MBHC's

collective pulse newsletter

April | 2026

Staying Grounded

In An Uncertain World

Welcome to the Collective Pulse...

We are living in a time where the pace of the world can feel fast, complex, and at times, overwhelming. Many people are noticing a steady undercurrent of stress emotionally, mentally, and even physically as they navigate uncertainty, change, and the intensity of what is happening around them. This is why this month's theme is "Staying Grounded in an Uncertain World".

We hold a deep awareness that healing does not happen in isolation. It happens in connection: with ourselves, with one another, and within spaces that allow for reflection, regulation, in community, and understanding. Whatever you are feeling, there is space here for all of it.

This newsletter is an extension of that space. A place to gently pause, to reconnect, and to explore tools, insights, meet our amazing collective, and share offerings that support your well-being in meaningful ways.

Thanks for being here. You make this world better.

Pulse Check with 5 Questions:

River Ledet,

LMSW he/they

What is your philosophy you lead with in your work with clients?

I lead with the philosophy of humans being alchemists in their own right. My job as therapist is to help create a collaborative tapestry of a person's lived experience to remind a person of their own power.

What’s one item that instantly boosts your mood &/or brings joy?

The item that currently brings an instant mood boost is my headphones. Headphones are my constant reminder that escaping into music, books, theatre, or television is warranted. An item I just cant leave home without.

Describe yourself as a therapist in a one sentence.

In one sentence, would say that I am a well versed, a bit wild & wacky, and willing therapist to explore your possibility of growth within sessions.

What’s your current “protect my peace at all costs” ritual?

Currently, my "protect my peace" ritual is spending time in spaces where love is abundant and with people who value our time spent together.

One reminder you give your clients (and yourself) when the world feels heavy?

One reminder I give clients or myself is while the world feels so uncertain, it is necessary to hold your political rage with the same emotional weight as your divine whimsy.

River practices in Overland Park and specializes in clients healing deeply, relationships, identity and finding one's authentic self. River is collaborative, challenges clients, and provides a safe space to unpack all the layers or our complex human experience.

Calming Tips for Overwhelming Feelings

Somatic Intervention: Exhale & Drop

Take a slow breath in
Exhale a little longer than you inhale
As you exhale, let your shoulders drop
Gently unclench your jaw
Repeat 3 times

Somatic Reset: Shake It Out

~Stand with soft knees and begin gently to wiggle fingers, roll shoulders, add a light bounce.

~Let it build into a natural shake through your arms, torso, and legs.

~Breathe out, sigh, or make sound as needed.

Imagine releasing tension or excess energy.

~Slowly come to stillness.

Place a hand on your body and notice what has shifted.

April Community Events

Click here

✨ April 11 | 9:00 -10:30 AM

Self-Care for Healers - Free/Donation

616 Kentucky Street, Lawrence

✨ April 11 | 1:00–5:00 PM

The Cosmic Watercloset Workshop

Buy Tix Here

~Facilitated by Ian Cook

Center for Being $60

1728 East 1000 Road, Lawrence

✨ April 12 | 6:30 -8:00 PM

Exploration of Consciousness - Quantum Gathering / Spirituality

616 Kentucky Street, Lawrence

Free/Donation-based

✨ April 25 | All Day

Kansas Consciousness Conference

(A full-day immersive experience connecting community, consciousness, and expansive ideas.)

See All Events

Monique Norris, LCPC, she/her

Therapist & Group Facilitator for Political Stress Group Lawrence, Kansas

Navigating Political Stress

In today’s climate, many individuals are noticing an increased sense of emotional and mental strain connected to political and societal events. For some, this may show up as heightened anxiety, frustration, fatigue, or a sense of disconnection. For others, it may feel like a constant background tension that is difficult to fully step away from.

These responses are not uncommon. When uncertainty, division, and intensity become part of the broader environment, the nervous system can begin to interpret this as ongoing stress. Over time, this can impact mood, relationships, focus, and overall well-being.

One of the most important things to remember is that it is both appropriate and necessary to care for yourself within this context.

It is important is having spaces where these experiences can be explored with others, in community, in a way that feels safe, respectful, and supportive.

For those who are seeking this kind of space, Mind & Body Healing Collective offers a Political Stress Group, meeting the first and third Saturday of each month at our 616 Kentucky Street, Lawrence, KS office @ 10am. Or contact Monique Norris, LCPC group is designed to support individuals in processing stress, building resilience, and staying connected to themselves and others during challenging times.

“Even in uncertainty, your breath, your body, and your awareness can be a place of steady ground.”

Collective Care Initiative

Trans Youth Emergency Project

Last quarter we donated to the wonderful VanGo! an amazing organization in Lawrence, KS that serves the young people. This 2nd quarter we have voted to donate to the Trans Youth Emergency Project (TYEP).

This organization is here to help families navigate this complex and exhausting maze, offering logistical and financial support. Their team provides 1-on-1 custom patient navigation services to unimpacted providers and supports families of transgender youth with travel grants.

At this time TYEP services are available to:

A parent or legal guardian of a transgender person under the age of 18 whose access to healthcare has been impacted by a restriction on gender-affirming care.

We highlight this organization and you can also donate if you feel aligned to support! Donate to TYEP

Other resources for LGBTQIA peeps/friends/family/community:

KC Resources - LGBTQIA+

Local Resources - PFLAG Topeka.org (Kansas)

Loud Light (keep up on the politcs & become involved if you are a aligned youth)

9 things to Remember When It Feels Like the World is Falling Apart

This feeling, as intense as it is, will shift. Even the most overwhelming emotions are not permanent.

Your body may be reacting to overwhelm, not predicting the future.

What you are feeling is real, but it is not a certainty about what will happen.

Right now is different from what your mind is imagining.

You can gently return to what is actually here in this moment.

You do not have to solve everything today.

It is enough to take one small, manageable step.

You are allowed to step away from what is overwhelming you.

Taking space is an act of care, not avoidance.

You are not alone in feeling this way. Many people are carrying similar fears, even if it is not always visible.

There are still steady, ordinary things around you.

A familiar space, a simple object, your breath, these can help anchor you.

You have made it through difficult moments before.

There is resilience in you, even if it feels distant right now.

Monthly Collective Recommendations:

Grounded books, movies and podcasts: resources for navigating our current times

Our book recommendation is The Comfort Book. A gentle collection of reflections and reminders for difficult moments. This book offers small, steadying perspectives that can be returned to when the world feels overwhelming, it invites you to pause, breathe, and remember that even in the heaviest seasons, there are still moments of light, meaning, and quiet reassurance available to you.

Our movie recommendation is The Grand Budapest Hotel. In times when things seem chaotic, this movie offers a gentle reminder of the power of human connection, meaning, and resilience. This film invites us to reflect on how we care for one another, how we create meaning in difficult times, and how even small acts of kindness can become anchors in uncertainty. It reminds us of the beauty of connection.

Our podcast recommendation is On Being with Krista Tippett is offers thoughtful, soul-centered conversations that explore the deeper questions of what it means to be human. Through dialogue with poets, scientists, spiritual teachers, and cultural leaders, the podcast creates a reflective space to consider meaning, resilience, connection, and the inner life, especially during times that feel difficult.

Go Journal: What am I needing right now that I may not be giving myself?

When Anger Is the Teacher

Lately, many people have been carrying a deeper kind of anger, not just internally, but toward the world. At what feels unjust, confusing, or out of alignment, and at times, the helplessness of not knowing how to change it. It’s important to remember that anger itself is not the problem. Anger is information. It signals that something matters, that something feels off, and often, beneath it, there is grief, fear, or a deep sense of care.

What can make this more overwhelming is constant exposure to news and social media, which can keep the nervous system activated without giving space to process, often intensifying the very feelings we are trying to manage.

When we slow down and approach anger with awareness, it can become a teacher. It can help us clarify what we value, uncover patterns within ourselves, and gently redirect us toward more intentional ways of responding. This may look like creating space from overwhelming input, supporting the body in releasing tension, and pausing long enough to ask, what is this feeling asking of me?

We don’t have to eliminate anger, but we do need space to listen to it. With care and curiosity, anger can shift from something that feels consuming into something that offers clarity, direction, and a more grounded way of engaging with both ourselves and the world.

You might gently reflect: What is my anger trying to show me right now? What does it reveal about what I care about?

ASK A THERAPIST

Question:

“I have been having so many bad dreams about these videos I watched on news reels. I think about them throughout the day too. I feel so helpless with everything going on in the world. I wonder if there even be a world for me to live in. I can’t even concentrate in school. Do I have PTSD? How can I get these thoughts to stop?.”

~Signed, Overwhelmed at KU

Dear Overwhelmed at KU,

You are not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the constant stream of news and global events. Even when these events are not happening directly to us, the brain and nervous system can respond as if they are, especially when what we’re seeing feels intense or threatening. This can lead to intrusive thoughts, distressing dreams, difficulty concentrating, and a sense of fear or helplessness.

From a clinical perspective, there are several ways to understand this. For some, this may resemble Adjustment Disorder, where the nervous system is reacting to ongoing stressors like repeated exposure to distressing events. There may also be elements of anxiety, particularly if worry and restlessness are persistent.

While Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) typically involves direct or witnessed trauma, media exposure alone does not always meet full criteria. However, the impact can still be very real. Many people experience what could be understood as a trauma-like or secondary (vicarious) stress response, where the nervous system becomes overwhelmed by what it is repeatedly taking in.

Rather than focusing only on diagnosis, it can be more helpful to ask: What does my system need to feel safer right now?

One of the most supportive steps is creating intentional media boundaries, limiting when and how often you engage, reducing exposure to graphic content, and allowing space for your system to settle. Even short breaks from media can improve sleep, focus, and emotional steadiness.

It can also help to gently return your attention to what is within your control. Connecting with nature, engaging in creative or physical activity, and spending time with supportive people can help regulate the nervous system. For some, meaningful community involvement can shift feelings of helplessness into a sense of agency. What you are experiencing is a human response to prolonged exposure to intensity. With awareness, boundaries, and care, steadiness can return.

Warmly,

-MBHC

Submit your questions to contact@mbhealingcollecitve.org - subject line Ask A Therapist

Last thought to leave you with: Your emotions are not obstacles: They are invitations.

Listen to psychologist Susan David speak on Emotional Agility

Stay Grounded! Thank you for being here & part of an intentional community.

We all need one another. Next month, we’ll be exploring

Boundaries & Self Respect: Honoring needs, setting limits, and protecting energy.

With Much Love, Mind & Body Healing Collective

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