Psychotherapy is a process of self-inquiry and collaboration with a therapist to better understand yourself. Insight is gained by discussing our personal history and our patterns of behavior. It is my goal to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where people can express their views without worrying about being judged.
Theories and Influence
I help individuals examine their behaviors and challenges through a lens that is inclusive of spiritual growth and beliefs. This is known as Transpersonal Therapy. To learn more click here.
I have always been fascinated with and strongly connected to the work of Dr. Carl Jung. Jung, a prominent Psychiatrist and theorist, believed that there was a deeper meaning to our behaviors/drives. He believed that our quality of life is related to our connection with our self which includes spirituality and our soul. Our personal development occurs when individuals discover and confront our unconscious beliefs and behaviors so we can integrate them into our daily lives. If we struggle in doing so we will likely feel disconnected, distressed, or “fragmented”. We won’t feel whole or complete.
My Method
When starting therapy a plan of action is created by both the therapist and the client together that helps guide the work. These theories and interventions are often combined and included as a part of a treatment plan. Treatment plans can include any of the modalities that I specialize in and also include elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and Somatic work. Somatic-based practices help us to understand where and how we store emotional energy in our bodies and how to understand our needs through decoding our somatic expressions.
My favorite tool to use alongside Psychotherapy is Hypnotherapy. I have trained at The Wellness Institute completing my certification in Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy (HCHT). HCHT allows for the option to use our spiritual tools (guides, higher self, soul) while working with our subconscious mind. Having access to memories from this lifetime and possibly past lives can help us understand our path of awakening and individuation deeply and profoundly. It also allows us to release karma, shift unconscious beliefs, and connect to our purpose and potential.
At times I may suggest using methods from parts work which includes Internal Family Systems (IFS) to assist in this process. This will give us clues as to how to make sense of our aspects of self. Our parts can influence our behavior directly and getting to understand their motivations as well as needs helps us to heal. This helps all parts of ourselves feel included and acknowledged vs. rejected or criticized. When utilizing IFS we increase self-awareness and integrate our aspects of self into harmony.
Sometimes the focus may be on something called Shadow Work, where we explore the parts of ourselves we wish didn’t exist and may reject. We all have a shadow and learning to accept it is a part of the healing process. We can explore our shadow by looking at the people, behaviors, and events that we find especially triggering. We use this as an entry point in better understanding ourselves more deeply.
Dreams are another way to understand and communicate with our unconscious. If you don’t dream or remember your dreams, that’s ok. It isn’t the only way to gain insight into our unconscious. I am not a formally trained Jungian analyst but I do use concepts and theory in sessions.
Individuation is another aspect that will be discussed in counseling. Individuation is a process by which we gain an understanding of our life path and develop our own unique identity (separate from our caregivers). Often people struggling with issues such as abandonment fear, codependency or anxiety have struggled with creating a distinct and unique identity and may require some assistance to fully individuate. To read more about individuation click here.