Jim Johnson, from Lakeshore Buddhist Sangha, facilitates formal meditation study and practice at ACEF.
Mick Von Doxtater Joins Us as Thaichiwa Qigong Instructor
Mick sipping morning coffee deep in the heart of Bangkok before meeting Thai teacher at Wat Pho in 2012.
The three keys of Thaichiwa “Surfer Mick” practices and teaches are: Movement, Meals, and Massage to support healing.
Dawn Emrick: Music Therapy and Pediatric Cancer
Dawn Emrick Heads ACEF’s Music Therapy and Pediatric Cancer Program
Dawn Emrick, MT-BC, graduated from Michigan State University, with a Bachelor of Music Therapy degree after completing a 9-month internship with Detroit Public Schools. Upon earning board certification in 2003, she opened Lakeshore Music Therapy Services in Holland, Michigan.
Ms. Emrick primarily contracts with schools, providing music therapy to students in the special education setting. Much of her work is with students who are non-verbal, non-ambulatory, and may have severe autism, behavioral disorders, or multiple impairments. As part of an interdisciplinary team, she enjoys using music to aid students in identifying and communicating their personal preferences and true inner voice. Private services offered through Lakeshore Music Therapy include adapted instrument and dance instruction for children and adults with special needs. [Read more…]
Karri Absenger Brings Yoga Therapy to ACEF
About Karri
Karri currently works for Comfort Keepers, a leading provider of in-home care services, in West Michigan. Karri also served as a yoga teacher and instructor for Certified Nurse Assistant courses (CNA) at Muskegon Community College. She teaches Senior Chair Yoga at Four Points Center for Successful Aging, Gentle yoga at the local YMCA, and Hatha yoga at Lakeshore Yoga Center.
About Yoga Therapy
Yoga, originated in India, and is a mind-body medicine modality that has been practiced for millennia. Yoga has proposed physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. However, yoga therapy appeared only recently. According to Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D., an appropriate description of yoga therapy is that “yoga therapy” is the first effort to integrate traditional yogic models and techniques with Western medical and psychosocial knowledge. [Read more…]
Nancy Arbuckle-Hinks: Senior Counseling Associate
Nancy Arbuckle-Hinks: Senior Counseling Associate
Hi, my name is Nancy and I came to counseling and social work in a roundabout way. I was raised in northeast Ohio and my father and grandfather were both physicians. As long as I could remember, I had wanted to be a doctor. I read every book I could find about female physicians. When I began high school however, chemistry hit me like a ton of bricks, and I quickly assumed I wasn’t “smart enough” to go to medical school.
Alex Baker: Intimacy and Sexual Wellness Counseling
Alexzandria’s Biography
Doctor Alexzandria specializes in Humanistic, Existential, and Transpersonal Psychology at Saybrook University.
Music Therapy: Lisa Ziemelis Joined Absenger Cancer Education Foundation
Music Therapy News: Please Help us Welcome Lisa Ziemelis, MT-BC, NMT to the Absenger Cancer Education Foundation!
I was raised in Muskegon, MI, and from an early age was strongly influenced by music. Each of my family members either played an instrument or sang, and it wasn’t long before I was begging to be allowed to take piano lessons like my older siblings. Finally, at the age of seven, my parents conceded, and thus began my music career.
I took piano and clarinet lessons through elementary and high school. I always enjoyed playing, but never seriously thought about continuing my music career past high school. It wasn’t until I arrived at college and was faced with the daunting task of choosing a major that I decided to stay with what was comfortable and continue my music studies.
