I am Dr. Rebecca A. Thomas, PsyD, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist working from my private practice in Albia, IA. My husband Dave is the office manager and is a Vietnam Navy Veteran; my father was a World War II Navy Seabee who served in Japan; both of our sons are Army combat Veterans who served in places like Iraq and Afghanistan; and one of our grandsons is currently in the Army and served in the Middle East. I worked for many years in the Virginia Beach, VA (Tidewater) area where a good many of my clients were service members and their families. Suffice it to say, we are avid supporters of our military and of our Veterans!
Albia is a perfect place for a few restful days of retreat and reflection–and intensive therapy! You won’t believe that there are still places like this in existence. We have the iconic town square surrounded by shops and cafes, many of them dating back to the Victorian era. Our offices are located about a block and a half off the square in a renovated church built in the early 1900’s, replete with several stained-glass windows and a working bell in the bell tower. And while you’re here, we want to make sure you visit our Welcome Home Soldier Memorial; we are a very patriotic community
During your trip to our quiet little town, you will have time to rest, relax, meet some of the locals, and experience our Albia. However, you will also be doing some intensive healing work throughout the three days you will be with us and will likely need some quiet time to yourself. We will be sensitive to your needs. I am not making claims that this weekend in Albia will ‘fix you’ or ‘heal you’. What I am offering are some essential tools that will get you on the road toward wholeness.
Hopefully, this information will help you to prepare for what’s in store for you during your weekend here and will also help you to share with loved ones what this weekend is all about. We are here to encourage you and give you hope that your future will be much brighter. We are proud to partner with the CJ3 Foundation and to be a part of your healing journey.
The following are CJ3 Mental Health and Wellness Treatments:
Electroencephalographic (EEG) Neurofeedback
Here’s jaw-dropping news: the brain can improve its own function. When we show the brain an infra low frequency signal (give it ‘feedback’), it ‘witnesses’ this and begins to self-correct! That’s essentially Neurofeedback training; like going to the gym for your brain. Medical grade electrodes are placed on the head, you are given a visual program that is also involved in communicating through the software with your brain…and improvement happens.
Since we are dealing with service members who have been in dangerous situations, Neurofeedback will be administered to everyone 3 times a day, with each session lasting about 45 minutes to an hour. Neurofeedback (NFB) is quite effective for symptoms of PTSD (Anxiety, depression, trauma, etc.) We also have an application called Alpha-Theta therapy that can be quite helpful in calming trauma triggers and memories.
Auriculotherapy
The body is mapped out on the outer ear (Auricle) which shows us how amazingly designed the body is. I use a small device that looks a bit like a thermometer to access active points on the ear. Many of your major nerves travel through the ears, so when I find the ‘active spot’ on the ear, a micro charge will travel to the affected area. Again, see how interconnected the communication system is in the body?
I often use this therapy for addictions; it is very effective for smoking cessation. In three sessions most folks can be free of their cigarette addiction. Also, if there are emergent pain issues, this tool is quite handy for relieving pain.
IonCleanse
We will be adding this footbath designed to help remove toxins from the body. We often find that folks have heavy metals in their systems which can be difficult for the body to expel on its own. And if you are one who is ready to quit smoking, the footbath can help by pulling out excess nicotine.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)
PEMF therapy mimics the earth’s natural energy source which is quite healing for us. This therapy can help individuals to sleep better, reduce stress, aid in healing, help reduce inflammation, and can be a powerful tool in long term pain management. You will spend 20 minutes laying on a mat that infuses your body, even to the cellular level, with this healing energy that is largely undetectable to you. You will be given headphones to listen to music designed to help put you in a meditative state, and you will thoroughly enjoy the feeling of deep relaxation following.
Infrared Sauna
An infrared sauna is a type of sauna that uses light to create heat. This type of sauna is sometimes called a far-infrared sauna — “far” describes where the infrared waves fall on the light spectrum. A traditional sauna uses heat to warm the air, which in turn warms your body. An infrared sauna heats your body directly without warming the air around you. Infrared saunas offer a wide range of health benefits through natural healing and relaxation. Infrared saunas help with detoxification; simply put, sweating is good for you. Because infrared saunas heat the body directly rather than just the air, your core body temperature rises and a deeper sweat occurs. Infrared saunas aid in pain relief; infrared sauna heat goes much deeper than the surface, reaching joints, tissue, and muscle that can have great impact on chronic pain conditions – decreasing pain and muscle spasms that help speed recovery time. Infrared saunas help with blood pressure reduction and improved circulation; an infrared sauna therapy session is similar to a light workout, increasing heart rate and getting blood flowing throughout the body. Infrared saunas also aid in wound healing; near infrared therapy enhances the healing process by increasing cell regeneration and tissue growth, which helps to repair wounds faster and prevent infection.
Power Plate
Power Plate is engineered to activate the body’s natural reflexive response to precision vibration, engaging the muscles in a consistent and controlled manner that results in accelerated training benefits. Power Plate’s effectiveness has been proven in dozens of medical and scientific studies as well as clinical rehabilitation and wellness facilities, sports performance centers, and are currently utilized by a vast majority of professional and collegiate sports teams in the US and many others around the world. The Power Plate help you – burn fat quicker, tighten skin, increase strength, increase circulation, improve core strength, activate additional muscles, improve flexibility, and improve bone strength. The body’s reflexes cause the nervous system to rapidly respond and stimulate the following systems – neurological, proprioceptive, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and hormonal.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a well-established treatment for decompression sickness, a potential risk of scuba diving. Other conditions treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy include serious infections, bubbles of air in blood vessels, wounds that may not heal because of diabetes or radiation injury. In a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, the air pressure is increased 2 to 3 times higher than normal air pressure. Under these conditions, your lungs can gather much more oxygen than would be possible breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure. This extra oxygen helps fight bacteria. It also triggers the release of substances called growth factors and stem cells, which promote healing.
Electrodermal Diagnostic Analysis
Kristie Durflinger from Natural Health and Wellness uses a bioenergetic testing device that is noninvasive and can evaluate numerous factors such as nutritional deficiencies, organ stress, allergies, hormonal imbalances, structural misalignments, food sensitivities and so much more. Weeks before you come to us, Kristie will contact you and assist you in sending specific test samples by mail, and then you will receive back a comprehensive report. Kristie will provide a video for you to watch as she thoroughly explains your test results. You will likely have a few products recommended in those test results that will be sent to you directly so you can get the healing process started before your arrival here.
Typically, folks need to re-test a few times over a two to six-month period to provide the body what it needs to come back into balance, so be sure to continue with Kristie following your visit with us.
Chiropractic Treatment
Doctor of Chiropractic Matthew Sarver of Chiropractic Health Center practices the discipline within the healing arts which deals with the nervous system and its relationship to the spinal column and its interrelationship with other body systems. Chiropractic is a health-care profession that focuses on the spine and other joints of the body, and their connection to the nervous system. The word “chiropractic” means “to be done by hand.” Chiropractors use adjustments to restore joint function and support the nervous system. They help patients maintain optimal health while avoiding unnecessary drugs or surgery. An estimated 50 million Americans see a chiropractor each year. A chiropractor is a primary care doctor who specializes in spinal health and well-being. They focus on the prevention, diagnosis and conservative care of spine-related disorders and other painful joint issues. In addition to adjustments, chiropractors also provide soft-tissue therapies, lifestyle recommendations, fitness coaching and nutritional advice. A chiropractic adjustment is a very safe, specific, controlled force applied to a joint to restore proper function and mobility. Accidents, falls, stress or overexertion can negatively impact your spine or other joints. These changes impact tissues, the nervous system and other areas of the body. Left unresolved, this can make you more susceptible to chronic problems. Chiropractic adjustments reduce pain, increase movement and improve performance.
