The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/652023
HEALTH & WELLNESS Irigoyen, who offers his services both in English and Spanish, and social worker and addiction counselor Steven Chen, whose fluency in English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese gives the center maximum outreach. The spiritual element is extremely important towards mental health recovery. Pater-Ennis explained that this is evident by the religious angle of the 12 Step Program. Herself an ordained minister, her and Krause made the important distinction that one faith doesn't hold prevalence over another for their counseling. The goal is for the patient to reconnect with the Higher Power in whatever angle is most comfortable for them. Even though the center fulfills their fourth tenet in their affiliation with the St. Matthew's Trinity Lutheran Church and the Lunch Time Ministry that feeds more than 100 people every day, Pater- Ennis and Krause also explain that the meditative and breathing exercises they implement are of Eastern origin. The goal is to help patients find their own peace with things that in life that are ambiguous and more difficult to grasp. They summarized this viewpoint by highlighting the importance of knowing the difference between what we have control over and what we don't. The real healing comes when we accept situations that sit out of our hands and don't let them affect us. Easier said than done. Aside from the advice mentioned above, the National Institute of Mental Health hammers out the importance of setting specific, obtainable goals and keeping track of all we accomplished throughout the day. It's critical that we don't dwell on problems for too long. Sleeping enough, eating healthy, and implementing regular exercise are also important. As such, also having hobbies and passions that help unwind our mind can foster creativity and reduce life's burden. Krause explained that boredom is healthy, as it helps us relax and take things as they come. • Cooking Classes Ages 3.5-14 yrs • Birthday Parties • Summer Camp • After School Enrichment Program • Field Trips 213 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302 201.333.9090 | bambinochef.com 60 www.thedigestonline.com