Introduction
“The lotus represents our spirit emerging from the mud of worldly matters and to bloom into the light.”
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
About Andrea Swanson
“Allow nature’s peace to flow into you as sunshine flows into trees”
Honoring World War Veterans in my Family
In the middle is my grandfather, James Walsh. He served in the Marine Corps, stationed in Guam, where he claimed the first shot of World War One was fired. He died when I was 4 years old. On his right is my Aunt Jean Walsh. She was in love with Ben Myers who entered the Air Force during World War Two, Ben became a navigator and flew in a plane the crew named Purgatory Pete, and in 1942-43 his plane was shot down in the North Sea; he was reported missing in action and was never found. She suffered his loss her entire life and never regained the glow of that first love. My mother is on his left dressed in a special University of Minnesota uniform for one studying medical technology.
This is my grandfather, Frederick E. Bieri, holding my sister. He served in France during World War One as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army where he suffered the loss of many men. He died when I was 12 years old. He was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. The memory of this event was traumatic. I began to cry and released so much sorrow. The never-ending rows and rows of white graves, held in the hearts of so many families, remain stark reminders of the sacrifices made by those who answered the call to duty. I shall never forget and will forever Honor the sacrifices of so many.
This is my father, Fredrick K. Bieri who served in the Army during World War Two in California. After the war and throughout his life he refused to receive any benefits from Veterans Affairs as he believed the benefits should go to those who served in the horrific overseas battles.
No More Family Veterans
- No family members served in the Armed Forces after World War Two.
But Wars continue:
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- Desert Shield/Desert Storm
- Global War on Terror (continued in: Libya, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan and Afghanistan.)
Educational Degrees & Certifications
Clinical Emotional Freedom (EFT) Certification, 2023
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP-II), 2023
Emeritus Active LICSW, MN Board of Social Work, 2019
Masters in Social Work, MSW 2004
Complementary Therapies and Healing Practices Graduate Minor
2004
M.A Curriculum and Teaching 1988
B.S. Mathematics Education 1972
Certified Professional Yoga Therapist Joseph Le Page, Director 2004
Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to the community. 2015
Past Life Regression Therapy 2012
Andrea's Travel Experiences
Embracing All in Oneness
- Trekked in the Himalayas of India and Nepal and the mountainous rainforest of New Zealand’s fiords
- Explored hill tribes in Vanuatu, Northern Thailand and Borneo; and Buddhist monasteries of Bhutan and Ladakh
- Camped, abseiled and canoed in the bush of Western Australia
- Walked on the Great Wall of China and traveled by boat up the Li River near Guilin
- Scuba diver in Malaysia and skied in the Alps of Austria, Switzerland and Italy
- Traveled in many other European, African and Asian countries and the U.S. and Canada.
wHAT IS eft?
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is a self-help tool to alleviate the emotional, mental, and physical struggles. EFT, commonly called tapping, is an invaluable tool for anyone who is dealing with distress. Research has shown that it is an effective method for alleviating emotional and psychological upsets as well as physical pain. With all of these factoring into the experience, adding EFT to your healing program is a form of self-care you can implement right away. EFT will support you every step of the way on your journey.
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is a simple tool that calms our nervous system. Tapping on meridian end points while focusing on the traumatic event tells our body we are safe by turning off our fight-flight-freeze response, rewiring the brain and how we react to our environment. When we reduce the stress response we allow our body to amplify its healing ability, which helps our body and mind to function at its best.
EFT combines acupressure (tapping on the points) and psychology’s exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy (focusing on whatever is distressing you). It is easy to learn and apply. I have [attached] a diagram of the 13 tapping points that will be used and demonstrated during our first session. These tapping points correspond to meridian end points used in acupuncture, and they release stress.
