Laurel B. Connell, MA: Calm

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Calm

How do you find peace? How do you cultivate your own inner calm? How do you link yourself to that stillness within yourself, even when things are busy all around you? It is always right there. One breath away. Or should I say, one breath closer. When we practice meditation in our Pregnancy Circle, it can be simpler to get to that quiet, peaceful place because the external factors are in harmony with us. Lit candles, quiet room, dimmed lights. But what about when our kids are screaming? What about when someone screams from the car in back of us to go when the light turns green (yes, happened to me yesterday :) )? When our contractions are getting more and more intense and our partner isn't doing what we think he/she should do and there are too loud noises and it is hot and it is getting too hard....Get my point? How do we find that inner calm, that link to our own strength and essence that is always there waiting for us? Breathe, and you'll find your own answer within.

Childbirth and Parenthood Counseling
for the Soul...

I work with mothers, couples and families to bring consciousness and self awareness to the process of becoming a parent. Pregnancy can be an amazing time to learn about oneself as dramatic changes occur in our physical bodies and our emotional selves. It is a time in which a woman's inner and outer world undergoes one of the biggest transformations of her lifetime. The many emotional and physical changes she is experiencing provide opportunities for her to learn and grow personally and spiritually.

My role is to provide support and guidance to mothers and their partners as they experience this transition into parenthood. Through listening and reflecting, I provide a space for couples to come together and have their own personal
preparation for birth and parenthood. Couples I have worked with express gratitude over simply having the time and space to give attention to the many thoughts, feelings and questions that are present within the relationship before the baby is born. My work helps to create clear communication which helps tremendously when working together as parents.

I weave my background in Buddhist psychology with my master's degree in clinical psychology, finding a working balance between the two. I have 13 years experience supporting individuals, children and couples throughout times of transition and life changes. My children's births and my own experience of being a mother allows me to bring compassion and empathy to my work with parents.

The Pregnancy Circle

The Pregnancy Circle is an ongoing pregnancy group that meets the first three Tuesdays of each month. It is a group for women to come together to focus on the emotional aspects of pregnancy, birth and motherhood. Participants receive support, learn from one another and become empowered to gain inner wisdom. The group provides a space to learn about oneself as each woman prepares to become a mother for the first or fourth time. The group's content consists of thoughtful dialogue, experiential artwork and meditation. This group brings birth preparation to an entirely new level.

When: First Three Tuesdays of the month
Where: Sunrise Birthing Center, 12 N. Ash St. Ventura
Contact: Laurel @ laurel.connell@gmail.com

Laurel B. Connell, MA

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Calm

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