Celina Lawrence
Where fiction is Reality
The Boy & The Body
Mark Foster has given up on life. He spends days in a youth center sitting in the dim basement and nights in an orchard. His life is plodding on without his consent. Zed Garrison is running out of resources to help the boy. Kelly Reeds is his only friend, but he shuts her out too. He's long ago accepted he'll never have a family, now he has to accept that he's alive.
Currently only available on Amazon.
Themes in The Boy & The Body
Informal therapy is the act of holding another person's wellbeing in mind when they cannot do so for themself. Neighbors, coaches, teachers, parents, and friends can do it. In its most basic form all that is needed is to sit with the person in silence when they are unsure of what to do. Holding space open gives that person a safe place to process their situation.
In more advanced forms, informal therapy involves helping to brainstorm solutions to their situation with the validating tools of active listening and paraphrasing. Another category is mentoring, in which you help by modeling healthy behaviors, teaching skills, and holding the person accountable for their actions.
More obscure forms are acknowledging others by nodding to them on the street or looking at strangers in the eye. Any way you do it, it tells people they are worth the time. Being available for people in need transforms their lives.
The leading cause of youth homelessness in the United States is neglect or abuse in the home. Other reasons are the death of a female care provider, energy insecurity at home, or a very low household income. Many unaccompanied youths have been homeless with their family.
Runaway youths are in their own category. Youths will run away for reasons such as not wanting to obey household rules or having a fight with one of their parents. Runaway youths will often return home. Homeless youths often grow up to be homeless as adults.
One estimate is that 1 in 10 US citizens under the age of 25 are homeless. The actual numbers are greatly underreported.
Dissociation is a defense mechanism that the body automatically goes into for protection that can ultimately cause harm. People experience the state differently depending on which brain regions uncouple. It could be a deadening of pain or a sense of not actually existing. When dissociated, implicit memories play over the current situation creating inappropriate reactions to the present. This happens because there are often no visual or thought components to the traumatic memories.
Dissociation does not always occur during the original event. It can first happen years after the triggering event during a flashback.
It is possible to control when dissociation occurs by training the body to stay present through the use of holistic medicine.
homelessness informal therapy dissociation
Mark waited on the branch of the bur oak tree. He sighed, shifting his self-less body.
The Boy & The Body began circa 2007 when 15 pages were thrown into the computer. Several months later, full of confidence, it was given to a friend to read. He politely said he didn't like it. The idea of writing was scrapped.
Numerous years later, after a complete storyline change, the same friend liked it. The book has since been drastically amended into something I like. It is now ready to share with you.
Holistic Modalities
Fear
Resistance
Denial
Questioning
Restructuring
Acceptance of self
Allowing
Laying on of hands earthing
Guided imagery dreamwork
Sound healing knowing self
Affirmations eye movement
Nutrition integrating minds
Cupping holding open space
Love reflexology & meridians
An intuition-led process that explores the subconscious while refreshing the ego-mind. Sessions often include more than one modality; however, they can be specialized.
Scientifically concluded to have long-lasting and quicker results than conventional therapy.