JoyWork Create
JoyWork Create is an online portal for learning and practicing core skills that will help you transform your mind and body. Knowledge + Practice = Change If you want to change something about yourself or your life, you have to do the work. We believe it ought to include Joy. Have fun!!!
Creativity is transformative.
The more the brain produces learned pain signals over time, the worse the pain gets. This is what we call the “cycle of pain” and without intervention, it can be a downward spiral.
Vicarious trauma is different from primary pain–the pain we feel just after an injury or initial symptoms of a chronic illness. These new responses to disease or injury are the brain’s way of protecting the body. The brain is saying, “Slow down, protect this area. It needs time to heal.” This primary pain should be intense at first and disappear as damaged tissue heals.
A Portal for Daily Practice
“I will forever cherish this bowl and the lifelong healing I’ve received from knowing Melissa.”
— Rob
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"For the last 3 years, I have been dealing with chronic pain and was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, an autoimmune disorder. Thus began a journey through many specialists, endless tests, and scans. I became a guinea pig for various strong medications each with different side effects which required more medications to counter those effects. All of this led to depression, anxiety, and a feeling of hopelessness about the future. And I was in a lot of pain on a daily basis.
After another set of painful tests, which provided no new information or help, I heard a strong inner voice say “STOP.” No more tests, no more medications, no more specialists telling me what to do and what to be afraid of if I didn’t follow their solutions.
Where to turn? I contacted Melissa Susman, who I had worked with as a client a few years back. The minute I heard her voice on the phone, I knew I was with the right person to help me once again. She is a Marriage and Family Psychotherapist utilizing her training in somatic body work, EMDR, and other trauma centered mind/body practices.
Melissa has spent the years since I last saw her developing a specialized program for those who have a Chronic Illness based on her experiences, knowledge, and research into the neurobiological connection. Within a few sessions, I was able to stop ruminating and worrying about my physical condition and refocus my attention to the things that were working for me. My relationship to and fear of pain lessened a great deal. I am getting my physical balance back and realigning my body/mind to stay centered in times of stress.
My joy in life, my relationships, my work, my belief in myself has returned. Sure, I still have bad days with flareups, but I have confidence I can weather those and still have a full life to look forward to.
By the way, Melissa is also warm, loving, interested and interesting, and has a great sense of humor and a lightness in the way she works. I highly recommend spending some time with her!"
Get Results from JoyWork Create
Once you’ve grasped the core science of stress and chronic pain, and mapped your unique cycle of pain, we will develop a roadmap to healing. I’ll teach you powerful mind and body techniques and reconnect you to sources of healing that will help you to develop a personal approach to reset your brain to the cycle of restoration and repair.
Reduced pain and reverse the progression of your illness or pain
Improved emotional and physical well-being
Improved relationships affected by your illness or pain
Feeling empowered by having sovereignty over your mind and body
Making choices you didn’t know or believe you had
Feeling joyful and more alive again
Customize your program: Select from these options
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Art Therapy Sessions
Eight (8) weekly, live, online group meetings with me, where we will dive more deeply into the practice of transformation.
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Bowl Workshop
Access to a library of easy-to-understand videos on topics such as:
• How the chronic pain cycle develops and is shaped over time
• The role of trauma in chronic pain conditions
• The Art and Science of Connection: de-stressing by connecting
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Painting Workshop
Access to instructional materials (some video, some written) guiding you through activities like:
• Transformational mindfulness recordings
• Expressive arts activities
• Journaling prompts
• Gentle movement practice suggestions
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Tracing Contours
Description goes here
Curious to know more?
Book a free consultation