadership changes. We also hold in our hearts those who rely on life-saving care from government support like SNAP, Medicare, or any other essential programs.

We validate and honor the range of emotions you may be experiencing now. If what we’ve described resonates with your experiences, we want to reassure you that we offer our unwavering support. Know that we are here to help you navigate these times of adversity.

We also want to give you some tools, supported by neuroscience, to regulate the nervous systems, reconnect with ourselves and each other, and act in ways that create real change. We recognize that emotional regulation is not always the right choice when faced with stress and anxiety. Sometimes, we need to listen to our discomfort to connect to others and mobilize our systems toward the change we want to see.

Living Well Psychotherapy believes that four pillars—mind, body, spirit, and community—can contribute to wellness. We want to offer some skills to support you in these areas of life. Over the next several weeks, we will give you tools from these areas to use in your daily practice.