March is Social Work month. I am proud to be one. The following facts are from the article written by the Director of National Association of Social Workers Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH in the March 2012 issue of NASW NEWS. There are 640,000 professional social workers. Our work is done in schools, prisons, courts, community health centers, mental health clinics, addiction recovery programs, skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, hospices, and private practice. Did you know that Leymah Gbowee, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for her organization of a women’s peace movement that brought an end to the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003 is a social worker? Frances Perkins, secretary of labor and social worker was the first woman to serve in the presidential cabinet in 1933. Other social work pioneers who made a difference are: Del Anderson who transformed veteran’s services, Bernice Harper for her hospital and hospice work, Joan O. Weiss who helped establish the field of genetic counseling, and Dale Masi who developed the field of employee assistance.

This month I am highlighting five different social workers and the jobs they do. Dr. LeslieBeth Wish will talk about her research of women in relationships. Mary Pender Greene will discuss tools she uses working with couples. Samira Beckwith will share with us what hospice work involves. Mary Raymer will talk about her book Leadership in Everyday Life: It Really is all About You. Clare Brown will inform us of the tasks of a nursing home social worker.

We had a historic social work event close to home this month. Budd Bell was installed in the Florida Hall of Fame. Elizabeth “Budd” Bell, of Tallahassee, served for 77 years as an advocate of women, children, the elderly, the mentally ill, and the disadvantaged. She helped pass the Child Care Bill, which secured the funding of early learning programs across Florida. Ms. Bell founded Kids Incorporated of the Big Bend in 1972. She worked to craft the Baker Act, which protects the rights of people with mental illness in the state of Florida. Budd founded the Clearinghouse on Human Services, a statewide advocacy coalition that includes over 100 organizations. She was a founding member of the National Association of Social Work. That is not all she did. Social worker Bell taught and mentored over 500 social work students. She also received the Eckerd Top 100 Women in the Nation Volunteer Award.

Even though I personally never met Ms. Bell I feel like I know her since her daughter Bonnie Gold Bell is a friend of mine and has been on my show. You can access her episode www.voiceamerica.com/episode/54589/healing-mandala-image-codes-for-wellness-and-the-wisdom-of-women-a-sacred-circle.

Have you signed up for the April 14th Webinar: Recovery from the Break-up of a Long-Term Relationship? Go to the Store and Links tab and click on the flier to register.

Please let me hear from you to know what you like and do not like on the show. You can comment under the blog section. Whether you are a social worker or just a listener with a caring heart live out my motto: “To help yourself, help someone else.” Thanks for listening. Dr. Melanie  

Did you know the color of the foods you eat can relate to either health or sickness? We have seven energy centers or chakras that correspond to the various organ systems in our body. Listen to the show on 2/23/12 with Dr. Deanna Minich where she will explain the significance of each center and the corresponding color and food to eat to help heal that area.

If you want to share some of the content of my shows with those who do not have computer access like maybe your parents or grandparents, you still can. You can burn a CD for them to listen to in their car or at home. You download the episode from iTunes and then save it in your library and then burn a CD.

All this talk about love and relationships can be daunting to those going through a break up of a marriage or relationship especially during this month focused on love. If you want some education, support, and tools to navigate through the muck of such a “dark night of the soul” time in your life, I have the answer. April 14th from 1 to 2:30pm EST I will have a webinar on TalkShoe to discuss how to recover from such a loss and get on with your life. You will learn when it started to go wrong, how you may have contributed, and if you need professional help to get beyond it. The cost is $30. For those who are part of the event you will get access to the recording after the workshop. Watch for information to pre-register for it.

Do you have a chronic illness that controls your life? Are you ready to be rid of it? If you are willing to make the commitment to do what it takes to get relief, then listen to the 3/1/12 show with Gary Blier of Advanced Cell Training. Like the woman in the Bible with the issue of blood who searched for 12 years for healing, I too sought many avenues of treatment. This method has been phenomenal in alleviating symptoms I have plagued me for over 20 years. I will have a commercial about ACT on my show February 23rd, March 1st, 8, and 15th so listen to find out how you can be helped.

What topics or issues do you want me to discuss on the show? Email them to me at: drmelaniebarton@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. Remember to help yourself help someone else.

Dr. Melanie

Did you ever realize that the things that come to pass in your life you envisioned well before they happened and in fact your mind helped create them? Since 1974 I have been using a tool called the Prayer Wheel to help design, shape, and monitor where I want to go in my life. I borrowed the idea from a concept the positive thinking author and speaker Catherine Ponder used decades ago. 

To utilize this instrument sit quietly for a few minutes and visualize where you want your life to be in 30, 60, or 90 days. Ask whatever you call God to direct the process. If God is not part of your life, this tool can still work for you. Download and print the circular handout and instruction sheet from the resources on my website. Put the current date at the top of the first page. Then write in each area the goal you want to accomplish as if it were already true. An example under the spiritual heading would be: 30 days from today (put in the future date) I spend five minutes a day sitting quietly listening to that voice within me. Do the same for each category. Write the goal in present terms and with positive words. 

People do not have the same vision for us that we do. Sharing our Prayer Wheel contents with others can dampen our belief that it is going to come to pass. I recommend you keep the contents to yourself for the first 30 days. Then you can share it with your life coach or a positive mentor, if you have one. We have a tendency to resort back to the previous way of behaving when obstacles present themselves to us whether related to a relationship, money, health, or job unless we have something to prevent that. The second sheet is your insurance protection against sabotaging your progress. The form asks you questions about each categorical goal to determine how you might undermine your own accomplishments.  This helps prevent that by preempting what might be a roadblock to fulfilling your vision and offering solutions in advance.  

After filing out the two handouts sit quietly again picturing your life as if they were already true. Do this each day for a minute or two. At the end of 30 days review the goals and record the date when each was accomplished. Make a new Prayer Wheel when the present one is completed. If you have questions about the mechanics of how to do the worksheets, feel free to ask me in an email. Happy Prayer Wheeling!