Genell is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) with advanced training in mind-body therapies. Somatic Experiencing (SE) is an evidenced-based therapeutic modality that incorporates the body and felt sensations into therapy. SE is particularly effective in treating individuals with trauma symptoms or high levels …
This month Genell Howell, LMHC, CSAC, SEP discusses about a common trait we see with our internalizing students. The Perfection Pressure Cooker Many of us strive to be better at our jobs, school or in our home life. We look for ways to improve and succeed. Perfectionists are also looking for success, however, they impose …
PQ Therapist Mark Storey and Family Services Director Mike Sullivan teamed up with Sky’s the Limit Fund to host a community gardening event in San Jose, CA. Veggielution, a community garden set in reclaimed land under a myriad of freeways, was excited to host the group. It was a huge success, and a great reminder …
Last month, Reed’s Bay students harvested 153 pounds of produce. They enjoyed the fruits of their labor (literally), including eggplant, cabbage, bok choy, purple and green beans, taro, sweet potato, breadfruit, papaya, peppers, basil, and cilantro. The group plucked oranges, tangerines and kumquats to marinade chicken and tofu, and livened up vegetables and salads with …
Before I went to PQ I was in the darkest and most desperate place I have ever known. I was having intrusive thoughts of suicide serval times every 10 minutes. I had lost all hope and given up. I felt like nothing was real, and that nothing truly mattered in this life anyways, so who …
Here is a testimonial written by a student, reflecting on her 1 year anniversary since graduating from Pacific Quest. Pacific Quest was hands down one of the most pivotal experiences of my life. I entered PQ as a scared teen who was neck deep in avoidance and believed the prospect of long term recovery to …
Makahiki is a holiday season that punctuated the yearly farming cycle in ancient Hawaii. Makahiki was a time of rest and renewal in preparation for the next growing season. Makahiki is similar in timing and purpose to Thanksgiving, Octoberfest, and other harvest celebrations. This week at Pacific Quest, students have been learning about Makahiki and …
Written by Mark Storey, MA, Primary Therapist Central to working as a wilderness therapist is how to help to increase a student’s self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is an individual’s belief in their own ability to achieve a goal. Based on their personal belief system, students will perform in certain ways. Increased self-efficacy can influence the level of …
With a passion for finding a student’s authentic self, Mark Storey brings dynamic long-term wilderness therapy experience to Pacific Quest. Since 2005 Mark has worked in outdoor behavioral health. Mark worked as lead field staff and as family program guide at a wilderness therapy program in the Blue Ridge Mountains . After completing his Master’s …
Trauma can result in brokenness and lost innocence. Dr. Donald Kalsched, Jungian Analyst and author of Trauma and the Soul notes that innocence lies at the core of our sense of aliveness and spirituality. The recovery of innocence is an important and complex process that leads to renewed vitality and embodied living. Dr. Lorraine Freedle, …