United and Resilient

As we welcome the new year, we’ll continue to have conversations with local leaders and mental health specialists that can provide guidance and support to all El Pasoans. For this month’s episode, we’ll talk with one of our wonderful partners, Deborah Grado. Deborah Grado is a local yoga instructor who provides gentle yoga sessions through our FRC to anyone in the community who is interested.

Deborah Grado is a 500-hour registered yoga teacher and wellness advocate who began her yoga journey in 2010. Through a combination of alignment and energetic based cues, Deb encourages vulnerability and curiosity to turn inward while exploring the physical self without judgement.

Through this episode we’ll discuss yoga and how it can benefit an individual’s journey to long-term recovery. We’ll also talk about why yoga can be considered a non-traditional therapy and how it can boost your mental health. You can listen to this episode and many more in your favorite streaming platform.

At El Paso United FRC, we understand the holidays can magnify any loss including losing a loved one.

For our last episode of the year, we discuss grief during the holidays with local LPC-S, Gerardo Rosas. Gerardo Rosas specializes in grief and loss and is CEO of Associated Behavioral and Trauma Specialties.

In this episode, we discuss the natural grieving process among children and adults and what that can look like during a time typically associated with cheer, joy and family traditions. We also learn how there’s no right path to grief for any type of loss and talk about how we can cope and validate our emotions during the holiday season.

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In our last episode we introduced one of the non-traditional therapies that we provide through our FRC. We discussed what non-traditional therapies are and how beneficial they can be to an individual’s journey to long-term recovery. As mentioned before, at the FRC we believe non-traditional therapy can support and boost the positive effects of traditional therapy.

In this episode, we continue this discussion, but now, we highlight Compadres Therapy. Compadres Therapy is a local non-profit that offers custom built equine assisted activities and therapies services in our region.

Through this episode we’ll discuss what is equine assisted activities and therapies and how it can benefit an individual’s healing journey. We’ll also talk about why equine assisted activities and therapies can be considered a non-traditional therapy and how it can boost mental health.

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In past episodes we have discussed non-traditional therapies. At the FRC, we strongly believe that non-traditional therapies segue to traditional therapy and can support it.

We have partnered with different organizations in the community to provide programming in non-traditional therapies that encourages healing and resiliency.

For this episode, we introduce you to one of our wonderful partners, Creative Kids, a local non-profit educational community-based art agency located in El Paso.

Through this episode we’ll discuss the importance of providing a safe space where children can express their emotions through art. We also talk about the benefits of art therapy and how it can boost children’s mental health.

Our Resiliency Navigators are the heart and soul of the El Paso United Family Resiliency Center and throughout this episode we’ll learn more about their role at the FRC and how they help those impacted directly or indirectly by August 3rd.

In this episode we discuss how our Navigators connect individuals and families to programs and services that address their specific needs.

Throughout this episode not only do we learn the type of referrals our navigators are prepared to make during their case management, but we also learn a little more about their backgrounds. They discuss their philosophies and approaches in supporting participants on their journey and talk to us about their thoughts on the meaning of building resiliency.

Tune in to learn more about our amazing navigators, their passion for our border community and their heartfelt work.

As we reach the one-year mark of August 3rd, we wanted to take the time to reflect on the past year. For this episode, we invited two of El Paso’s top local leaders whose voices you might instantly recognize – Mayor Dee Margo and County Judge Ricardo Samaniego.

Separately, they both recall a day that is now part of our history. We discuss the impact this tragedy had in our community and how they were able to process everything as leaders, but more importantly, as El Pasoans.

Tune in to learn more about these two remarkable El Pasoans, who have a deep love and dedication to our community.

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Welcome to the second part of this month's episode. In our last episode, we started the conversation about tending to one's mental health. We encouraged our audience to seek help when needed. In the same way, we believe children's mental health is equally as important to discuss on UNITED & RESILIENT and wanted to dedicate a full episode to this topic.

On this episode, we speak to El Paso Child Guidance Center’s Therapist, Abril Pardon. Abril walks us through how we can have an open conversation with our children about their feelings and emotions.

Through our conversation, we learn what are some of the signs of trauma we need to be on the lookout and how we can incorporate self-care activities for our children during these unprecedented times.

Tune in to learn more about the importance of children’s mental health.

As we near the one-year mark of August 3rd, we want to take the time to discuss the importance of mental health as well encourage individuals to have an open dialogue about seeking mental health.

On this episode, we speak to Emergence Health Network’s Chief of Clinical Services, Celeste Nevarez. Celeste walks us through what mental health means, the benefits of focusing on it and how we can openly discuss it with friends and family.

Through our conversation, we learn the ways in which our mental health is equally as important as physical health. We’ll also discuss current stigmas that surround mental health in our region and how can we begin to erase those stigmas from our community.

Tune in to learn more about the importance of focusing on our mental health, especially during these unprecedented times.

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During this episode we introduce our audience to the El Paso United Family Resiliency Center (FRC) which was created to help those directly and indirectly impacted by the August 3rd tragedy.

We’ll talk to United Way of El Paso County’s President & CEO Deborah Zuloaga and the organization’s Vice-President of Community Impact, Christina Lamour. Deborah and Christina walk us through the history and background of how United Way of El Paso County was entrusted with such a unique program like the El Paso United Family Resiliency Center.

Through our conversations, we learn the importance of being a united and resilient community. We discuss United Way’s role during August 3rd, their emergency response and ongoing commitment to El Pasoans during these unprecedented times. We talk about the meaning of long-term recovery for a unique city like El Paso and what are the next steps for the El Paso United Family Resiliency Center.

Tune in to learn more about the FRC and the services they provide to the El Paso community.

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The El Paso United Family Resiliency Center (FRC) is a place of healing and support dedicated to serving as a resource to those directly & indirectly impacted by the tragedy of August 3, 2019. Learn more at elpasounited.org