Blog
Reflections from the Crossroads
BE-ing and DO-ing: What I’ve Learned from the Covid-19 Pandemic
Even in the most intense times, you can connect to BE-ing. In fact, learning how to BE in the moment will help you cope with stress, perform at peak level, and maintain focus so you can respond to the person with whom you share care, rather than just react to the stressors and demands around you.

Honor, Reflect, Listen, Act
I invite you to join with me in this challenging time in doing the hard work of truly listening to our black brothers and sisters, and then act to bring greater understanding, peace, and unity in our relationships, communities, and in our nation.

Checking in…
I wonder how you are doing in these strange times, how we might connect, and what I can do to support you in the age of social distancing.

Face Masks, PPE, and Trauma-Informed Care: Cultivating Connection in the Era of Covid-19 Coronavirus
As health care providers, we need to be aware that people who live with a trauma history may be triggered by face-masks in ways they may not even comprehend on a conscious level. I’m thinking of two primary kinds of trauma right now, although there may be others:

An Unexpected Retirement Gift…
Lisa A. Kendall, LCSW-R, CSW-G has been selected for the 2019 Best of Ithaca Award in the Psychotherapist category by the Ithaca Award Program.

My Next Chapter
It is with a sense of wonder, curiosity, sadness, and gratitude that I am announcing the closing of my Ithaca-based psychotherapy practice.

What I want for Christmas…
Help us spread the word about the transformative Eden Alternative philosophy; you can donate NOW for #GivingTuesday!
https://secure.givelively.org//donate/the-eden-alternative/givingtuesday/lisa-a-kendall

The Empty Bed
How are you holding space for your grief, remembering those who have passed? Are you giving yourself time to heal? If it has been a while, do you also make room for your own growth, your own life?

A Serpent in the Garden?
Even though painful memories and unresolved trauma can keep Elders and their care partners from enjoying the bounty of a rich and vibrant community, there are real-world approaches to recognizing and responding to the effects of trauma. We can ensure that everyone in our community is able to hear and say “yes” to our invitation to enjoy the Garden!

Knowing what to do when Trauma impacts Adjustment to Nursing Home Life
“How has Mrs. Smith handled change in the past?” This was how we predicted how well a new resident would cope with nursing home admission in 1983, when I started my career in aging services. For the most part, this simplistic rule of thumb seemed to work, but I look...