The Lighter Side of Transformation

with Lisa Wessan, LICSW

Jul 7

Free Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Group offered at the Cameron Senior Center, Westford, MA

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

I am delighted to be sharing this learning opportunity with you. May this program serve you wellđź’™

As part of a six-month program, I am presenting Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training in person at the Cameron Senior Center in Westford, MA.  

To learn more, go to page 6 of this newsletter: 

20220701Newsletter (westfordma.gov)

TO REGISTER:
Generously funded by a grant from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, even though it is free to attend, you must pre-register by calling this number: 
(978) 692-5523

WHEN:
You can still attend the last two sessions:
1 – 3 PM on both August 12 and September 9, 2022.
You can attend these two workshops out of sequence and still gain value.

WHERE: 

Cameron Senior Center

20 Pleasant Street, Westford, MA 01886 (free parking)

Please do not contact me – I am not involved with registration!  They have a limited seat count, but plenty of room.  CALL NOW to reserve your spot!

Onward and Upward✨

Lisa Wessan

DBT Transformation Uncategorized Updates Westford, MA

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Feb 16

My new hero, Poppa Neutrino (1933-2011)

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

Read about “The free spirit who rafted across the Atlantic,” (THE WEEK, Feb. 11, 2011). Here’s a man who lived fully, a life of adventure, passion and purpose on every level. Poppa Neutrino is my inspiration du jour…

Inspiration Longevity Mirth Resiliency

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Jan 24

What is Digital Grief?

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

As a counselor, I have had the privilege of witnessing unexpressed grief, unresolved grief, good grief, bad grief, ancient grief, and grief from loss, neglect, abuse, even past life grief.
I’ve heard nearly every kind of grief available to humans during my time spent in the consulting room, or listening to friends and family process or avoid their grief.

Now there is a new kind of grief emerging in cyberspace, Digital Grief…yes, more people are experiencing painful loss and feelings of grief from cyber-based relationships. In many cases, the people never met face to face. In some instances, they met in a video game and developed a second life together, with emotional, spiritual and financial ties. Some people have lost large amounts of money in gaming groups where fees are won or lost in virtual contests. These financial losses were equally painful and real.

As professional counselors and coaches, we need to be ready for this new kind of grief. It’s real, it’s fraught with complex emotions and we need to acknowledge these losses as equal to flesh and blood level losses.

Here’s an insightful article on Digital Grief, entitled “Your immortal cybersoul,” by Rob Walker. Walker offers some new practical ways to work through the cyber landscape to better manage your digital self.

What legacy are you leaving on the internet? Do you want someone to have access to all of your passwords and maintain your accounts indefinitely? Would that make you feel immortal? There are now ways to do this. More will be revealed….

© Copyright 2011 by Lisa Wessan. All rights reserved.

Longevity Retirement

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Jan 2

Excited! My quote is featured in 2011 Woman’s Advantage Calendar….

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

I’m excited that my advice was chosen from over 5,000 submissions to be featured in The Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar for 2011. My quote is one of 365 selected—one for each day of the year—and will be featured on January 16, 2011. My quote is “There are no perfect people here at Earth School, so let’s put the FUN back in dysfunctional! “ Find out more about this unique calendar at the Woman’s Advantage.

Inspiration Laughter Therapy

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Nov 28

Defining the Laughgasm (Laughing Orgasm)

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

As sex educator Dr. Yvonne K. Fulbright has noted, “While I’ve had some out-of-this-world orgasms, I personally think that a good laugh gives orgasm a run for its money. Nothing is more delicious than losing yourself in a side-splitting, seemingly endless crying with laughter session. It’s no wonder that being drunk with laughter has so many benefits. Laughter boosts your immune system, healing and cleansing your mind, body and soul. It increases the level of endorphins and neurotransmitters that are health-enhancing while lowering the level of stress hormones in your body, like cortisol. Laughter provides fantastic physical and emotional release. It gives your body a good workout, exercising the diaphragm, contracting the abdominals and working up your heart rate. It enhances your mood, drawing you away from any negative emotions, like anger, that are consuming you. In being utterly contagious, laughter also connects us. Hmmm, kind of sounds a lot like orgasm.”

I would never say that laughter could replace sex and orgasms, but there are times when a good full-bodied laugh can certainly help you experience the relief, release and feeling of refreshment you might have from an orgasm, plus it can reboot your nervous system, similar to an orgasm…that is, clear the mind, settle the synapses, relax-reboot and all is well…

I met my first laughter meditation teacher when I lived New York City, his name is Laraaji. Besides facilitating a brilliant laughter meditation class, Laraaji is also a powerful musician and peace activist. Laraaji says “Laughing and orgasming are very similar. For me, ejaculatory orgasm is draining. Instead of coming, its more like leaving. I prefer orgasmic laughter, it nourishes my nervous system, keeps my expressional vehicle loose, and puts me in touch with my feelings. As part of my yogic practice each morning, I have a hearty laughgasm.” Watch Laraaji having a LaughGasm here…

Laraaji facilitates a wonderful two-hour laughter meditation program in NYC…definitely worthwhile if you’re in the city and want to have a mind-blowing laughathon. He’s not big on social media, but he does share his beautiful zither music here.

In my keynote speeches, seminars and consulting work on therapeutic laughter, my audiences often have laughgasms, but I have never labeled them or called them out on it…are we ready? Dare I do it? Should I even consider marketing my work as offering Laughgasms? What do you think?

Intimacy Laughter Therapy Longevity Mirth resilience

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Nov 24

Funny Thanksgiving quotes…

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

“Thanksgiving is the day when you turn to another family member and say, ‘How long has Mom been drinking like this?’ My Mom, after six Bloody Marys looks at the turkey and goes, Here, kitty, kitty.” – David Letterman

“I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land.” – Jon Stewart

“Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often.” – Johnny Carson

“Thanksgiving is a magical time of year when families across the country join together to raise America’s obesity statistics. Personally, I love Thanksgiving traditions: watching football, making pumpkin pie, and saying the magic phrase that sends your aunt storming out of the dining room to sit in her car.” – Stephen Colbert

“Thanksgiving. It’s like we didn’t even try to come up with a tradition. The tradition is, we overeat. ‘Hey, how about at Thanksgiving we just eat a lot?’ ‘But we do that every day!’ ‘Oh. What if we eat a lot with people that annoy the hell out of us?'”
– Jim Gaffigan

May you and your loved ones eat less, exercise more and be as authentic as possible with your families — in safety — LOL, today is 34 days off sugar, flour and alcohol for me, looking forward to feeling lean and serene during and after this holiday…food is not fun for many of us! You know who you are…join me this Thanksgiving in living lighter and with more freedom…with a big AMEN for our health prayers.

Addictions Laughter Therapy

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Nov 22

Earth laughs in flowers. ~ Emerson

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

Earth laughs in flowers. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Inspiration Laughter Therapy Longevity Mirth Orchids resilience Spiritual Renewal

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Nov 22

World Peace Through Laughter? Is this a joke?

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

When I did my first training for certification in Laughter Yoga, Laughter Meditation and Laughter Therapy, my teacher, Madan Kataria, MD, talked about his vision for world peace through laughter. Some scoffed, but he planted a seed in me during that training…I had a vision of having a large room, or even Madison Square Garden, filled with Muslims and Jews, experiencing extended, massive periods of laughter together. Not laughing at jokes – not that there’s anything wrong with that – but laughing at the absurdities, incongruities and paradoxes that surround the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and that permeate the prejudices in all confused religious conflicts.

Besides all the extraordinary physiological benefits from laughter which you have experienced – the lowering of cortisol levels, muscle relaxation, and improved memory and cognitive functioning – I have seen what laughing together in groups can do. It dissolves anxieties, tensions, prejudices, fears and allows people to feel safe enough to say what they need to say. Laughter is surprisingly disarming, and when we laugh together our walls and facades come down. Laughter is the great equalizer, one of the most profound democratizing energetic forces available for transformation.

Well, it happened this summer…right here 30 miles north of Boston, due to the progressive spiritual leadership of the Qutbi Masjid (mosque) of North Billerica, MA, and Congregation Shalom of North Chelmsford, MA. These two enlightened communities teamed up for a day of healing in the Merrimack Valley. I was invited to be the keynote speaker at this Health and Wellness Fair…what an exciting moment!

My vision for a harmonious Middle East, for more brotherly acceptance and respect (and eventually love) seems to be happening now. My hope and prayer is that this moves from the micro to the macro level, one laugh at a time. Read more about this incredible event in this recent article from THE JEWISH JOURNAL.

Connection Peace

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Nov 21

Invitation for centenarians, gerontologists and studio audience participants…

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

I am currently seeking healthy, alert and oriented centenarians to be interviewed for “The Super Centenarian Series” in 2011, my new my cable television topic. If you know any centenarians in the greater Boston area, please invite them to contact me.

I am also interested in talking with gerontologists and health care professionals who work with the elderly for the caregiver segments.

Also, if you would like to be part of our studio audience, please join us!

Longevity resilience

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Nov 15

Nothing is impossible…

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says “I’M POSSIBLE!” ~ Audrey Hepburn

Inspiration Intentions Longevity resilience Resiliency

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