On Wednesday August 26, 2020, Emily Ordover, Health & Recovery Coach at Red Mountain Sedona, led staff members in a one-hour virtual yoga class. This class was the first in a series of monthly virtual classes for employees of the mindfulness-based, young adult mental health program in Sedona, AZ.

Ordover, who helps Red Mountain Sedona students reach their health and wellness goals, is offering these classes as a way to support the team and encourage self-care practices among staff.  “Even without [the impact of] COVID, being a mental health professional can be really draining and hard on the nervous system,” she said.  As a part of the trauma-informed therapeutic program, Red Mountain staff coach students, 18-28 years old, on a variety of life skills, which includes the development of healthy habits. Part of the coaching process involves staff modeling adaptive behaviors and coping skills. And so Ordover believes it is crucial that staff are engaging in self-care when they are off the clock, both for their own benefit and for the benefit of the students.

“Our students are smart.” she said. “They don’t want to be helped by people who don’t take care of themselves.”  Ordover went on to say that students are inspired by staff who are authentic in their discussion of what helps them manage their stress and cultivate mental wellness. Ordover, an alumna of the Red Mountain program, prioritizes her self-care and engages in an assortment of activities including meditation, hiking, cooking, going to 12-step meetings, and practicing yoga.  “I would have a really hard time teaching something I don’t do myself.” Ordover said.

As a certified health and wellness coach, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Ordover provides Red Mountain Sedona students with “gentle nutritional guidance,” support around body image issues, help with setting recovery goals, relapse prevention planning, and she provides a few supplementary services as well.  “I like seeing the light go on in people’s eyes and helping them to find meaningful connections in seemingly hopeless situations,” Ordover said.

In developing self-care plans, Ordover has several suggestions for students. “Start small and ask for help,” she said. “I really want students to follow the things that bring them joy.”

 About Red Mountain Sedona 

Red Mountain Sedona is a mindfulness-based, trauma-informed young adult “Launch” program, located in beautiful Sedona, Arizona.  Red Mountain specializes in helping young adults between the ages of 18-28, address the social, emotional, and behavioral issues holding them back from successfully transitioning into adulthood.  Through a truly holistic program that provides structure, individual, group and family therapy, life skills training, recovery support and mindfulness-meditation, yoga, and martial arts instruction, Red Mountain Sedona helps students gain the stability and maturity needed to move forward in life.  For more information on Red Mountain Sedona call (855) 998-5272.