Healing for Communities affected by the Los Angeles Wildfires
Healing sound baths, guided visual imagery and meditation for mind, body and spirit.
Healing sound baths, guided visual imagery and meditation for mind, body and spirit.
At Los Angeles Resilience in Action, our mission is to provide support and healing for individuals directly and indirectly affected by the devastating wildfires of January 2025. We believe in fostering resilience through community engagement and shared experiences, helping people navigate their recovery journey together.
A sound bath is a meditative experience where those in attendance are “bathed” in sound waves. These waves are produced by various sources including crystal bowls, chimes, drums and recorded relaxation music.
A sound bath is a meditative experience that involves listening to resonant music to create a relaxing atmosphere. You can lie down on a yoga mat or sit comfortably, breathe, and immerse yourself in the sounds.
Find a quiet space, wear comfortable clothing, bring a blanket or pillow for support, dim the lights, turn off notifications on your devices, set an intention for the session, hydrate with water, and most importantly, be ready to relax and fully immerse yourself in the sounds by closing your eyes and focusing on your breath; consider using headphones for the best audio quality
Join us for guided visual meditations, sound baths, relaxation techniques and other activities to support mental health, led by experienced professionals dedicated to community resilience and healing. The activities will be held on zoom to accommodate those displaced by the fires.
We offer a range of services including guided visual imagery, meditation, sound baths, support groups, and educational resources. All sessions are held online for the convenience of those who have been displaced due to the fires.
Our services are available to anyone in the community who needs support, regardless of age, gender, or background.
You can contact us by email to get more information about our services. Or alternatively, you can log into a zoom meeting at 3:30 p.m. and learn more about us before the sessions begin.
Sound baths can help with mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, and improving mood and sleep. They can also help with mindfulness and meditation. They impact physical health by lowering blood pressure and heart rate. Read more about sound baths at Calm: https://www.calm.com/blog/sound-bath
By engaging in guided imagery or mental rehearsals, trauma survivors can activate the hypothalamus to regulate the body's stress response, helping to calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety. Read more about guided visual imagery and meditation at Mind Tools: https://www.mindtools.com/aul3lwx/guided-imagery
First slow down your breathing and take four deep, slow breaths.
Look around at your surroundings.
Focus on your senses -- what you can see, hear, smell, touch and taste.
Try to stay where your are rather than running away as this can make the anxiety worse. If these attacks are frequent and debilitating, please ask us about professionals that can assist you.
Feeling overwhelmed is natural after a disaster. Be patient with yourself. Limit intake of news, videos and make sure that your sources are credible to avoid misinformation. Focus on the daily activities like eating, physical activity, hydration and sleep. Routine is helpful even when it seems impossible. Practice breathing techniques and calming meditation or prayer multiple times during the day.
To calm your stomach, try peppermint tea or lozenges. Ginger tea (fresh in warm water or in tea bags) will help soothe the stomach quickly. Avoid eating heavy, greasy foods, stay hydrated, limit alcohol and caffeine, eat smaller, more frequent meals. If you find these things aren't helping please consult medical attention. Acupuncture is effective in managing stress that can cause stomach upset. Yo San University is offering free acupuncture in the community clinic, 7 days a week, for anyone affected by the fires (see Community Resources page for a link).
This depends on their age -- all information should be age appropriate. Create a safe place for them and establish a consistent routine, even if you are displaced and not in your home. Validate their emotions and reassure them that how they are feeling is natural. Limit exposure to news and media. If they are old enough to participate in recovery efforts, this is one way to help develop a sense of purpose by supporting their community. Seek professional assistance if they are having behavioral changes or significant distress. We can help you find child counselors / therapists at a lower cost or no charge.
Please send Stef an email and she will assist you confidentially with referrals to professionals who will treat you at a low cost or no cost rate.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR DOG(S) SAFE AFTER THE FIRES
Detox for canines after the fires per our veterinarian Dr. Richard Palmquist – Holistic Veterinary Medicine:
Large dogs 60-120 pounds
NAC 500 mg once daily
Quercetin 500mg per day
Mullein 1 dropper twice daily
Dandelion 1 dropper twice daily.
Dosing for medium size dogs 30 – 60 pounds.
NAC 250 mg once daily
Quercetin 250mg per day
Mullein ½ dropper twice daily
Dandelion ½ dropper twice daily.
Dosing for small dogs under 20 pounds
NAC 125 mg once daily
Quercetin 125 mg per day
Mullein ¼ dropper twice daily
Dandelion ¼ dropper twice daily.
For GI signs—diarrhea or vomiting:
Nux vomica 30c. 5 pellets twice daily for about 3-5 days.
Other things to keep your sweet dog safe!
Bathe weekly. Avoid heavy exercise until we get a rain.
Hose down everything as much as possible.
No outside water bowls.
Do not take pets to burned areas because they will be exposed to toxins that will make them sick.
At LARIA our mission is to provide support and healing for those affected by the wildfires of January 2025. We believe in fostering resilience within our community by offering a safe space for individuals to connect and heal together.
At Los Angeles Resilience in Action, we are dedicated to providing support to our communities in need. Our team includes nurses, musicians, acupuncturists, doctors, yoga instructors and occasionally a Capybara and her cat may zoom into the session.
Stefanie Fletcher, a registered nurse and candidate for Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, leads our initiatives at Los Angeles Resilience in Action. She uses guided visual imagery, sound baths, music and facilitates these sessions with compassion.
Stef is a seasoned registered nurse with over 40 years of experience and a long history of volunteering in disaster response. After completing her nursing training in Memphis, TN, she worked in the Burn ICU at The Regional Medical Center with Dr. Bill Hickerson. She moved to Southern California in 1991, where she continued to work in trauma and burn intensive care units. In 2010, Stef responded to the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. She went to Port Au Prince and volunteered for two years as a trauma ICU nurse and as the Chief Nursing Officer for the University of Miami School of Medicine's Project Medishare. Throughout her career, Stef has remained dedicated to patient care and currently continues to practice nursing in Los Angeles, where she works as a nurse in the film industry. In 2016, seeking to expand her medical knowledge, Stef transitioned into Traditional Chinese Medicine, enrolling at Yo San University in Los Angeles. She is now pursuing her second doctoral degree, focusing on Women's Health, further enhancing her ability to support and empower patients in diverse ways. She lives near Pacific Palisades and watched in horror as the fires devastated homes and lives. She has many friends in Altadena, some who lost their homes entirely. LARIA was created in response to calls for volunteers to assist those who have suffered because of the 2025 LA wildfires.
Sit back and enjoy the sounds of Yoga Nidra Singing Bowls for relaxation and deep meditation.
This video includes how to teach children to calm themselves and decrease fear / anxiety.
Box breathing calms the nervous system, lowers cortisol levels, which reduce anxiety and irritability.
Guided meditations can help prepare for restful sleep.
This short video can help calm you during a panic or anxiety attack.
Healing After Catastrophe: Mental Health Support in the Aftermath of the Los Angeles Wildfires
The devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles have left more than just scorched landscapes in their wake. Communities have been displaced, homes lost, and lives forever changed. For many, the trauma of experiencing such a crisis can linger long after the fires are out, creating a profound need for mental health support
We love our neighbors, so feel free to reach out anytime for questions or support.
Zoom Workplace
The zoom link will be active every Saturday from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. The first zoom session will begin February 1, 2025. The sound bath and guided visual imagery sessions will begin at 4 p.m. Please feel free to come into the group anytime.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82001343662?pwd=qeYblK4Ejap18A0vmd2Ur45bSwMCdj.1
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