Whole System Psychotherapy

Whole System Psychotherapy derives from the understanding that individuals hold within themselves a constant balance between mind, body, soul, emotions, and the will. The development and balance of these five components are at the root of my counseling practice.
My experience as a psychotherapist has allowed me to discover the most effective and fastest methods for helping my clients. The core of my philosophy is that no two persons are alike. As a therapist it is of utmost importance that I meet my clients where they are internally as unique individuals, and that I deeply understand their belief system. I believe the basis of solid counseling is the application of a truly open mind and a non-judgmental understanding, creatively mixed with the knowledge derived from both conventional and alternative modes of healing.
The purpose of the first session with new clients is for them to see if they feel comfortable working with me on their healing, and also for me to ascertain if I can help them. This session is free of charge, and I send each new client on his/her way without a new appointment. My prospective new clients will go home and listen deeply inside about whether working with me is something they believe could be a positive and healing experience for them. If my clients do decide to work with me they will come to the second session with an autobiography.* I will read and go over this autobiography so we do not have to spend many sessions talking about the past. Instead, the next time we meet we can immediately start working in the present. This second session will also be an intake session, where I will use my thorough “intake questionnaire.” This questionnaire will explore personal subjects and daily life issues that most other therapists will not think of asking.  I will study the answers to the questionnaire in conjunction with the autobiography, and create a profile and a plan on how to proceed to help my clients change. I will present my findings in the beginning of our third session. None of my treatment plans are written in stone since situations do come up during the sessions, which may necessitate a change of course.

I believe we are all living in a sort of “unconscious” state. How we came into this world, and the environments we have encountered in life have a great influence on how we see the world, how we act in our lives, how we perceive situations, and how we react. We have created a path in our brain, which no matter what we encounter we will automatically take because it is familiar. The metaphor I use with my clients is that we are going to dig a new path in the brain, and cover the old path with dirt we dig up from the journey on the new path in consciousness and authenticity. Making changes in life is not something to take lightly. In healing, as with learning to play an instrument, it requires a great deal of practice between sessions for changes and healing to occur in a deep way, and for it to become second nature. Therefore I will always send my clients off with homework for that week. In between appointments I am available to my clients via email, and if hard times may occur, by telephone. In close partnership my aim is to help my clients to become independent healers of themselves. Coming to me as a client means that you have a serious desire for change, and that you will do your best based upon where you are at that time in your understanding and development, to change your current situation.

I use many different techniques ranging from traditional talk therapy, to Thought Field Therapy, creative imagery, meditation for core understandings, and other exercises to allow the inner self to be heard and loved. Depending on my clients needs I can work within a variety of approaches from conventional to holistic therapy. My experience has taught me that relying only on talk therapy is not the most effective method for facilitating the desired changes. I therefore prefer a more holistic approach to healing. I do not like to assign disorders, and instead I use the situation my clients are in as indications for a plan to healing.  I prefer for my clients not to take medication, (although there are always exceptions where people are require to take medication). When my clients come in “on medication” I often work with them in eliminating the medication at a pace with which they are comfortable with.

For teenagers my questionnaire is much shorter. I mainly use solution-based counseling with them. I help teenagers become leaders within themselves and their environment, in a peaceful and authentic way. Often when teenagers are “on medication” it is unnecessary, and I will help them in eliminating such medication in a slow and comfortable pace. Of course, I do recognize that some teenagers do need to be on a psychopharmacological treatment to be able to function in life.