 Prior to moving back to Houston four years ago, I worked with the Children's Partnership in Austin. As a child and family therapist I engaged with kids identified as "most at risk." From previous run-ins with the law, these kids had multiple agencies involved in their lives such as Child Protective Services, foster care and juvenile court. Many had unmet mental health needs and often had problems staying engaged in school and staying engaged in treatment, as well as in life.
I enjoyed working with this unique and challenging group, because for the first time in my career I was encouraged to use "non-traditional" or "alternative" methods of therapy and skills training including Dialectical Behavior Therapy and dance and art therapy. These alternatives teach individuals healthy self-expression, self-observation and greater awareness. Further, they help guide adolescents to be in their bodies and physically present in the world. When I learned there was a residential treatment center in our local community focusing on youth with similar challenges, I felt instantly compelled to find a way into helping. Upon my first welcome into The Center for Success and Independence, I was impressed with the vivid artwork decorating the halls. The recreation area where I was to lead a Nia class, however, was filled with large couches and a big screen TV -- nice for some sedentary movie watching, but perfect for a movement/dance experience -- not so much! Cheerfully, I introduced myself to the group of young girls and set us up to dance in front of the TV, which could act as a sort of reflective surface or "mirror" to engage them. I introduced the routine SACRED and invited them to step in. Many of the girls reacted shyly, uncertain about putting themselves in the "fish-bowl" situation created by the room setup The non-participants hung out on the sofas, watching the girls courageous enough to dance and move in front of their peers -- a potentially vulnerable situation for this age group. Still, a number of brave souls did engage with the routine and eventually some of the "observers" who saw us having a good time also joined in. I was blessed to meet with a few of the young ladies after the session. Their excitement from having the chance to dance was visible, and they asked for more. Many of them said they yearned for the variety that such classes would bring to the center, as they spend so many hours a week in individual, group and family therapies around their school hours. It is my deep hope that our upcoming celebration and gala raises the $6,000 in funds to bring Nia as an alternative therapy and healing movement form to these kids learning to heal their minds, bodies and spirits. Please join me Saturday, April 29th at 7 p.m. for our community dinner, auction and Dare to Dream, Dare to Dance fundraiser. Purchase your tickets before they are gone. Online donations, especially if you cannot attend, will be heartily welcome. In gratitude for our community, Cambrey Lindsay, MA, LPC Nia Brown Belt Teacher  Pictured from left: Cambrey, Marylou (seated), Angela, Sue and Yvonne
Currently, I volunteer as an art teacher at The Center for Success and Independence, a residential and outpatient treatment center offering adolescent trauma therapy and treatment for teen substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues in Houston, Texas. Before that, I met Marylou Erbland, the co-founder of the center at a mutual friend’s home. At the time, I was volunteering with an organization that was preparing to open a residential treatment center for female minors who had been rescued from the sex trafficking industry. In discussing our opening and the girls who would be living there, I learned that four girls who were being successfully treated at TCSI were being considered for transfer to the new center. Eventually, I began volunteering at TCSI as an art teacher. In reality, I'm more of an art project manager. I design a plan, collect needed supplies, instruct and encourage the young clients. My passion for living out my faith by serving motivates me to give my time. Plus, I love kids, young people and art so, this is a natural extension of who I am. I receive joy when I'm in the company of the clients. It's not always easy but, I always leave feeling I've learned something from them. It is a privilege to see a reluctant client who doesn't feel they are "good" at art, complete a project with satisfaction and pride. In my time working with these kids I have observed that young people can become profoundly lost on their journey and lose their sense of self-worth. It takes time but, with the intense level of support and therapy provided at TCSI, they slowly make their way back to believing in themselves again and realizing they have worth, and that it has value! These days, the sheer intensity and volume of life-threatening habits young people must be able to discern and make choices regarding is overwhelming. It saddens me how many children don't have a healthy and encouraging support system to lean on. As for my connection to Nia, that began on May 21, 2011, when I picked up an airline magazine while traveling on American Airlines and read about it for the first time. When I returned home, I did some research and was surprised to learn Soma Ranch was 15 minutes down the road. On a Wednesday evening I phoned Helen Terry and two days later I became a registered trainee in the White Belt training! I have since completed both the White and Blue Belts, and I am an Ageless Grace instructor. One day when visiting TCSI I noticed the lack of exercise the clients received -- especially the girls. It is widely known that conditioning the body also improves emotional wellbeing and cognitive functioning. What’s good for the body is good for the brain, leading to better results in recovery. I knew from my training as a nurse, camp leader, and missionary that Nia would be a perfect fit and could be accomplished by all fitness levels in a limited space. I affirm that dancing is good for the heart, mind and spirit....as well as being a ton of fun! It is my hope that the Dare to Dream, Dare to Dance project with Studio NiaMoves will bring Nia to TCSI for one year, or maybe longer. And my prayer is there will be an increased awareness of this wonderful center and its mission. I believe Nia will be wholeheartedly received by the clients and staff and positive changes will result because dancing is embraced and practiced regularly. I have already seen the results from just a few classes. The participants love it, and the movement and excitement is contagious, moving couch-sitters to the dance floor! Hopefully, the Nia community will also benefit from engaging with TCSI. Perhaps lifelong Nia students, instructors and educators are waiting for their own such time as this with TCSI to change their lives! by Sue Korthauer, Nia student and TCSI volunteer |
AuthorYvonne Myles Archives
December 2017
Categories |
RSS Feed