In my quest to continually grow and learn, I have a daily practice which allows me to be present to my life and the here and now.  Every morning I call forth five qualities of being which allow me to decide how I will enter the world.  I have an entire list, but the ones I rely on often are: Grateful, Creative, Compassionate, Truthful and Empowering.

This fast paced world demands a great deal from us.  Will you choose to fly through your days in endless activity or will you choose to be present to what is before you, here and now?  So many people I come into contact with experience anxiety over their lives and current situations.  However, upon closer inspection, rarely is the anxiety about the here and now.  We drag our past and the unknown future into today.  The past weighs us down.  The future hasn’t even happened but we sure make-up drama and stories about what may or may not happen.  Sound familiar? Think about it.

Next time you are feeling anxious, ask yourself-how much of this is really about today?  Focusing on the past or future can be debilitating, disempowering and often leaves you drained.  Staying in the present allows you to focus your energy on the things you can do today to improve your circumstances, make important decisions and live fully.

Make the decision today to be present to your life.  Call forth your qualities of being which exist within you.  Live consciously!

Join me over the next several weeks as we continue to explore the quality of being and how to be present to your life.

Be well my friends!

“You know how it starts: the New Year’s Resolutions tango.  At first you’re excited, maybe even upbeat, about the dance of life. This year it’s going to be different. You really will exercise more, eat better, keep track of your spending, maybe even create a money goal. After three or four weeks the music starts to slow. Then it stops. You lose track of time. Old habits creep in. By March the words “New Year’s Resolution” send you running toward the nearest exit.

Wait! This year, 2012, doesn’t have to turn out like that!  It really is possible to transform your life so that you dance all the year
through. It has to do with shifting the focus of your attention from your Resolutions to your Life’s Intentions.

First, consider the word “resolution.” It means having firmness of mind and determination. Sounds difficult? It’s like clenching up when you’re about to take one of those tango “dips.”  On the other hand, consider focusing on your Life’s Intentions” (Maria Nemeth, 2011).

Now check in on your energy. Is it spacious?  Is there possibility in turning your focus toward that which has meaning?  Yes, yes, yes!  Begin the New Year with clarity, focus, ease and grace.  Make a commitment that this really is the year you live your dream, reach that goal and move forward with the energy of empowerment!  A coach can help you do just that!

How is your energy at the end of the day?  This is a good indicator of whether you are living out your passion and purpose or just going through the motions, on an endless treadmill of doing, doing, doing with no real satisfaction.  Are you ready to get off the treadmill and start living with intention?  A coach can help you identify your passion and purpose.  A coach can partner with you to create a fulfilling and satisfying life.  A coach can bring out the best in you and help you achieve your goals.  Maybe it’s time to let someone support you in your dreams.  A Summit Life Coach can help you live your best life!

Summit Care President, Nanette Gingery, is enthusiastic about the addition of life coaching to the agencies services.  Summit Life Coaches received education and training through the national organization, The Academy for Coaching Excellence in Sacramento, California.

Life coaching is about partnering with clients to help them realize their full potential and assisting them in bringing to life their personal hopes and dreams.  In doing so, the client can experience a rewarding, balanced and satisfying life experience which enables them to fully experience the authentic person they were meant to be.  Ms. Gingery believes the challenges we face as business owners and professionals in our current economy create the ideal opportunity to explore life coaching and the possibilities life holds for us.  

Our life’s intentions are those things which are most important to us and are the driving force behind all we do.  By connecting our actions in the physical world,   with our life’s intentions, we live authentic lives full of joy and possibility.

Living out of your life’s intentions will keep you centered and focused, allowing you to move forward and create the life you desire!

Nanette Gingery

Therapist and Life Coach

President/Director

For more information on your life’s intentions you may contact Summit Care and Wellness 402-435-2273

Summit Care and Wellness Launches New Website

Summit Care and Wellness recently partnered with Turbine Interactive in launching a newly designed website. New features of the website include detailed information about their current treatment programs, a virtual tour of facilities and a featured blog section written by the President and Director, Nanette Gingery.  Summit hopes that the new site will not only better communicate with their current clients, but be a great way to reach out to potential clients, as well.

With Summit specializing in some key areas of treatment like addiction counseling, outpatient treatment, as well as an inpatient program, the site is an opportunity for them to highlight their services and holistic approach to mental health and wellness.  The site also features details about Life coaching and offers resources for families struggling through a loved ones addiction and recovery.  To visit their new site, please go to www.summitcareandwellness.com.

The couple operate Summit Care and Wellness Treatment and Counseling, PC.  Their agency  provides substance abuse treatment and mental health services in both an inpatient and outpatient setting.  Summit Care serves children, adolescents, adults and families in the community.  They also provide sober community living for men and women.

Summit Care utilizes a holistic model in their treatment  approach.  Considerable time was spent researching successful models in California and Arizona.  “We utilize traditional evidence-based practices which are recognized in our field such as cognitive behavioral therapy, group processing and motivational interviewing to name a few.  But there are other holistic approaches which are also proven to be successful which we wanted to integrate into our programming such as meditation, relaxation and breathing techniques, yoga and massage.”

Summit Life Recovery is Summit’s short-term residential facility in Hickman, NE.  This is an all male facility.  The clients participate in a rigorous 30-60 day program.  Programming begins at 6:30 a.m. and concludes at 10:30 p.m. daily.  Clients with the help of clinical and supportive staff explore and attend to five major areas in the client’s life: mental health, physical health, emotional health, relational health and spiritual health all while receiving treatment for their addiction(s).  “Clients are more than their addiction.  We believe in collaborating with the client to address the addiction and how it has impacted their life by utilizing their personal strengths, challenging the way they view themselves and the world and empowering them to change and grow.”

After successfully completing a residential program the client is typically referred to a lower level of care in the community.  Summit Care and Wellness offers Intensive Outpatient Treatment (10 hours per week) and Outpatient groups and counseling in their Outpatient facility for the treatment of addictions.  Summit Care also has dually credentialed staff who work with individuals who are recovering from addiction as well as mental health issues.

The treatment the client receives in a residential setting helps build a foundation for further growth.  By no means are they done with treatment or recovery.  They now are able to integrate further treatment into their daily lives in the community.  Peer support, case management and accountability are a few of the key elements necessary in working with clients during the treatment process.

“There are many clients who receive treatment through our outpatient services and are also living in our sober community living housing.  We see great success with most of these individuals as they are accountable to others on different levels.  It is much harder for them to fall through the cracks or relapse and continue use if they are being supported and accountable for their actions.

We are invested in our clients and have high hopes and expectations for them.  Our hope is that with our support they can begin rebuilding their lives and maintain their success in recovery.”

Summit Care and Wellness (SCW) has recently conducted research to determine the effectiveness of their short-term residential program. Success was defined as not currently using, not incurring any new criminal charges, and being employed.  Therefore, a large percentage (68%) was determined to be successful.

We find these figures to be extremely encouraging and we look forward to continued success as we help people change their lives and the community.

It was determined that Summit has a 68% success rates among their clients.

Outpatient facility:  A house of healing.

Nestled in a quiet neighborhood, Summit Care and Wellness’ outpatient facility is welcoming and unassuming.  It is meant to be this way.  Entering the facility, you feel at peace and at home.

“We wanted to create a serene and beautiful atmosphere, where individuals can relax and find the help and healing they need.  People comment on how good they feel upon entering our doors.  This is just the reaction we were hoping for.  We experience life through all our senses, therefore when we come to places of healing; it should touch us at all levels.”

Services provided at the outpatient location include:

• Intensive Outpatient Programming
• Outpatient services
• Mental Health counseling
• Dual Diagnosis programming

Services are provided for Adults, Adolescents, Children and Families.

Additional Profiles:

Nanette Gingery, LMHP, LPC, LADC

Nanette received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.  She received her Master’s degree in Counseling from Doane College.  Nanette is a licensed mental health practitioner, a drug and alcohol counselor, and a life coach.  She has specialized training in Multisystemic therapy and has worked extensively with children and families in an effort to improve their lives and help them navigate across multiple community systems.  She has a long history of working with mental health consumers and individuals with criminogenic needs.

Nanette believes in the resiliency of the human spirit and the power of positive change.  She works collaboratively with her clients to enhance their motivation, identify their strengths and empower them to move toward change and create fulfilling and successful lives.

Edward Lankas, LMHP, LADC

After attending  the West Point military Academy, Ed moved to Lincoln, Nebraska and received his Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  He attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and graduated with a Master’s in Counseling.  He is a licensed mental health therapist and a drug and alcohol counselor.

Ed has extensive experience working with criminal offenders.  He worked for the Department of Corrections for the State of Nebraska in their Residential Treatment Program.  He has spent the last several years helping individuals transition back into the community and rebuild their lives in recovery.