Therapeutic Orientation is the theoretical perspective and practical framework from which a therapist practices. The framework from which I work is based in the Humanist or Person-Centered perspective, and incorporates body awareness and psychodynamic therapy. One critical aspect of the humanistic perspective is the relationship between the therapist - who in many ways serves as a guide in an exploration of self-discovery, and the client - who is seeking greater knowledge of the self and an expansion of their potential. This relationship is fostered by the values and practice of the therapist, primarily by being open, honest, empathic and respectful.
Body awareness focuses very much on present experience, as a reflection of a person's belief or thought process. By tapping into present experience, the client and therapist are able to discover the meaning beneath the experience, the emotions evoked, and what needs to change. Integrating body awareness with psychotherapy helps the client to become in touch with the memory that is held in the body. By releasing this trapped memory/energy in a gentle non-intrusive manner, clients experience a release of tension and held in emotion. In this process, the client realizes that they are in charge of their growth, while the therapist supports and guides them, and witnesses their growth.
The focus on the self and the search for self-awareness is a critical aspect of psychodynamic psychotherapy. By becoming aware of the origin of problems, clients are able to understand how the past has shaped their present beliefs and behavior, and in doing so can overcome these limitations.
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing
EMDR is a procedure used in psychotherapy to help reduce the impact of past experiences that continue to impact on your present life. The procedure involves rapid eye movement such as experienced while dreaming. EMDR is used to treat symptoms such as anxiety, guilt, anger, depression, panic, sleep disturbance, and post traumatic reactions. It can also be used to enhance emotional resources such as self-confidence and self-esteem.
EMDR works in conjunction with other forms of therapy such as talk therapy, relaxation techniques, visualization, and body awareness. EMDR uses right/left eye movement, or tactile stimulation, to activate both sides of the brain. When the troubling images and feelings are processed by the brain via the eye-movement patterns of EMDR, the emotional charge is released so that the memory is intact, but it no longer is distressing. and a more peaceful state are achieved.
Please visit EMDR International for more information
http://www.emdrcanada.org/en/home.aspx
The goals of psychotherapy are for the therapist and client to work collaboratively to:
- Say what has been held in for too long. Let go of the pain and sadness that has kept your truth from being spoken.
- Discover who you are and how you got to be this way. It is not about blaming or shaming, but uncovering.
- Learn new ways of being in the world. Change beliefs and inner models of self, other, and the world. Change habits that cause unnecessary suffering.
- Get past the past; allowing yourself to be free to move forward into the NOW.
- Gain an ease with yourself: become comfortable in your own skin, accept yourself fully and accept others, find happiness and self-love...isn't that what it's all about!?
