Nurturing Healing and Reconnection at the Center for Psychological Growth and Wellness with Lisa Saponaro, Ph.D.

What is all the buzz about mindfulness? Many of us have heard about the importance of being mindful, but how many of us really know what it means? Before the 1970’s, mindfulness only existed in Eastern societies that practiced Buddhist meditation. It was not until an American professor, Jon Kabat-Zinn, introduced the idea to the West in 1979 that mindfulness began gaining traction as a healing modality. He defined mindfulness as “paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” Since the advent of mindfulness in the United States, there has been a wealth of empirical research that has come out in support of these interventions across age, ethnicity, and gender. Research has shown that mindfulness can effectively treat an array of psychological issues, including: Anxiety disorders Depressive disorders Obsessive compulsive disorders Panic disorder Chronic pain Substance use Personality disorders Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Contrary to how the name sounds, mindfulness can actually help us decrease the fullness we often feel in our minds and allow us to engage more intimately with the present moment. Through bringing more mindfulness to our moment-to-moment experiences, we feel more connected to our authentic selves and increase feelings of wholeness, appreciation and joy. By engaging with feelings of gratitude and awe our experiences of depression and anxiety can lose power. There are a variety of formal mindfulness practices that are often beneficial to start with but once developed, mindfulness is a skill that can be applied informally to every aspect of your life. Here are a few formal mindfulness practices you can engage in: Mindfulness Meditation: Practice sitting upright with your back straight, shoulders relaxed, feet planted firmly on the ground (or cross legged), heart open in a dignified but relaxed way for several minutes. Let yourself just be and experience the stillness within you. Each time a thought, emotion and/or sensations arises, acknowledge it with acceptance and compassion and then bring your attention back to your breath. Mindful Walking: Find a place to walk where you feel safe and relaxed. As you walk, bring your attention to the body. With each step you take, notice your feet making contact with the ground. Take notice of any sensations in your body. Watch your limbs naturally coordinate to help you maintain balance. Notice the rhythm of your breath as you walk and how it coincides with your body movements. Mindful Eating: Find a small piece of food, such as a raisin, and focus mindfully on the raisin to where you are experiencing the fullness of each bite. Take notice of the texture, taste, smell, sound and other sensations of the food. If a thought arises, acknowledge and accept it, and bring yourself back to the food item (can work with any food). Yoga: As you begin to stretch a specific region in the body, you may begin to feel the resistance and discomfort in that area of the body. Through mindfulness, we can begin to make space for these feelings and sensations by acknowledging them with acceptance, patience and compassion. By acknowledging the resistance and discomfort and then returning our attention back to the breath, we come to realize that the pain in the body is not us and is merely passing through us as visitors do in a guest house. Once formal mindfulness practices have been exercised and the muscle of mindfulness have begun to grow, then one can begin engaging in informal practices of mindfulness, such as: Washing Dishes: As you begin to wash the dishes, take notice of the sensations in your hands as you make contact with the warm water, soap, and dishes. Slow the rate of washing down to where you can be fully present with each item that is being washed. Observing Nature: As you go out into nature, take notice of all that is around you. Slow down and let yourself gaze on the different shapes and colors of the trees, plants, animals, and landscape. Listen to the sounds of the birds chirp and the rustling of the leaves as you walk by. Showering: As you step into the shower, feel the sensations in your body as the warm water makes contact with your skin. Listen to the sounds of the warm water spraying all around you. Observe and accept any thoughts and feelings as they arise and return yourself back to the present moment experience of taking a shower. Parenting: Take a moment to pause when you are with your child and bring your full presence and attention to the moment-to-moment interactions you are having with them. Mindfulness has the ability to increase our parenting skills, which in turn positively impacts our children and the relationship we have with them. Mindfulness is not a technique to learn but a way of living to adopt. All of us have the capacity to cultivate mindfulness and similar to muscles, each time we exercise our attention by bringing it back to the present moment, the muscles of mindfulness grow. At the Center for Psychological Growth and Wellness, there are a host of practitioners who have been professionally trained in mindfulness-based exercises and are ready to support you with leading a more mindful lifestyle. Located in the heart of Plantation, Florida and servicing Broward County and Florida communities including Davie, Sunrise, Cooper City, Weston, and Fort Lauderdale.

Collaborative divorce provides a more cooperative alternative to traditionally litigated divorces and places the solutions and agreements in the hands of the involved parties. Unlike the pro se divorce, where each party represents themselves, in the collaborative divorce each party has their own attorney and both attorneys are committed to facilitating a working agreement. This provides partners the comfort of knowing their legal interests are represented while also feeling secure that the ultimate decisions belong to the family not the court. Unlike mediation, the collaborative professionals are committed to a collaborative result and are forbidden from participating in court proceedings in the event the collaborative process is terminated or unsuccessful. However, like mediation, the collaborative process facilitates empowerment of the family members, unique solutions, and is a less expensive route to divorce than litigation. The ideal resolution supports a caring, loving, and supportive relationship between children and their parents. While it is typical that no party gets everything they want, in a collaborative divorce, all parties can leave confident they will only sign an agreement they find acceptable. The collaborative process focuses on identifying common grounds and clarifying values to ensure decisions are made with your long-term goals in mind. Collaborative divorce requires that all parties participate in an honest, good faith manner with the ultimate wellbeing of all members of the family in mind. The collaborative process often involves the use of a collaborative divorce Coach or Facilitator. As a mental health professional, trained in mediation, Lisa Saponaro, Ph.D. participates in the collaborative process as a Divorce Coach. The Divorce Facilitator is skilled at recognizing anxiety, depression, and other emotional factors that often get in the way of resolutions. Additionally, the coach is trained in communication strategies and mediation to support the collaborative process. In the role of Divorce Coach, Dr. Saponaro serves to clarify and identify the parties’ interests and goals, reduce misunderstandings, help develop viable co-parenting plans, and facilitate the family’s transition through the process. Collaborative Divorce may be particularly advantageous to families with children as results are less likely to be relitigated in the future. It is associated with overall lower levels of conflict between the parents, which we know is most beneficial for the kids. Collaborative Divorce is a process designed with the best interests of the children and helps ensure their needs are kept in mind. In addition to the role of divorce coach, mental health professionals often serve in the role of Child Specialist in the collaborative process. The Child Specialist, who is a neutral mental health professional, is trained in child development and family systems as it specifically pertains to divorce and adjustment. This professional may meet with the children separately to gain a better understanding of their needs and wishes to promote their voice and support them during the divorce. Dr. Lisa Saponaro is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been practicing in South Florida for the past 20 years. Throughout her career, Dr. Saponaro has consistently worked with children and families. In her private practice, the Center for Psychological Growth and Wellness, located in Plantation, Florida, she offers diagnostics and assessment services for children and adults. Dr. Saponaro is experienced in treatment of Anxiety, Depression, Autism, PTSD, grief, addictions, and a variety of mood and behavioral problems. Dr. Saponaro has been recognized by the Broward County Courts as an expert in child matters as it pertains to divorce and has worked with other divorce professionals, such as attorneys, parenting coordinators, reunification specialists, Guardian Ad Litems, financial professionals, and others to help ensure families have well rounded care and children’s needs are paramount. After decades of working with families from a collaborative approach, Dr. Saponaro has joined the International Association of Collaborative Professionals and the South Florida Collaborative Professionals and is now practicing as a Collaboratively Trained Divorce Professional in the role of Divorce Coach and Child Specialist. Call 954-577-0095 or email Drsaponaro@gmail.com for more information on how to set up a consultation today.

Mental Health is mental wealth! Too much attention is focused on mental illness and not enough focused on our mental health. Evidence shows that good mental health supports good physical health, better immune function, healthier relationships, and overall life satisfaction. Too few of us dedicate enough time each day to our self care. Taking care of the basics such as: proper nutrition, exercise, good sleep hygiene and positive thinking all play into our well-being. Our thoughts and feelings, health habits, relationships, spirituality, careers, and leisure contribute to life satisfaction.

Weight loss therapy has been effective in helping people to lose excess weight. It does so by helping people to make behavioral changes that support weight loss while providing positive support and encouragement for safe, healthy weight loss. People that experience chronic weight fluctuations, binging, yo-yo dieting, compulsive eating, food addiction, and emotional eating can benefit from weight loss therapy. Dr. Lisa Saponaro is a licensed psychologist that provides professional weight loss therapy. She has many years of expertise in weight loss therapy and can help those ready to make the behavioral changes necessary to reach their weight loss goals. Enjoy a Healthy Relationship with Food Some people have a love hate relationship with food. They love to eat it food and it provides comfort when they feel anxious, depressed, or stressed. After eating certain foods or over indulging a person can then feel guilt and shame. Food is required for life. It provides us with the nutrition we need for everyday bodily functions. People can change problem behavior with food and enjoy a healthy food relationship with weight loss therapy. Dr. Saponaro listens to her clients weight loss and food concerns and goals in order to provide them with feedback and education on how to make positive change for weight loss. Positive Change Equals Weight Loss By making positive changes a person can begin to build healthy habits that will enable them to lose excess weight. People can break diet, binge cycles and other problem behavior in order to lose pounds and improve the way they feel about themselves. Weight loss therapy is a guilt free and safe method for weight loss. Therapy is provided in a safe, discreet environment that enables an individual to focus on themselves, change old habits, and make positive lifestyle changes that can help them cope with stress and pressure, while helping them to improve their health and self esteem. To inquire about weight loss therapy, please call (954) 560-9567.

As a psychologist, who spends her day doing therapy, it is important for me to set goals for myself (for my own personal health and as a model to others). In Giada's feel good food, DeLaurentiis describes her daily practice of yoga to include at least 3 sun salutations. Inspired by one of my own role models, I decided to take on my own personal 28 day challenge of adding three sun salutations to my daily routine. Yoga can improve not only physical health but mental health, anxiety, and depression too! Here are my results - What are your wellness, exercise, or personal growth goals?

ubstance abuse often starts out as experimentation. Friends may suggest it be tried or they state that the substance has relieved their own discomfort and may help. Drugs are most often used to escape from mental or physical discomforts providing a short-term fix with long-term consequences. Take the drug away and the problem is still there, whether it be low self-esteem, anxiety, loneliness, or an unhappy family life. Prolonged exposure to drugs alters the brain in ways that result in powerful cravings and a compulsion to use. These brain changes make it extremely difficult to quit by sheer force of will. The longer drug abuse continues, the stronger the addiction becomes and the harder it is to treat. The Warning Signs Of Substance Addiction Physical warning signs of drug abuse Bloodshot eyes or pupils that are larger or smaller than usual. Changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Sudden weight loss or weight gain. Deterioration of physical appearance and personal grooming habits. Unusual smells on breath, body, or clothing. Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination. Behavioral signs of drug abuse Drop in attendance and performance at work or school. Unexplained need for money or financial problems. May borrow or steal to get it. Engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors. Sudden change in friends, favorite hangouts, and hobbies. Frequently getting into trouble (fights, accidents, illegal activities). Psychological warning signs of drug abuse U nexplained change in personality or attitude. Sudden mood swings, irritability, or angry outbursts. Periods of unusual hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness. Lack of motivation; appears lethargic or “spaced out.” Appears fearful, anxious, or paranoid, with no reason. Substance Abuse Effects No matter the type of drug or alcohol that is taken, substance abuse is the dysfunctional way in which the drug takes over the user’s life, disrupting his or her relationships and daily functioning at school, home, or work, leading to repeated drug-related legal difficulties, and negatively affecting his or her peace of mind. Each substance abused causes a specific reaction physically and mentally. Drugs can speed up the heart causing a feeling of high energy such as cocaine or create a calming effect such as Marijuana. Any drug when abused can damage the tissues, organs and systems of the body causing long-term damage even death. It is through substance abuse treatment that an abuser can begin to break free from their addiction for improved physical and mental health. Substance Abuse Treatment The brain changes associated with addiction can be treated and reversed through therapy, medication, exercise, and other treatments. Substance abuse and substance dependence can both be treated effectively. Substance abusers may not yet feel the compelling need to use the drug but with prolonged use may find that the drug is required to prevent withdraw symptoms such as shaking and nausea. Dr. Lisa Saponaro is a licensed clinical psychologist who has developed and implemented programs. These experiences have allowed Dr. Saponaro to develop programs that help substance abusers through individual therapy. When drug abuse treatment is necessary Dr. Lisa Saponaro can provide useful information on in hospital treatment programs, community mental health centers and in office therapy sessions. Through a combination of treatment substance abusers can begin to detox the drugs from their systems in a safe environment and continue through a treatment process in order to live life drug free.

Life is full of a variety of experiences that affect our emotions, relationships, and inner thoughts. Marital stress, the death of a loved one, terminal illness, parenthood, and many other life experiences can lead to positive growth as well as pain, discomfort, and general dissatisfaction. These feelings may lead a person to seek psychotherapy, which has been proven to help many people with emotional, social, and behavioral problems. Therapy helps people to gain insight into the root causes of negative behavior patterns, ways to eliminate problem behaviors, learn to identity triggers, and manage stress. Therapy is beneficial in problem management and helps people to obtain personal growth. Psychologist Plantation Dr. Lisa Saponaro, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist who operates her private practice in Plantation, Florida. Dr. Saponaro is a Plantation psychologist that provides several forms of counseling including individual therapy, couples counseling, family therapy, group therapy, parental planning, and psychological testing. She has had great success in helping those dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma resolution, substance abuse, family issues, child behavior, and emotional problems. She takes the time to get to know each client and understand his or her unique strengths and weakness. This understanding enables her to use appropriate techniques, which help them achieve their treatment goals. Florida Psychologist, Plantation Dr. Saponaro uses her experience and knowledge as a Plantation psychologist to provide her clients with support and useful feedback. She helps clients identify their strengths, overcome obstacles in their path, and reach their potential for personal growth. South Florida residents in search of a Florida psychologist can contact Dr. Saponaro by phone (954) 560-9567. Clients can also contact Dr. Saponaro via email at Drsaponaro@gmail.com or by clicking here. Dr. Lisa Saponaro serves Plantation (zip codes 33311, 33312, 33313, 33317, 33318) and surrounding cities of Sunrise and Davie, Florida. Her practice is located off University Drive at 120 S. University Drive, Suite A in Plantation, Florida. Understanding our strengths and weaknesses is the first step toward making meaningful changes. Take a free screening below to identify your areas of growth. Mental Health Assessment What are your stress triggers? Coping and Stress Management Skills Test

Personality testing can identify specific characteristics that can be useful when making diagnoses, understanding underlying factors contributing to problems, and making appropriate treatment recommendations. Personality testing can also identify personality as a whole and is sometimes used by employers to determine appropriateness for certain type of jobs, and by courts when determining ability to parent and competency issues. There are times when personality testing may be court ordered or requested by a third party (e.g., school, employer, etc.). An abundance of scientific research and thinking has gone into the topic of personality test development. Personality tends to refer to one’s pattern of relating to others. Personality traits tend to be relatively stable over time and across situations. All testing is conducted with the most recent versions of tests available. Each test used meets the local school board requirements of an outside evaluator. Confidentiality is maintained except where provided by law and results will not be disseminated to outside parties without a client’s express written permission or as required by law. Dr. Lisa Saponaro in Plantation Florida offers personality testing in Broward County. Dr. Saponaro Ph.D holds a doctorate degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Memphis and a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She specializes in individual, couples and family psychotherapy and psychological testing, including personality testing. Dr. Saponaro utilizes techniques that have been proven to be effective with specific issues. She incorporates a mixture of conventional and alternative approaches, using a variety of styles and techniques to incorporate what will be most helpful for each client.