A creepy club. A sketchy fast food restaurant. Ultra wealth and urban poverty. A weird night during a political conference in Vancouver turns author Gerry Taft's life—and mind—inside out. Believing he’s about to die, with visions of good and evil conspiring around him, Gerry writes a contract to extend his life. He navigates this sudden psychosis and paranoia by posting about it on social media in real time—and running down the street with his daughter. The Safe Word Is PINEAPPLE! is the true story of an epic meltdown with real world consequences and important lessons. Part memoir, part social commentary, Gerry uses his lived experience as a framework to discuss—and offer solutions to—the many failings in our society. The Safe Word Is PINEAPPLE! is a call to embrace shared values, have honest conversations, increase personal power, and decrease the pull of polarization. Proceeds from the book will be directed to increase capacity for mental health supports in rural communities—especially Invermere.
Integral Psychedelic Therapy is a groundbreaking, evidence-based collection that explores how psychedelic medicine can be incorporated into contemporary psychotherapy. This book builds on current psychedelic research by providing an in-depth articulation of the practice of psychedelic therapy, weaving together a variety of complementary therapeutic frameworks, case examples, and practical guidance for cultivating a highly effective, ethically grounded, integral approach. Chapters by a diverse set of practicing psychotherapists and leading researchers aim to provide practitioners with a method that centers liberation of all dimensions of being through intersectional, client-centered, trauma-informed, and attachment-focused practices, alongside thoughtful attunement to the relational, somatic, imaginal, cultural, and transpersonal dimensions of healing. Integral Psychedelic Therapy will be essential reading for psychotherapists in practice and in training as well as those seeking personal healing and holistic transformation.
How far will they go to rescue the ones they love? Esmerelda and Freddy have spent lifetimes trying to find the prison of the demon Don Marcos so they can break the curse and find Freddy’s lost love. Everything seems to be lining up, but Don Marcos’s prison slips through their fingers yet again. When a new demon rises to take his place, they must trust their friends with the truth and hope they can end this curse. Meanwhile, Diego and Alex are attacked by a wolf-like beast that no one wants to admit knowing about. Determined to get to the truth and stop the Big Bad Wolf from getting to Alex, Diego heads out into the city as Shadow Guardian. With Alex watching his back in the command center, Diego will stop at nothing to stop this threat to his community—and his boyfriend.
Author of the Costa-prizewinning, world-wide bestseller The Tenderness of Wolves, Stef Penney, returns to her snow-covered heartland in this tense mystery set in a small Scandinavian town. Nordland. A region in the Norwegian Arctic; a remote valley that stretches from the sea up to the mountains and glaciers. It is May in what was once a prosperous mining community. The snows are nearly gone and it's a time of spring and school-leavers' celebrations - until Daniel, a popular teenage boy, goes missing. Conflicting stories circulate among his friends, of parties and wild behaviour. As the search for Daniel widens, the police open a disused mine in the mountains. They find human remains, but this body has been there for decades, its identity a mystery. Everyone in this tight knit, isolated community is touched by these events: misanthropic Svea, whose long life in the area stretches back to the heyday of the mines, and beyond. She has cut all ties with her family, except for her granddaughter, Elin, an outsider like her grandmother. Elin and her friend Benny, both impacted by Daniel while he was alive, become entangled in the hunt for answers, while Svea has deep, dark secrets of her own.
Swear-word coloring books have taken the world by storm, but puzzle books are still in the same-old no-fun zone. Not anymore! NOT SAFE FOR WORK puzzle books are the vulgar books you're looking for when you're tired of all the goody-two shoes books on the market. This one features all of the naughty words that are supposed to stay in the bedroom, but are a whole lot more fun when they don't.
Cassie needs a temporary boyfriend. Mateo needs a temporary fiancée… High-end realtor Cassie has a special process to get over break-ups, and it involves finding the right transitional guy. Billionaire client Mateo Ortiz seems like the perfect candidate—in town for a short time, not interested in a relationship, and almost too good-looking. She’s not expecting him to choose her to become his fake fiancée, or to take her to Argentina, or to treat her the way no man ever has. When their fake relationship falls apart, will love carry them over the finish line?
An affirming and sex-positive guide to working with sex workers: uncovering clinical biases, creating safe spaces, and dismantling the whorearchy. Despite the wide range of sex work--from street-based to OnlyFans--clinicians too often focus on what they think sex workers need, instead of building trust, developing rapport, and really doing the work to understand the unique stressors that make quality mental health care essential for sex worker communities. Sex-positive therapists Theodore Burnes and Jamila Dawson break down everything that mental health providers need to know to work effectively with sex workers, while dispeling the tired, pervasive myths that continue to impact treatment today. Readers will learn about: Who sex workers are; different types of sex work; and sex workers’ specific therapy needs How outdated research methodology results in bad data and poor care The whorearchy--the sex-work hierarchy--and why we need to dismantle it How to recognize and move beyond personal biases How to provide effective, affirming, and better clinical care What words not to use--and what they reveal about the sexism, racism, misogyny, and transphobia embedded in our society (and our practices) As sex work changes and evolves, encompassing everything from brothels to cam work, clinical care needs to catch up. This book shows you how.
What if falling in love required you to question everything you'd figured out? Allora Lewis is finally about to graduate from college, and she has plans for the next phase in her life. She's going to take the CPA exam so she can get a secure job and not be dependent on her family anymore. She's going to volunteer, have fun with friends, and figure out what she should be doing to help make the world a better place. She has no intention of getting into a relationship right now (especially considering how her last one turned out). So Grant Michalski is the last guy she should be getting involved with. It's not just that she's never dated a white guy before. He's an Army veteran now dedicating himself to teaching people how to use firearms, which goes against all that Allora wants to stand for. How can she join marches against police brutality, then turn around a date a man who trains cops? No matter how attractive he is, or how thoughtfully he treats her, she should be running in the other direction. But things aren't going to be that simple. Both Allora and Grant are going to see their lives changed in ways they never would have guessed. Because the sparks are already flying...
The invitation to write a foreword for this book came at an opportune time in the development of the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy, amid the emergence of the future iteration of mental health services, delivered by the promises of the psychedelic renaissance. Also alive in this context are the substantial individual, social and cultural repercussions of a global pandemic on mental health and human behavior. A growing body of research shows encouraging clinical results in treating trauma, depression, demoralization, end-of-life existential issues, addiction, and eating disorders using MDMA, psilocybin, ketamine, and other psychedelic medications. However, the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy has gained accelerated support from donors, the medical establishment, and corporate investors in recent years. Along with the enthusiasm, recognition, funding, and media coverage directed toward psychedelic-assisted therapy, ethical standards; the lack of adequate training; and issues of accessibility, sustainability, diversity and inclusion are increasingly becoming part of the movement's forefront. These gaps in the emerging field highlight the need for more guidance and structure around ethical, clinical, and social considerations for these innovative treatments. This book can serve as a cornerstone for the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy at this time. This essential contribution offers a depth-oriented, somatic and relational therapeutic approach, emphasizing the imperative of ethical standards, the relevance of the therapeutic use of touch, the significance of the unconscious in the construction of symbolic meaning and intersubjective processes, and the need for trauma -informed approaches while centering liberation psychology and decolonial practices. The topics covered in this book and the themes embraced by the authors are of great relevance and are not yet comprehensively articulated in existing publications on psychedelic-assisted therapy. The diverse authors of this book approach their chapters based on their diverse social and cultural identities, as well as their extensive clinical experience providing psychedelic-assisted therapy in government-approved clinical research, private practice, and nonprofit organization settings. Their contributions aim at a vision of psychedelic-assisted therapy centered on decolonial practices, attuned to the somatic, imaginal, cultural and relational dimensions of being, allowing the emergence of transpersonal processes. Each chapter elaborates practical and theoretical aspects of this treatment modality through a unique theoretical framework, providing inspiration and guidance to readers working in this field as well as those compelled to psychedelic work for personal transformation.
Touch is a powerful form of communication, especially in intimate relationships. The Art of Sensual Massage is a comprehensive guide that blends the techniques of massage with the passion of physical intimacy to deepen connection, increase pleasure, and enhance emotional bonding. From creating the perfect environment to understanding the body’s erogenous zones, this book covers everything you need to know to master the art of erotic and sensual touch. Whether you're looking to introduce sensual massage into your relationship or enhance your knowledge, this guide provides all the tips, techniques, and advice needed for a deeply satisfying experience. The Art of Sensual Massage is a step-by-step guide designed for couples and individuals who want to explore the power of intimate touch. From mastering the basics of massage to integrating advanced techniques that heighten pleasure, this book provides all the tools to create a deep, loving connection through touch. Whether you’re using sensual massage as a form of foreplay or a standalone practice to nurture your relationship, this guide offers practical advice, emotional insights, and creative tips to ensure a fulfilling and satisfying experience.
