What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a journey of renewal and self discovery. A pealing away of the layers of protective armor that have come to protect us from the hurts and fears of long ago. This protective armor served us well at one time in our lives. But now, it acts as a barrier to achieving our desires and wants. This protective armor comes in the form of our "thoughts", "affirmations" and "beliefs".
From the moment we wake up in the morning we spend our day engaging in an ongoing internal conversation with ourselves. Thoughts, affirmations and beliefs fill our mind and create a world that either brings us pleasure or pain.
What we think, believe and say to ourselves create our reality minute by minute. What we think and do today will have a definite impact on our future. If you want to change your future, it begins with the thoughts and beliefs you entertain today.
What is Contemplative Psychotherapy?
As defined on the Contemplative Psychotherapy website: "Contemplative psychotherapy is the blending of Western psychotherapy with Buddhist awareness practices. From this perspective, our ability to be present with whatever arises in the moment is the foundation for meaningful psychotherapy. Our actual experience is the doorway to self-acceptance and authentic change.
Traditional psychotherapy focuses on changing or fixing undesirable symptoms. From the contemplative point of view, our basic nature is intrinsically healthy but our awareness of this health is often obscured. Contemplative psychotherapy is a process of uncovering this fully awake and aware state. We become liberated from unnecessary suffering through experiencing ourselves in the moment, exactly as we are."
Please note that while contemplative psychotherapy is derived from Buddhist teachings, it doesn’t require any knowledge of, interest or participation in meditation or Buddhism."
A Course In Miracles teaches that every relationship is a holy encounter. I believe that every relationship is a reflection of a relationship with our Self. It reflects back to us something that is loving or needs forgiveness. We have the opportunity to see love or fear. Here in lies the door for the clinical work to begin.
Who I work with in the therapeutic setting:
When individuals enter the therapeutic setting they come with a presenting problem, issue, and/or concern. The presenting problem is important to the process for it opens the door to what lies beneath. It is the door that will eventually lead to the heart of the matter and invites the individual to look within. I work with individuals who are willing to take the steps necessary to walk through that door and go within; individuals who are willing and able to use their presenting problems and all the material it reveals to discover them self; to discover they have a place within where they can hear their own voice and know they are the most important person listening to that voice. There is a great deal of transition and changes that take place during this life journey. I will work with you as you seek to remember who you really are and create the road map you will use on this journey.
