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Clinical Hypnotherapy
Now that I've experienced clinical hypnosis both in getting and giving hypnosis sessions, and completed the 100 hour five phase training with Dr Michael Yapko, I'm so glad to tell you about his self help digital hypnosis program. THIRTEEN hypnotherapy recordings and relevant things to reflect on and do for less than the price of one gentrified hypnotherapy session rate.

Better manage anxiety, depression and life’s stresses with Claria's five-week hypnosis program https://join.clariamentalhealth.com/

However, if you're a healthcare professional (Dr, therapist, etc) for complimentary use, and specifics about the contents of this app for mental health and emotional well being through boosting the vital skills for the best version of yourself, use this link https://yapko.com/claria/

Clinical hypnosis is NOT entertainment hypnosis, and has much empirical backing with a 2024 published umbrella review of a recent 20 year span of meta-analyses (of 261 studies) with outcomes of 99.2 % demonstrating positive effects. (Frontiers in Psychology, Jan 8, 2024, Rosendahl, Alldredge, & Haddenhorst). If you want to look into a compact list of research into clinicial hypnotherapy's effectiveness in a variety of uses, it's in Trancework by Michael Yapko updated in 2025.
The short message audio before each hypnotherapy session is so packed with research informed insights and guidance too! If you want your own customized clinical hypnosis session and recording, I may be able to meet with you and create one for you over Zoom. However, these are pretty dang good and I love using them every day to start my day.

Clinical hypnosis is like taking a great idea and turning it into an experience while planting the seeds for the shifts in daily life.

Now, on to my Rethinking Psychiatry resources...


RETHINKING PSYCHIATRY is what encouraged me off the status quo of mental health assumptions and onto seeking and sharing with you real healing options.  If you are suffering, I'd encouraged you to get wellness diagnosis and support from a holistic health practitioner like a naturopath or Chinese medicine doctor. It's definitely worth exploring.
​
Relationship Gardening clientele are never referred for psychiatric medications and are also cautioned to be very careful with medication tapering (see Safe Withdrawl links below)
A must read article in New York Review of Books by Marcia Angell http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/jun/23/epidemic-mental-illness-why/?page=1

Marcia, in the above article, reviews the following books which are linked here to Powell's Books at each title below:

The Emporer's New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth (Irving Kirsch)

Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America (Robert Whitaker)

Unhinged: the Trouble With Psychiatry-A Doctor's Revelations About a Profession in Crisis (Daniel Carlat)


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  • NEXT STEPS FOR RECOVERING? Once you realize the big pharma deception and want to know next steps, you can explore a Portland, OR think-tank here http://www.rethinkingpsychiatry.org/
or explore this entire page you are on now to see more amazing gems for healing.                                    

Check out this very thorough mental health recovery blog, videos, links, and medication tapering insight:
Beyond Meds, Alternatives to Psychiatry, Everything Matters 
http://beyondmeds.com


"I Got Better" testimonial videos.  Mine is there too about how I got my brain back from severe brain fog and memory loss. This was recorded at the end of a Rethinking Psychiatry conference, thus quite tired and slower than usual http://igotbetter.org/videos

SAFE WITHDRAWAL or MEDICATION TAPERING
The UK has this nailed with more than a decade of mobilizing on harm by psychiatric meds.  See my page for the links to f
ind support and info on safe withdrawal : Coming Off Psych Drugs

Antidepressant Withdrawal Blogs
Here is a tapering method that takes longer but without horrid withdrawl effects:
http://prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.com/p/psychiatric-drug-withdrawal-why-taper.html?spref=fb

Peer support for antidepressant withdrawal, tapering meds, & withdrawal syndrome:
  • http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php? 

 
ANXIETY and DEPRESSION RESOURCES FOR GROWING WELLNESS and INNER PEACEFULNESS
Have you tried Medicinal Mushrooms? I can't tell you what to take but I can suggest you find an Integrative MD or naturopath who can explore many options for healing. The research is available about how some have overcome a variety of serious symptoms in mind/body using organic medicinal mushrooms.
  • Start here http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-stamets/mushroom-memory_b_1725583.html
  •  Read about Paul Stamets' Host Defense line of mushroom capsules at http://www.fungi.com/about-paul-stamets.html, or http://hostdefense.com/
  • TED Talks with Paul Stamets on healing the planet, healing yourself.  http://www.ted.com/speakers/paul_stamets My favorite is the one with his mother at the end who had an Alzheimer's reversal on Lion's Mane mushroom)

RELAXATION TRAINING  Your body has grown a survival strategy that doesn't work for you when it turns on a panic or anxiety attack.  Get out of this jail by starting relaxation training with a daily practice of listening to these free audios on various topics including recovering from anxiety states.

  • Health Journeys Audio Library Free Podcasts This resource keeps moving around the internet. Here is where I found it in 2025 with Belleruth  https://www.cc.nih.gov/patientlibrary/healing-streams 
  • Search for Belleruth Naparstek, or other Guided Meditations on YT. 
 Use Audios to train your mind/body for relaxation and healing.  Affirmations and guided imagery are quite powerful tools of change. We are surrounded by and give ourselves a constant stream of negative messages. You have to strengthen your overcoming parts of your mind/body to have easier access to healing.

More on how to deal with anxiety, or your stress and pressure: visit the online Calm Clinic at calmclinic.com

HEALTHYMINDS PROGRAM: use the app for healthy mind skills in small micro lessons and practices for wellbeing through growing your awareness, insight, connection and purpose. Look, there's more: 
https://www.tryhealthyminds.org/
                                                                                                      TAPPING  Everything you need (articles, audio, video) for using tapping, you will find at the site of the bro-sis team, Nick and Jessica Ortner.  They have an annual world summit of free online events, a Youtube channel, and a seemingly endless video, audio and live event library in their Tapping Insider's Club: Here is what the 2025 summit was all about.                                                                                               
ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, CRAVINGS including alcohol, HORMONAL WONKINESS? Before going down the psych med path, first check with this naturopath to see what is possible as causes of your mood states, and what are the  holistic health options.  I know dozens of people who have unlocked their own healing with no side effects with
​  Dr Jennifer Reid in Oregon (she also works in Hawaii). 503 492-9427, or [email protected]
​  Carriage House Medicine website.

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               A few more truly awesome resources more or less alphabetized ...    
                                                                                                              AFFAIRS   Peggy Vaughan's (RIP) Extramarital Affairs Resource Center with over 100 free articles on recovering from cheating, infidelity, betrayals, affairs:  http://dearpeggy.com/ Her info was moved and I haven't found it yet.

 FEMINIST BLOG
Learn about mansplaining by this hilarious feminist writer of the blog "Tiger Beatdown."
http://tigerbeatdown.com/2011/08/29/chronicles-of-mansplaining-professor-feminism-and-the-deleted-comments-of-doom/                                                         
                                                               
HEALTHCARE (low cost)
  • Patient Physician Cooperatives morphed into Ovation, a membership healthcare offer.
  • Mercy and Wisdom non profit clinic offers low-cost Naturopathic and Chinese medicine, and transgender healthcare in Portland, Oregon for lower incomes.  https://mercyandwisdom.org/
  • Health Coalition Clinics in or near Portland, OR (sliding scale)
    National College of Natural Medicine Community Clinic payment policies/
    Dental http://www.coalitionclinics.org

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER
  • Hopeful videos of how it gets better for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer kids: http://www.itgetsbetter.org/
 
  • Gay Mormons speak out at BYU (now if that aint courage, I don't know what is)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0jXg-hKCI   
        
  • The Portland Q Center where you will find dozens of Portland, Oregon LGBTQi support groups, events and more:  http://www.pdxqcenter.org/
                                                     
  • Transactive is transgender expertise and services for youth, adult, families in Oregon. https://graduate.lclark.edu/programs/continuing_education/transactive/
​
  • SPOUSES Support Group for cisgender spouses of transgender or non binary mates in Portland, Oregon!  Call me, Shannon to register 503 348-0405. Read more by clicking here.
                                                                                       

LOVING RELATIONSHIPS
Inspiring video animations of real life love from Story Corps:
http://storycorps.org/animation/danny-and-annie/                                                                                                                                        MARRIAGE HELP Email Shannon Batts,
advanced trained in assessing and coaching couples to healthy habits based on real couples in the long term Gottman ongoing studies. The best kind of marriage counseling out there.  Shannon through fantastic word of mouth referrals has developed a niche for couples in the rainbow including ones dealing with gender transition. SO much goodness, right here in Portland, Oregon, video sessions for OR and CA (Shannon is dual licensed) 
mailto:[email protected]

PARENTING
A no medication Nurtured Heart Approach to inspiring greatness and well being in your kids, in class and at home, by Howard Glasser who has transformed entire school populations of ADHD medicated children into well,...look here and let him tell you about it.   Glasser has how to positively shift behavior positively NAILED!  FREE video-based E-Course, 10 Ways to Propel Your Challenging Child To Greatness. I cant find where this was moved to but here is a good webinar conversation with Howard Glasser 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T7unxt63Rw 

NEWBORN IN THE FAMILY SUPPORT
Please read this and use it when someone you know has a baby!  For those of us who have been there-it means THE WORLD to us to get this kind of practical support. From Gloria Lemay's Birth Blog, read this post "After the Birth, What a Family Needs"
http://www.glorialemay.com/blog/?p=34
                                                                  
RACE & ETHNICITY MATTERS

"Race Talks: Opportunities For Dialogue" are free discussions and networking at various venues including McMenamins Kennedy School, Portland, Oregon, or via Zoom, to discuss race related topics, create solidarity and actions with racial justice allies, break out of personal racism, and learn from expert panels and films, by donation: 

https://racetalkspdx.com/
 
SOCIAL SUCCESS for the shy or awkward find skills and workarounds here: http://www.succeedsocially.com/

VETERANS
  • All FREE professional services to returning vets, active duty, and family who need counseling, chiropractic, naturopathic medicine, drug and alcohol counselors, chinese medicine, massage, acupuncture, etc.  Close the door to suicide and make health your mission.  There are other returning vets that need you!!  This is not the VA, it is a project of volunteer professionals.  AMAZING!  http://www.returningveterans.org/providers/find
    •  Warriors-just wait till you see all these offers at Wounded Warrior.  Be sure to scroll the whole page as you will see Mind, Body, Economic and Civic Engagement. Wounded Warrior Project.
    • Video interviews of VETS OVERCOMING with Energy Medicine, war trauma, anger, suicidality, and more:  http://stressproject.org/video/
    • Check out this article on releasing war trauma, including nightmares, insomnia, & flashbacks through EFT/Tapping tools:  huffpost article
    • Everything for using tapping with the bro-sis team, the Ortners.  They have an annual world summit of free online events, a Youtube channel, and seemingly endless video, audio and live event library in their Tapping Insider's Club: https://www.thetappingsolution.com/
    • Sleep help free, 24 hours online, CBT-i training to set a sleep schedule, modify sleep behavior and reduce unhelpful thoughts, Path To Better Sleep  https://www.veterantraining.va.gov/insomnia/

WEIGHT LOSS & HEALTHY FOOD MATTERS
Did you know more than 6 or 7 hours of sleep is needed to produce leptin which affects your hunger signals? 

Dr. Judith Beck (Cognitive Therapy founder Aaron Beck's amazing daughter) has a good handle on healthy weight starting with her book The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain To Think Like A Thin Person.  Find daily motiivation, and strategies here as well as workbooks, DVDs, audios, and great support for reaching your goals. Beck Institute Blog

Thumbtack listing of relationship and marriage help in Portland, OR, plus Q and A with important considerations in choosing a counselor for your relationship.  But don't ask me for a quote there.  My rates are on the tab at top of this page, see "About," at dropdown "Rates" above.  Here is Thumbtack for that interesting Q & A about marriage counseling:
http://www.thumbtack.com/or/portland/dating-coach/relationship-coaching-services











PORN
AND YOUR BRAIN
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Today's porn is nothing like that of prior generation in that the super fast internet seriously messes with the reward circuitry in disabling ways, especially for youngsters who are still building and pruning brain pathways in a big way.  Get tools for change at Your Brain On Porn http://yourbrainonporn.com/tools-for-change












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Love Habits you can do today, sent immediately (a gift from Shannon):

    You will be asked to confirm your request.

     

    email Shannon
    New Enhanced Relationship Check-Up now available with streamlined 30% less questions, an easy way to reassess progress if we'd like, and plenty of information about strengths and what to repair. Available for $39 (to Gottman Institute) for clients of Approved Member therapist Shannon Batts.
    DONATE to "Relationship Gardening by Shannon Batts" by clicking here to go to the checkout Square site where you can enter your donation of any amount and support resource redirection of free services to
    ​marginalized clients. 

    ​Or donate via Paypal.me/shannonbatts
    ​Thank you!
     
    Gottman Approved Member



    ​TESTIMONIALS. WOWEEEEE!
    (results not guaranteed)
     http://relationshipgardening.com/couples-therapist-reviews-portland.html
    Proud Member of TherapyDen
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    How to find a good marriage counselor?  Ask Shannon Batts in Portland, Oregon.  Note from Shannon: Make sure they have advanced training (not just degrees and licenses) with couples, can describe what they learned and how they deliver it to you, and are also HAPPILY married!

    ​Can they speak to their privilege or marginalizations and how they impact counseling with you?


    ​

    1. Oppezzo M, Schwartz DL. Give your ideas some legs: the positive effect of walking on creative thinking. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn. 2014 Jul;40(4):1142-52. doi: 10.1037/a0036577. Epub 2014 Apr 21. PMID: 24749966.

    ​2. Calogiuri G, Evensen K, Weydahl A, Andersson K, Patil G, Ihlebæk C, Raanaas RK. Green exercise as a workplace intervention to reduce job stress. Results from a pilot study. Work. 2015;53(1):99-111. doi: 10.3233/WOR-152219. PMID: 26684708.

    3. 
    What moves you? Physical activity strategies in older women
    Marily Oppezzo, Lauren Wegner, James J Gross, 
    Daniel L Schwartz, Tessa Eckley, Abby C King, Sally Mackey, Marcia L Stefanick
    First Published May 18, 2021 Research Article Find in PubMed
    https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053211014593
    Looking for a Marriage Counselor who studies and applies awareness of intersectionality, and the importance of examining her own hidden bias?
    Shannon is a Race Talks Facilitator in Portland, Oregon, intentionally under (completed) training (100s+ hours) and ongoing mentorship by Donna Maxey (retired) and Shaina Pomerantz, JD, MSOL.
      





    ​Shannon Batts, Licensed Professional Counselor of Portland, Oregon, lic# C2379, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for Californians, lic# MFT 34477, is Marriage Friendly, with better than neutrality toward the outcome of your life long love commitment. Shannon Batts is a Portland, Oregon counselor, with advanced skills, education and training in assisting couples (extremely rare among counselors). Lesbian, gay, trans, mixed gender identity, questioning gender, nonbinary, and straight couples of all ages seek out tools and support for their relationships from Shannon Batts. Shannon trains ongoingly to be antiracist and is a facilitator and consultant at Race Talks PDX. Transgender, Black Americans, or unhoused clients will find amazing flexibility in counseling rates if you need it because you've been through enough!


    ​

    www.couplesintransition.com
    www.spousesgroup.com
    www.spousesresourcecenter.com
    www.spousesresourcecenter.org
    www.relationshipgardening.com
    all arrive at Relationship Gardening by Shannon Batts, and Spouses Resource Center so as to increase options for couples, including those facing gender transition to have excellent support for making it through transition together.
    Couples with no LGBTQ identities also benefit by Relationship Gardening.
    Click to set custom HTML
    Electronic/internet based communication is not a guarantee of privacy as it is always subject to security breach or hacking. You do maintain the right to email, text or video chat regardless of the risk.
     Shannon, a Covid conscious therapist, with lived experience of Long COVID, is the counselor's counselor all about growing a happy relationship, with Gottman research based relationship and marriage help and telehealth video sessions. Clinical hypnosis available as Shannon completed the 100-Hour Comprehensive Training in Applying Clinical Hypnosis in Strategic Psychotherapy intensive by Dr. Michael Yapko. Marriage Counseling, marriage therapy, couple's therapy, couple's coaching, premarital counseling, help for transgender or non binary coming out in marriage, support for spouses of transgender or non binary partners, couples group for transgender partners and cisgender spouses, questioning gender in your marriage, marriage retreats, marriage workshops, antiracist coaching for engaged couples, antiracism groups for white people, antiracism couples groups, antiracism groups for professionals, custom antiracism groups, marriage affairs or adultery, porn or sex addiction or compulsion in your marriage, couples communication training-whatever you call it-make sure your best marriage counseling choice in CA, or in Portland, Oregon has Advanced Gottman Institute aka Relationship Research Institute training.  A Gottman trained therapist like Shannon Batts knows how to move couples from sticky negativity to a garden of new possibilities from the very first couples' session.  Services available by Zoom for all of CA and OR. Walking sessions for individual meetings. relationshipgardening.com spousesresourcecenter.com 

    Photos from Life Mental Health, Boston Public Library, torbakhopper, HotlantaVoyeur