Wednesday: Opening Session: Finding Calm in the Chaos

Opening Session: Finding Calm in the Chaos

Presenter: Kim Buchanan, BSW, CHDS-R, AHDI-F, and Mackenzie Buchanan, MSW Student

Session Description: Americans are stressed out. Chronic health conditions, mental illness, substance abuse disorders, and overdose deaths are all on the rise. People don’t know how to cope or where to turn for help.

Bios: 

Kim Buchanan earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Washington in Seattle prior to taking a detour into the world of healthcare documentation and education. She participates in a 12-step program for loved ones of addicts and has recently published a book of journal prompts that complement 12-step work called The Serenity Journal: 365 Daily Journal Prompts to Help You on Your Path to Serenity. Kim credits her commitment to a 12-step fellowship, a focus on her mental health (including an antidepressant prescription), her lifelong journaling habit, and a daily practice of gratitude for keeping her sane in this crazy world.

Mackenzie Buchanan is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor in Desert Hot Springs, California, and is completing her master’s degree in social work. She works for a drug treatment facility in Riverside County and is working with underserved high school students as part of her MSW internship. She is a Reiki practitioner and a recovering drug addict with 7-years clean and sober. Mackenzie credits her recovery community, her daily gratitude practice, prioritizing her mental health, an awesome therapist, and sustaining a spiritual connection for successfully maintaining sobriety and juggling her many priorities without losing her mind.