Hakomi
When it feels like you keep running into the same difficulties again and again, there is likely an unconscious belief or behavior at work. It is very difficult to see this unconscious belief because it seems to be simply the way things are. Mindfulness can be a powerful tool for working with these unconscious patterns. The Hakomi Method uses mindfulness and body awareness to help people feel, rather than just think about, their inner experiences. Feeling your experience in the present moment opens up the possibility for new discoveries to emerge– discoveries about why you seem to be stuck in old feelings or continually running into the same situations.
In our work together, I will guide you to pay attention to subtle sensations and feelings you normally wouldn’t notice—a process that often brings up powerful and surprising information. As you become conscious of the underlying beliefs and attitudes that shape your behavior, you can begin to see the messages you internalized as a child–messages from your family, community and the larger society about what was OK to express or to feel or to think. Messages about which which parts of yourself were OK and which you needed to repress or deny. And as you understand your unconscious beliefs and behaviors as brilliant adaptations to the environment in which you were raised, you can develop the capacity to discern when they are and aren’t needed in your current life.
Working with our core beliefs can feel frightening. Because these beliefs usually form at a young age, uncovering them often brings up feelings of vulnerability. My first priority is always safety, and I believe strongly in the principle of non-violence. In a therapeutic context, that means I do not believe that pushing or confrontation are effective ways to promote healing. I trust the work and each person’s innate wisdom enough to know that powerful transformation can and will happen without pushing. With gentleness, curiosity and mindful attention, we will explore the unconscious beliefs and habits that are keeping you stuck and uncover new possibilities for joy, gratitude, and fulfillment.
Somatic Experiencing
Somatic Experiencing is based on the work of Dr. Peter Levine, who studied how trauma symptoms can get stuck in the body. He observed that wild animals, although they experienced traumatic events, did not develop trauma symptoms because they spend time after the traumatic event discharging that traumatic activation from their bodies. Although humans have this same release system, we often have circumstances or conditioning that get in the way of letting that process happen. For example, if the trauma you experienced was chronic, there may never have been a time when you could safely discharge the activation from your body. Or if you believed on some level that the trauma was your fault, you may have never taken the time to acknowledge the fear and pain you felt at the time. All of us have had traumatic experiences, though we might not recognize them as such. They might include chronic traumas like growing up in a chaotic family environment or experiencing racism or gender discrimination, as well singular events like physical or sexual assault, accidents, medical procedures, or natural disasters. Using Somatic Experiencing techniques can help you safely discharge the traumatic activation you carry, helping you come out of “the freeze response” and reconnect to your sense of power and aliveness. Though it probably feels scary to touch into your trauma, touching into it with support from a therapist and your own inner resources can be a liberating experience, allowing you let go of your past-based fears and live more fully in the present.
