There’s been some talk about “red shoes” lately on the website links of the Center for Living Balance. Well, this got me thinking about Dorothy’s iconic “ruby slippers” and about how I might use my own “red shoes” to keep me from getting knocked off balance! In L. Frank Baum’s first Wizard of Oz book (1900), Dorothy’s slippers were actually silver, but for the 1939 movie, the color was changed to ruby (“The Wizard of Oz” was actually filmed in Technicolor!!) So, then as now, for both ladies and gents, red can be our go-to color to evoke our positive physical energy and intellectual clarity, our emotional resilience and optimism, our joyful commitment to our family, friends, and life purpose; our hope and dedication to nurturing and preserving beauty in the world.
Dorothy’s slippers took her on her fabulous adventure to the Emerald City. Along the way she met her amazing friends — the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion — and through them came to learn that one’s brain, heart, and personal courage can never be taken for granted but must work together to stay strong, balanced, and on the path. Dorothy learned that the “magic” in her slippers was the power of her love, which, when fully activated, enabled her and Toto to return to her beloved family and friends, fully committed to them and forever changed by her adventure.
So, how can my own “red shoes” keep me from getting “knocked off balance?” For me, love and beauty in my life keep me balanced. When I find myself getting scared, depressed, discouraged, and distracted, then I know it’s important to take the time to re-connect to the love and beauty in people, in animals, and in nature so that I can walk, run, and dance in my own beautiful red shoes.
Gabrielle M. Burholt, LPC, NCC, CLC
Isabel Groedel is a Licensed Master Social Worker who specializes in supporting adolescents, adults, couples and families in overcoming behavioral and emotional challenges. She is bilingual (English and Spanish) and is trained in EMDR and Emotion Focused Therapy.
My clinical career began with a strong interest in the psychological impact of illness and disability and a master’s degree in medical rehabilitation counseling. Helping people adjust to the unique experiences of medical journeys was powerful and fulfilling– but I soon realized that my clients’ medical needs impacted everyone in their family. Partners, parents, siblings, children: they are all touched by their loved one’s illness or disability. The whole system was in pain and their relationships were fracturing.
Early in in this work I was able to join into the lives of adults with severe and persistent mental illness and help them to fashion wellness and recovery in their own communities and with their own families. I was in the thick of life with men and women having full and robust and connected lives even while facing some of the most challenging brain diseases and it was due significantly to their close family supports. This pushed me to pursue a deeper understanding of family systems. I was lucky to be living in an area which was the birthplace of family systems therapy. I spent several years being mentored and trained by people who have devoted their research and their lives to helping develop strong connected families. This work fundamentally changed how I viewed the world and my own family. Through my time devoted to Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy i not only learned but actually experienced that no one is ever truly alone and we grow best and heal best together.
My interest in counseling originated from a desire to repair broken relationships within my own family. My exploration to seek wholeness and restoration for the emotional wounds of my past began with reading books about how family relationships work and then progressed to my majoring in psychology in college. I began to learn about how we impact each other and how important it is to seek my own emotional health and healing. This led to my desire to not only seek my own counseling but also to pursue counseling as a career. How meaningful and fulfilling would it be to not only heal my own personal hurts and relationships but also to help others do the same?
We offer retreats, workshops, and groups that support our clients and the communities in Fayette and Coweta Counties.
Groups and Workshops are a great way to get support and improve skills in a cost effective manner! Here are the groups that are currently forming:
Couples coming to us, often report needing help with one or more of the following concerns:
The Center for Living Balance is the product of personal and business evolution. Founded by Amy Jaynes in 2016 as a solo counseling practice, the center has always focused on personal and relational well-being. As Amy’s passion for healing relational bonds continued to grow, she became more active in the professional mental health community. She was speaking at local events, serving on boards, and generally spreading the word about the power of healing attachment.
Do you need a speaker for your event or organization? We can bring any of our workshops and seminars to you! 
Staying connected through life’s many stages is challenging work– we help families wade through those disconnected moments to find the path back to connection. We see families who are seeking help with:
Many of our clients spend their days taking care of the needs of other people — often at the expense of their own well-being or needs. We understand (and live!) this unique experience that can create anxiety, depressed mood, increased stress, compassion fatigue, relational distress, and burnout for:
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