SANDPOINT — Area residents are invited to step out of their comfort zones and onto a path of wellness at today's Wellness & Connection Fair.

Held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the fair will be held at Marigold Bistro, 414 Church St.

Sponsored by the East Bonner County Library District, the wellness fair aims to connect area residents with practical tips for everyday well-being, Joyce Jowdy, EBCLD community engagement coordinator, said.

A variety of activities and presentations will take place throughout the day, from art, breathwork and yoga to bodywork, tapping, mini talks, movement activities and a song circle. There is no charge to attend the event or any of the activities.

Featured presentations will take place on the hour, beginning at 10 a.m., with a presentation by Sarah Lafrenz, LCPC, on how your nervous system "changes the story" and how, by understanding your state, you can expand your window of tolerance and find your way back to wellness.

"Our nervous system is constantly gathering information about the world around us and determining whether we are safe, threatened, overwhelmed or able to connect — and the state we are in can dramatically change the way we experience both ourselves and the world," Lafrenz said.

Lafrenz will introduce participants to the different states of the nervous system and provide practical ways to begin recognizing which state they are in.

Lafrenz has been working in the mental health field since 2008, with experience spanning a wide range of clinical settings, including inpatient psychiatric care, community mental health, boarding schools and private practice. She has owned and operated her private practice since 2017 and is a member of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).

At 11 a.m., Caleb Orr of Kaniksu Community Health will speak on the benefits of neurotherapy, introducing attendees to what neurotherapy is, how it works and how it might benefit them.

Orr, a graduate of Boise State University, specializes in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. He has practiced in both the Sandpoint and Boise areas since 2016, working with populations that required him to learn to challenge clients rather than becoming an echo chamber for them.

“While this can be uncomfortable,” Orr said, "it often leads to incredible change in behaviors. My clients find that I am particularly strong in building rapport and I emphasize offering challenges that encourage their growth.”

At 12 p.m., Dr. Jamie Davis, DAOM, LAc, will speak on nourishing your mental health as part of a functional approach to anxiety and depression, with mental health deeply connected to the health of the whole body.

"Nutrition, blood-sugar regulation, nutrient deficiencies, gut health, inflammation, hormones and sleep can all influence how our brains function and how we feel," Davis said.

Attendees will learn practical nutrition and lifestyle strategies for supporting brain and mental health, including stabilizing blood sugar, supporting the gut-brain connection, improving nutrient intake and building habits that support a healthier nervous system.

Dr. Jamie Davis, DAOM, LAc, is the owner of Lake Life Wellness Center & Yoga Studio in downtown Sandpoint, where she practices acupuncture, Chinese medicine and functional medicine. Davis holds a master’s degree in medical anthropology, a master’s degree in acupuncture and a clinical doctorate in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, and is a certified functional medicine practitioner through the School of Applied Functional Medicine.

At 1 p.m., licensed professional counselor Joe Tate will talk about understanding trauma and emotions and the role they play on the nervous system.

"Trauma can change the way we experience ourselves, our relationships and the world around us," Tate said. "Responses such as fight, flight, freeze, anxiety, anger, emotional shutdown or hypervigilance are often the nervous system’s attempts to protect us."

Tate will provide an approachable introduction to trauma, PTSD and the nervous system as the presentation explores the fight-flight-freeze response, basic concepts from polyvagal theory and the important functions of emotions, including how fear can promote self-preservation, anger can help establish boundaries and protection and sadness allows us to experience and move through grief.

Tate is the owner of Sandpoint Mental Health Counseling. He was born and raised in Sandpoint. Joe earned his bachelor’s degree in sustainability studies from Colorado Mountain College and his master’s degree in counseling from the University of Idaho in Coeur d’Alene.

In addition to the four featured presentations, a series of mini-talks will be held throughout the day, including talks on money, rhythm healing, stress and the art of listening, among others. Also scheduled are a series of community booths, with professionals and community organizations on hand to answer questions and share information, resources and local opportunities.