MindSource Center
27023 - 164th Avenue SE
Covington, WA 98042
(253) 639-7146

Seating is limited to small groups at the MindSource Center, so please reserve your space now. If the section is filled, you may place your name on a waiting list so we can contact you in case last-minute cancellations occur or additional sections are opened in response to demand.



COLD AND FLU SEASON IS UPON US
Presented by Dr. Darcy Vavrek, Naturopathic Physician

Date: Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Targeted For: Parent, professionals, and caregivers
Fee: $10 per person. Child care is not available for this presentation.

Do you have four weeks of miserable flu every year? Does the flu vaccine for last year’s flu miss you every time? Come hear Dr. Darcy Vavrek lecture on the approaches of Natural Medicine to colds and flu.

Darcy Vavrek ND is a naturopathic physician practicing at the Mind Source Center in Covington, WA.



THE 3 R's FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS - RELAX, RENEW AND REJUVENATE!
Presented by Mary Fuhr, OTR/L

Date: Tuesday, November 6, 2007 and Tuesday, December 4, 2007 (You can register for 1 or both classes)
Time: 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Fee: $20 per person / per class. Child care is not available for this presentation.

Caring for children, especially those with special needs, can be challenging. Parents need to create the time for themselves to release stress and recharge their energy in a supportive environment.

During this "evening escape" parents and caregivers will have the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate in order to be even better parents and partners when they return home.

Mary Fuhr, OTR/L will lead the group through breathing, gentle stretching and relaxation activities designed to accommodate all fitness levels. No equipment is necessary.
Please wear comfortable clothing.

We would like to offer you a way to refresh that is mindful of your time and resources. Please join us for this "yoga - light" experience in the beautiful, calm, and serene MindSource Center. You deserve an hour to renew yourself!

Please register early as class size is limited.



MEDITATION IN FOUR EASY STEPS
Presented by Dr. Darcy Vavrek, Naturopathic Physician

Date: Thursday, November 8, 2007
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Targeted toward: Parents, professionals & caregivers
Fee: $15 per person. Child care is not available for this presentation.

Have you ever wondered what other people are doing when they are meditating? Have you tried to meditate and gave up because you didn’t know how? Have you tried contemplative prayer, Zen Buddhism, or other forms of "sitting still" and felt like going bonkers?

Come hear Dr. Darcy Vavrek lecture on four easy steps to meditation. This approach is useful for people from all religious backgrounds and can enhance any meditative practice or stress management program. Bring a comfortable cushion if you have one. We will practice the concepts Dr. Vavrek presents.

Darcy Vavrek ND is a naturopathic physician practicing at the Mind Source Center in Covington, WA.



SEXUAL SAFETY: SAFEGUARDING OUR CHILDREN
Presented by Suzanne Baxter, M.Ed., Pediatric Medical Social Worker

Date: Thursday, November 15, 2007
Time: 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Targeted For: Parent, professionals, and caregivers
Fee: $10 per person. Child care is not available for this presentation.

One of the greatest challenges we face as adults is keeping the children in our care safe. We teach our children to swim, to wear bike helmets, and to cross streets carefully, but when it comes to teaching sexual safety we are silent or confused. Parents and professionals alike don’t want to think or talk about sexual abuse, but our discomfort with the issue is leaving our children unprotected.

This workshop will help you gain power and confidence in your ability to tackle a difficult topic. Learn how to safeguard children, how to identify possible sexual abuse, and what to do if the worst happens. Come and find out how you can take steps toward safety for all children.

Suzanne Baxter, M.Ed., is a Pediatric Medical Social Worker at the Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital Child Abuse Intervention Department. She also holds a B.A. in Special Education and has worked with children of all ages for 26 years, with extensive experience in teaching and coaching writing.



INSIDE THE AUTISTIC CHILD
Presented by Pamela Kluth

Date: Friday, November 16, 2007
Time: 7:00 to 10:00 pm
Targeted toward: Parents and professionals working with autism spectrum children
Fee: $30 per person. Child care is not available for this presentation.

Registrants will be emailed a brief questionnaire prior to the workshop and are invited to bring the answers to the session.

Do you often wonder what your autistic child is feeling and thinking? Would you like to explore deeper into what their purpose and gifts may be? If so, this workshop will provide insight into the many facets of autism offered by Pamela Kluth, an articulate, intuitive Autistic. Join us for an informative workshop designed to bring understanding that is specific to your child. This 3-hour workshop allows each participant to share information about their child and hear her perspective.

This open, sharing forum will remind participants of the many differences and difficulties experienced by caregivers, parents and children. Those attending are sure to gain a deeper understanding and walk away with ideas and new perspectives applicable for those on the Autistic spectrum or with sensory integration difficulties.

Pamela Kluth’s analytical mind and mathematical skills allowed her to label and organize her childhood world while watching life from a safe distance. Those same skills ultimately led her into a successful career as a telecommunications engineer and eventually as the founder of two technical companies. As a child she struggled to understand the world and the emotions of people in it until tools that were in sync with her gifts and interests were delivered by parents that were cognitive and sensitive to her comfort zones.

Pamela has spent a lifetime of introspection working to understand herself and others around her. This has cultivated a rich ability to intuitively sense the complex and often subtle levels of emotions in those she connects with. As a child she struggled with the integration of her hyper-senses, but as an adult, she is utilizing this sensitivity to connect with others at a rare and insightful level.

Articles written by Pamela can be found at:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ASkPamela



Back by popular demand!
A FOUR-PART AUTISM SERIES FOR PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, & PROFESSIONALS
Presented by Carrie Sheppard , M.Ed., LMHC, and Mary Fuhr, OTR/L

This series covers key areas of social, cognitive and emotional functioning of children on the autism spectrum. Each session stands alone and can be taken individually; however, participants can benefit from the progression from foundational skills to more complex capabilities by taking all four sessions in sequence. The series opens up fresh opportunities and tremendous growth for individuals on the autism spectrum. It also fulfills some of the initial requirements for parents seeking admission to the RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) Program.

Carrie Sheppard, M.Ed., is a licensed mental health counselor with 20 years' experience as an individual, child, and family therapist. She holds a B.A. in psychology from the University of Minnesota, and a master's degree in counseling from Boston University, and is the owner of the MindSource Center. In addition to her background as a psychotherapist, Carrie has completed specialized training in the treatment of autistic children, is an RDI Program Certified Consultant and is herself the parent of a child with an autism spectrum disorder.

Mary Gengler Fuhr, OTR/L has been a Pediatric Occupational Therapist for over 25 years. Her experience includes serving children, families, and educators at Children's Therapy Center of Kent, Rosemary White's Clinic, and the Fife and Kent School Districts. Mary was an instructor in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Green River Community College and has taught workshops at hospitals and clinics around the country. She is the co-author of the book and video, "Pediatric Massage for the Child with Special Needs". Mary is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and Yogafit Instructor. She has extensive training in Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) and Sensory Integration (SI) assessment and treatment.



AUTISM SERIES, SESSION 1
SENSORY PROCESSING AND STRATEGIES FOR SELF-REGULATION
Presented by Carrie Sheppard, M.Ed., LMHC and Mary Fuhr, OTR/L

Date: Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Targeted toward: Parents, professionals & caregivers
Fee: $20 per person. Child care is not available for this presentation.

Does you child overreact to sensory stimulation (sounds, texture of clothes or foods)? Or, do they seem to be oblivious to things others pay attention to? Does your child maintain an activity level that is way too high or way too low? These and other symptoms could signal a sensory processing disorder.

Self-Regulation – the ability to master appropriate responses to the stresses of everyday living – is a critical factor in a young child’s development. Because this ability impacts all areas of interaction throughout a lifetime, it is crucial – especially for a child on the autism spectrum- to learn strategies for self-calming, regulation of responses to stimuli and management of attention and emotional responsiveness.

Carrie and Mary will help you learn to identify some of the symptoms of sensory processing disorders and recognize the relationship between these disorders and the management of emotions, behavior, communication and social interactions. You’ll go home with fun and practical strategies you can use to help your child learn to self-regulate and improve his or her ability to cope with the demands of a dynamic and often bewildering world.



AUTISM SERIES, SESSION 2
ARE YOU THINKING WHAT I'M THINKING?
Presented by Carrie Sheppard, M.Ed., LMHC, psychotherapist

Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Targeted toward: Parents, professionals & caregivers
Fee: $20 per person. Child care is not available for this presentation.

Ever feel like you're on a different planet from your autistic child? Like your wavelengths rarely intersect?

This session will introduce you to some valuable techniques that will help you and your child become more attuned to each other's mental and emotional states. Becoming "in synch" with each other is an important developmental foundation that leads to future social success. This session provides an introduction to some of the core deficits of autism, as well as introducing remediation strategies.

Through practical instruction and video clips, you'll see how parents and therapists work with children to develop shared understanding that will help cultivate valuable connections. You will learn some of the cognitive and emotional benefits of using these techniques.



AUTISM SERIES, SESSION 3
MAKE IT STICK!
Presented by Carrie Sheppard, M.Ed., LMHC, psychotherapist

Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Targeted toward: Parents, professionals & caregivers
Fee: $20 per person. Child care is not available for this presentation.

Ever wonder why people with autism have such amazing memories for facts, lines from movies, and other seemingly-trivial bits of information, while some of the other skills we try to teach just won't stick?

"Make it stick!" addresses autobiographical memory--a specific type of memory deficit characteristic of autistic individuals. Lack of this type of memory is partially responsible for poor generalization of social skills taught by most programs. It is also a factor in anxiety, low self-esteem, and underdeveloped sense of identity.

This session will help you learn how to promote better application of skills taught and how to nurture a more positive sense of self in children on the autism spectrum. This session builds on understanding core deficits of autism and an effective method for the progressive remediation of those deficits. Video clips and practical instruction will guide your understanding of the remediation process.



AUTISM SERIES, SESSION 4
SHOW ME HOW TO MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD
Presented by Carrie Sheppard, M.Ed., LMHC, psychotherapist

Date: Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Targeted toward: Parents, professionals & caregivers
Fee: $20 per person. Child care is not available for this presentation.

It's a bewildering world for kids on the autism spectrum, and often their frustrations spill over to their parents, as well. "Show me how to make sense of the world" is a session that can help parents understand and unravel some of the confusion their autistic children struggle with on a daily basis. By learning how to assume a mentorship role with your child, you can help him/her to develop trust, borrow your parental perspective, and learn to assign meaning to what they see.

Using a relationship model, "guided participation" is a powerful method for helping children with ASD to learn and grow. Once a “shared understanding” or “perspective taking” has developed, a healthy dependence can occur. Only then can true independence and self confidence develop.

Videos of parents applying this model will demonstrate some of the dramatic results, as children move from a world of solitary play into one of active engagement with their parents.



A GROUP JUNGIAN EXPERIENCE FOR WOMEN:
RECONSECRATION OF THE WOMB
Presented by Dr. Darcy Vavrek, Naturopathic Physician

Date: Thursday, December 6, 2007
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Targeted toward: Women
Fee: $20 per person. Additional donation appreciated to the South King County YMCA. Child care is not available for this presentation.

Dear womenfolk, have you ever looked at your belly and felt pain? Cramps? Hysterectomy? Sexual trauma? Yeast infections? Dismay?

Come share a group Jungian experience led by Dr. Darcy Vavrek deconsecrating the sacredness of the womb. Dr. Vavrek will lead participants to the temple of Asclepius via a group led meditation. Each woman will then have the opportunity to receive reconsecration with a simple, yet powerful, healing ceremony.

Please wear white (to symbolize the purity and healing we are claiming) and bring tissues. Limit is 10 participants due to time constraints.

Darcy Vavrek ND is a naturopathic physician practicing at the Mind Source Center in Covington, WA. Dr. Vavrek received training in the work of "Reconsecration of the Womb" from Delores Ashcroft-Nowicki.