Core Life Recovery Compass

Anna Jones, CCEP, RCP, CPRS, NCPRSS, is the Official liaison between Community Stakeholders and CBI Programs that are focused on nurturing relationships with internal and external partners and works with a team of CBI Ambassadors to develop strategies and programs

that make positive contributions to the communities served. 

She is a former Oxford House Resource Coordinator for in DC and Maryland, a nonprofit network of 3,336 (internationally) self-help recovery homes. She assisted 

in

opening 43 DC/MD Oxford Houses. She is a woman in long term recovery who has been in recovery since 1999 and has worked with Oxford House, Inc. since 2000, recipient of the 2005 Oxford House Founders Award. Anna is a true ambassador for women in recovery. She radiates the power of recovery and transformation every day. Anna is a trainer in Wellness Recovery Action Plan Facilitator and CCAR Recovery Coaching Trainer. 

Anna is a Certified Core Energetics Practitioner. She has had many opportunities to work with community organizations and leaders to promote the societal benefits of prevention, treatment and recovery for substance abuse and mental illness. One of Anna’s passions in life is to be a continuous educator of hope and persistence and shares her experiences freely. Along with devoting her spirited knowledge to Oxford House, she has also created a successful 12-Step bible study called Life Recovery at her local church and is the CEO of Core Life Recovery Compass. Anna enjoys traveling throughout the countryside with her husband and taking in live jazz festivals. Her strong presence and sincere desire to help people achieve their utmost potential in life are a blessing to all she encounters.

Core Energetics is a synthesis of body-oriented psychotherapy and spiritual development. It brings consciousness to how we block our life energy by perpetuating defensive patterns adapted in childhood which keep us limited and disempowered. Core Energetics helps us understand how our life and worldview is to a large extent a function of these blocked energy patterns. These patterns keep us recreating similar life situations and relational dynamics, leaving us trapped and frustrated. Core Energetics helps identify and dissolve these blocks, allowing us to experience more freedom and aliveness.

The Core Energetics model assumes humans possess three distinct layers of personality, each with different energies. The model holds that, during any situation and in any given moment, people react from these three layers of personality.

• The mask is the outermost layer, and it represents, according to this model, the parts shown to the world. An amalgamation of survival strategies and defense mechanisms employed to avoid or drown out the pain, mistakes, and unfulfilled needs of the past, the mask is the aspect of personality that attempts to reach the idealization of who people believe they are supposed to be. The stronger a person identifies with the mask, the harder it may be to recognize and address the issues it was created to hide. Repressed emotions may manifest themselves in muscular tension and distinctive body shapes such as a jutting jaw, slouched shoulders, and so on. The mask may also distort qualities of the higher self. Love may be distorted to self-denying or submissive behaviors. Power may be distorted to aggressive or controlling behaviors, and wisdom may be distorted to various types of withdrawal. As the face presented to the world may differ from the person inside, the energy within the mask is usually stagnant—it lacks the authenticity and vitality associated with individuals who are fully aware of themselves and able to express their innate qualities.  
• The lower self is the aspect of personality existing below the mask. It represents disowned energy and reflects an attachment to the destructive aspects of personality and the intention to keep these parts separate from and unseen by other people. Unlike the mask-- which is thought to have stagnant, dull energy--the lower self is rich in energy and power.The lower self is formed from the determination to avoid pain at all costs. This may move people to distance themselves from the emotions or body areas causing pain. However, separating from emotions simply to avoid pain may cause people to develop intrapersonal and interpersonal numbness. This numbness may eventually develop into violent or cruel behaviors toward the self or others.
• The higher self is the layer of personality residing underneath the lower self. It represents who people really are at the core. The higher self, considered to be the pulsing energy of life, holds an awareness of individuality. It is neither good nor bad; rather, it is what is real and true. The higher self is associated with an increased capacity for connectedness and feelings of vitality—encouraging people to feel more alive. It also has the desire to continuously grow and evolve. Qualities of the higher self include innate love, power, wisdom, leadership, courage, and forthrightness, among others. Like the mask and the lower self, the higher self is visible in the body. Those who are able to genuinely express more qualities of the higher self may experience more contentment, happiness, and joy in their daily lives.

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

One of the greatest Reiki healing health benefits is stress reduction and relaxation, which triggers the bodies natural healing abilities, and improves and maintains health. Reiki healing is a natural therapy that gently balances life energies and brings health and well being to the recipient.

This simple, non-invasive healing system works with the Higher Self of the Receiver to promote health and well being of the entire physical, emotional and psychic body. Therefore it is truly a system of attaining and promoting wholeness of Mind, Body and Spirit.

Reiki is a specific type of subtle energy work in which healing is
performed by the touch of the hands, allowing the flow of the energy from a limitless source (God Force) to the patient via the Reiki practitioner. It is extremely powerful, yet gentle energy that can be easily channeled to yourself and others, just by intention.

The CCAR Recovery Coach Academy© is a 5-day intensive training academy focusing on providing individuals with the skills need to guide, mentor and support anyone who would like to enter into or sustain long-term recovery from an addiction to alcohol or other drugs. The CCAR Recovery Coach Academy© prepares participants by helping them to actively listen, ask really good questions, and discover and manage their own issues. 

Purpose: 

 Objectives of the Training: Participants will learn to:

· Describe the roles and function of a recovery coach

· Build skills to enhance relationships

· Explore many dimensions of recovery and recovery coaching

· Describe attitudes about self- disclosure and sharing your story

· Describe stages of change and their applications

· Increase understanding of power and privilege

· Address ethical and boundary issues

· Experience recovery wellness planning

· Practice newly acquired skills