There were two things I immediately experienced when I met Deb. The first was her joyous laughter and the second is that she is embodies a wonderful combination of brilliance and compassion. She has a warm and natural capacity to share the science of the brain in a way that we can all understand and benefit from as we embark on healing journeys of our own. I am pleased to feature Deb Burdick in this issue of Living Life Like Never Before.
How many of us are so busy doing everything for everyone else that we forget to take care of ourselves? In my late 20’s I had the privilege of working with a Psychologist who helped me realize I did just that. Then in my 30’s I read a book in one of my courses for my Master of Social Work degree titled “Too Good for Her Own Good, Breaking Free From the Burden of Female Responsibility” by Claudia Bepko & Jo)Ann Krestan. When I read it I felt I was reading about myself. It was right after I had become ill with what was later diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. This is a poorly understood pain disorder that some experts are calling an illness of burnout. Burnout! That’s what happens when we do too much without being careful to take our own needs into account.
This put me on a healing journey that has spanned more than twenty years during which I learned about many modalities of healing, nutrition, exercise, sleep, meditation, Neurofeedback, and spirituality. I adopted a holistic approach to wellness and healing that I use myself and teach to my clients. I finally healed the Fibromyalgia after thirteen years of doing everything the medical community suggested when I added Neurofeedback to my treatment. After thirty sessions of Neurofeedback I was completely free of the pain I had endured for so many years!
Since changing my career from a computer software engineer to a psychotherapist and Neurofeedback practitioner I have helped hundreds of women who ‘do too much’ get in touch with their authentic selves and learn to direct the love and care they are so good at sharing with others, towards themselves. It energizes me and ignites me when I help someone learn to do this. And since I am always in the process of refining this process for myself, I am living life like never before.
I teach what I needed to learn. Here’s a summary. It is so important to give yourself adequate rest and plenty of sleep. A nutritious diet and regular exercise are critical to keeping yourself energized and well. Caring is a wonderful gift and it feels good. But over-caring starts to breed resentment. The ability to ask for help and not feeling like you have to do everything yourself is an essential skill to learn. You need to learn to protect yourself, your energy, your attitude, and your time. Surround yourself with positive, encouraging people and avoid the toxic ones. Take time to meditate and clear and quiet your busy mind to help with mood, energy, and clarity.
Debra Burdick, LCSW, BCIA-EEG, also known as ‘The Brain Lady’, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is certified by the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America in Neurofeeback. She is the owner and clinical director of Advanced Options, LLC in Groton, CT where she and her staff provide outpatient psychotherapy, Neurofeedback and Substance Abuse Counseling to clients who range in age from five to eighty plus.
Debra developed a holistic system that combines psychotherapy and Neurofeedback to help people feel better, think better, and perform at their absolute peak and often helps people reduce or eliminate medications they take for Attention Deficit Disorder, depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep. She and her staff also help with relationship issues, parenting, learning problems, cognitive function, memory, addictions, TBI, peak performance, and life coaching.
Debra added Neurofeedback to her psychotherapy practice in 1999. She is a graduate of UCONN School of Social Work with a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) and has completed hundreds of hours of coursework in Neurofeedback and Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of the brain. Before going into private practice she worked at the Child Guidance Clinic, Family Services, and the Child and Family Agency.
Debra has extensive experience helping children and adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Besides helping hundreds and hundreds of clients with ADHD over the past twenty years, she parented her daughter who has ADHD, was married to a man with ADHD, and was a business partner with someone who has it. She combines knowledge she gained from her own healing journey, her own parenting experience, her clients, and her professional study to help parents unlock their child’s potential. She teaches from her unique perspective to provide a holistic approach to creating success with ADHD. She is the author of A Holistic Approach to Successful Children with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder – A Home Study System for Parents.
For more information visit: www.TheBrainLady.com
