on THE
Hill beautyhealthfitness
Sharon L. Bernier
Ph.D, RN, CS-P
Psychotherapy
236 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Washington, D.C.
202-546-5311
Thanksgiving
A Time to Acknowledge and Appreciate ... Yourself
“The Capitol Hill Psychiatrist”
Joseph Tarantolo, MD by Ronda Bresnick Hauss
BOARD CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIST
CERTIFIED GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPIST
HERBALIST, NUTRITION COUNSELOR T hanksgiving is traditionally a holiday to acknowledge and
appreciate the abundance we have received. Historically the
holiday was celebrated at the conclusion of the harvest season
Specializing in:
• Individual, Couples, and Group Psychotherapy and was a time to give thanks for the bounty that nature pro-
• Patients with the Diagnosis of Cancer vided us. In modern times, we also take the opportunity during
• Self Exploration without Psychotropic Drugs: the Thanksgiving holiday to thank and appreciate the people
“Talk Back to Prozac” in our lives that are important to us. Often, however, we forget
to include appreciating and thanking ourselves – for our hard
202-543-5290 work, our commitments to family and friends, and even more
basically for the unique value that each of us brings to life.
TAKING CARE
Why Acknowledge and Appreciate Ourselves?
OF MOM Research shows that people who feel good about themselves
THE FIRST YEAR: and place value on themselves because of who they are – who
A 6 week GROUP FOR MOTHERS feel worthy, deserving and entitled to happiness – are healthier,
AND BABIES as they Begin their happier and more confident people.
new lives together Feeling good about yourself – feeling worthy of happiness
Groups starting in October – affects our behaviors and actions and gives us the courage to
try new activities, contribute to others and expand our resilience
Nancy Lithgow & Susan Dranitzke to meet life’s challenges. Nathaniel Branden, a Ph.D. psycholo-
Licensed Clinical Social Workers
Call 202-543-7700 or 202-544-5222 gist respected for his research in building self-esteem, has said
For more information that positive self-esteem can be seen as the immune system of
consciousness – providing people with the strength to deal with
adversity.
Eve G. Jorgens, M.D.
What is Self-Esteem?
Adult Psychiatry Branden defines self-esteem as the experience of being
competent to cope with the basic challenges of life and of being
worthy of happiness. This means that a person with high self-esteem has the confidence in their
Convenient Hours ability to make decisions, manage change, think and learn. It also means that they have self-re-
Including Weekends spect – the confidence in their right to be happy and that achievement, success, friendship, love
By Appointment and fulfillment are appropriate for themselves.
Working on self-esteem directly does not help, however, because, as Branden points out, self-
esteem is a consequence – a product of internally generated practices. Having certain practices
202.547.6928 become an integral part of a person’s life is what strengthens self-esteem.
The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem
After three decades of study on self-esteem, Branden identified six practices that he believes
are crucial and fundamental to positive self-esteem:
1. The practice of living consciously: Being willing to examine one’s life and honoring “sight
over blindness” rather than choosing to live in a self-induced mental fog.
2. The Practice of Self-Acceptance: The refusal to regard any part of yourself – your body, your
fears, your thoughts, actions and dreams as “not me.” The refusal to engage in an adversarial
relationship with one’s self.
3. The Practice of Self-Responsibility: Taking responsibility for one’s life and well-being. Be-
ing responsible for one’s personal happiness, desires, choices, and actions. Being responsible
for the level of consciousness that one brings to one’s work, relationships. Being responsible
for choosing the values by which one lives.
122 ★ HillRag |November 2007
Marjorie Shovlin
4. The Practice of Self-Asser- Licensed Acupuncturist
tiveness: This is the virtue
of appropriate self-expres- • National Board Certified
sion – honoring one’s needs, • Master’s Degree in Acupuncture
wants, values and convic- • Evening and Weekend Hours Available Let AHA! help you achieve your health
tions and seeking rational 620 C Street SE and fitness goals.
forms of their expression in
reality. 202.547.4234 Program offerings
5. The Practice of Living www.MarjorieShovlin.com Include:
Boot Camp (monthly at Lincoln Park)
Purposefully: To use your Acupuncture to relieve symptoms and preserve health Personal Training - including “Bridal Fitness” &
powers for the attainment “Pre-and Post-Natal” Packages
of the goals that you have Nutrition Consultations
selected. Ronda Bresnick Hauss
6. The Practice of Integrity: Licensed Clinical Social Worker For more information contact
When one’s behaviors are alicia@aholisticapproach.com or check out AHA’s
Supporting you in having a healthy & productive life.
congruent with one’s pro- website at www.aholisticapproach.com
fessed values (when ideals Psychotherapy for adults 202.957.6761
and practice match). using an integrative & holistic approach:
traditional talk therapy, meditation,
Self-esteem is a basic hu- 3 wonderful years on the Hill
& creative, non-verbal techniques.
man need and in indispensable
to health development. Those 1308 Constitution Ave., N.E. Physiotherapy
people who can learn to have a 202.544.5050 Associates of Capitol Hill
realistic confidence in their mind
www.quietwaterscenter.com
and their value, who feel secure Your choice for physical therapy on the Hill!
within themselves, will tend to
experience the world as open to 600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Suite 202
them. Positive self-esteem can
be seen to energize and motivate
APRIL RUBIN, MD 202.543.9400
1 block from Eastern Market (orange/blue) Metro stop
a person and can inspire a per-
Early morning and evening hours!
son to take pleasure and pride in Obstetrics • Gynecology Most insurance plans accepted!
their accomplishments. Research
Adolescent Gynecology • Infertility
reveals that high self-esteem is Please visit us at our other DC locations:
one of the best predictors of per- Menopause Counseling 1720 Eye St. NW | 202.293.1853
3301 New Mexico Ave. NW | 202.363.0454
sonal happiness.
This Thanksgiving, why not
practice living consciously? Why
636 A Street, NE • 202-547-4604
Blue Cross • Blue Shield Provider
not work on self-acceptance –
the virtue of commitment to the
value of one’s own self? Refuse to
have an adversarial relationship
with any part of yourself. Con- PLEASE RECYCLE
sider the act of valuing yourself
and your wants as a move toward
THIS PAPER
strength and an act of taking re-
sponsibility for own happiness.
It’s not only good for you, it’s
good for the people around you Acupuncture Massage Meditation
too.
Ronda Bresnick Hauss is a li-
censed clinical social worker and Wholistic health care for adults,
the founder of the Quiet Waters
Claire P. Cargill, DDS
children and teens.
Center for Trauma, Stress and Re-
silience, on Capitol Hill. She uses
an integrative & holistic approach
to psychotherapy – addressing the Capitol Hill family Dentist
connection between the mind,
body and spirit through the use of We offer complete Dental Care
Introducing: Psychotherapy,
traditional talk therapy, medita- for adults and children.
Past Life Regression Therapy
tion, visualization and creative, Eastern Market Metro Stop & Reiki
non-verbal techniques. She can be 1009 E Street, SE • Washington, DC
reached at: 202-544-5050 and is
on the Web at: www.quietwater- 202-547-2491 320 G Street, NE 202.544.9389
scenter.com. ■ Free parking • Handicapped Accessible • Major Insurance Plan Accepted www.healingartscapitolhill.com
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 123