My approach

Change without force

I have a deep trust in the natural healing power and wisdom within you.  My role is to support you to connect with that wisdom and utilize it. You may be struggling to let go of unhealthy habitual ways of relating to self and others.  You may be wanting to grow but feel stuck or do not know where to start.  Contrary to what you might believe, your struggle is not because of lack of willpower or because you are being lazy, difficult, or not smart enough.  The real cause is found in what is happening unconsciously, outside your ordinary awareness.  This is why we often continue old behaviors when we know a better way on an intellectual level.

“Therapy is first about discovering. It’s about who you are and about what your deepest emotional attitudes are. It’s not just about who you think you are. It’s not opinion. It’s not something you can know with the intellect. It’s about who you are in the very heart of yourself. That’s the flavor of psychotherapy, discovering yourself, discovering your real attitudes toward the most important pieces of your life.”
—Ron Kurtz, Hakomi Founder.

My approach

Working with hundreds of people since 1999, I know this truth.  More than anybody, you want to do what is best for you deep inside.  You may not know how or may have some fear of new possibilities and changes.  Change is difficult, even when we want it.  The behaviors or thought patterns which are dysfunctional now, may have been your best creative way to protect yourself and survive painful and difficult situations at a time when limited resources were available.  This is why it is difficult to let go of them, even when these behaviors or your responses to certain situations are no longer helpful or functional for you in your current life.

So, what can I do?

Allow me to show you effective ways based on the latest findings in psychotherapy and neuroscience.

Mindfulness

“While the conscious mind is speaking, the unconscious is commenting with body language.  “– Jon Eisman, Senior Hakomi Trainer

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change”  –Carl Rogers

Mindfulness is a state of consciousness where you observe what is arising in you or around you in the present moment without judgment or criticism. You simply notice.  You notice what is happening, such as, your thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, or even memories that may arise.  As a neutral observer, you notice different parts of yourself that normally interplay outside of your ordinary consciousness. You begin to know yourself in a far deeper way than ever before. Curiosity and compassion is helpful and moves the process more smoothly.  In therapy, I help you to become mindful by paying attention, not only to your story, but also to what is happening in your body as you talk about your story.  You then begin to understand why you do what you do.

“You can only do what you want when you know what you are doing.” –Moshe Feldenkrais

Research indicates that mindfulness has many far-reaching benefits, such as regulating your emotions, and letting go of tension and stress.  In addition, it helps you to discover your core beliefs.

Our core beliefs are held deep inside and often govern our actions and responses automatically, outside our conscious awareness. These beliefs drive our behavior and thoughts and limit our choices.   When you stay with your present experience and study it as a compassionate and curious observer, you often get in touch with memory and beliefs that are often surprising, yet feel true and powerful.  This becomes the open door to bring healing to past hurt and to incorporate new possibilities, resources, and choices that were not available in the past.  Staying with new possibilities in a present experience helps you integrate them into your nervous system and you become more likely to experience new behaviors and ways of being in your life.

“It is not a matter of if you can or cannot.  It is a matter of how to honor your gifts and limitations and how to incorporate the resources you need.” –Hiromi

A Multidimensional Approach to Healing & Transformation

We are all multidimensional beings with complex biological, psychological and spiritual needs, yearning to experience balance and wholeness in our lives.  Insight or just talking about problems and solutions is not enough to produce life changing breakthrough.  We must be treated holistically — acknowledging, nurturing and integrating each aspect of our being—body, mind, and spirit.  I use my trainings in the Hakomi  therapy, mindfulness based somatic e psychotherapy to support people in a holistic manner.