Bodymind Integration

When Life is not delivering what you want…

Heal the past, transform the present

I have a passion for helping people discover their potential and become all that they can be; to be fully alive; to be in charge of their lives, free to make the most of today and to direct their path into the future. I also know how difficult that can be.

The struggles and problems of today are often the result of how we were learned to think, feel and behave during childhood. Toxic parenting can cause massive damage to this process, even leading to developmental trauma. Even relatively good parenting can leave us interacting with others and with the world in ways that are unhelpful, damaging or self-limiting. Psychotherapy (from the Greek for "soul healing") is a process of undoing any distorted learning so that you can be in charge of your life. When current issues are not rooted in the past, therapy can also help you to gain clarity about issues you are struggling with and enable you to move forward.

Body psychotherapy is deep transformative therapy. It does not simply address what is going on right now, but also why - the past as it manifests in the present. Working with both mind and body, it challenges you to look at the roots of who you are and supports you in a process of change. If you wish to focus predominantly on the body and little on the psychological roots, you might also consider transformational bodywork.

Watch my video to learn more about somatic therapy and how your history affects your mind and body.

Learn more about the issues that I frequently deal with.

Below are some possible way of working; they are not different methods, but simply a different focus that reflects particular needs you might have. What is best for you is something we would discuss during our initial consultation, which is free of charge.

Personal Growth Work

Many people enter the therapy room to resolve problems in their lives, and once finished they leave the room and close the door. Others come to see the door as a gateway to infinite possibilities, explorations and transformations of self: the path of self-actualisation. "To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly," observed the French philosopher Henri Bergson. You can choose to be a passive victim of inevitable change or take responsibility for nurturing and directing your own growth. Which will it be for you? Self-actualisation means in part:

1. to heal emotional and psychological wounds and traumas;
2. to be authentic (my words & deeds are genuine manifestations of my true nature);
3. to reach a state of integrity and wholeness;
4. to explore and express all of myself: mind, body, soul and spirit;
5. to accept responsibility for my life;
6. to achieve autonomy while recognising the interdependence of humanity;
7. to relate to myself and others with love and compassion.

As with Bodymind Integration, sessions will combine Reichian therapy blended with other psychotherapy and bodywork methods in an eclectic mix designed to give you creative possibilites for deep exploration and greater personal development.

Deep transformational therapy for all kinds of emotional, psychological and psychosomatic issues

Bodymind Integration is a deep & powerful mind-body approach to personal development, healing & transformation, and a whole-person alternative to conventional psychotherapy and counselling. It is a genuinely holistic way of helping you heal the past and make sense of the present in order to to make more of your future.

It is my personal style of modern Reichian therapy. Reichian therapy is one that works with the relationship between mind and body and believes that in a healthy person there is a free flow of energy (life-force) within the system. It is truly holistic in that it works with mind, body and spirit to increase your sense of well-being, your capacity to feel, your ability to express, your self-awareness and consciousness. Ultimately, all my work is concerned with increasing your vitality and your capacity for joy.

I integrate a variety of somatic and psychotherapy methods to achieve a greater range and depth to the work. This will normally include:

• reflective body focusing to increase your bodily self-awareness and felt sense of issues
• development of mindfulness
• Reichian breathwork to energise the body
• Bioenergetics exercises to integrate body, breath and awareness
• hands-on bodywork to release embodied blocks (body armour)

and depending on your preferences and needs, may also incorporate:

• counselling to help you through immediate problems
• psychotherapy, Gestalt methods, Shadow work, dreamwork and psychodrama to address deep patterns
• art therapy, play therapy and creative writing to help you express yourself
• exploring family & social context and questioning 'received wisdom' (social and religious norms)
• transpersonal (spiritual, esoteric, shamanic) explorations

The inclusion of these elements and how they are woven into a session will be determined by you. We are all unique individuals, with differing wants, needs, likes and dislikes, so I do not have a 'one size fits all' attitude. My role is to offer you creative possibilities to explore yourself in whatever way feels most productive or relevant at any given time - and always within safe and appropriate boundaries. The goal is to help you become more aware of what you hold in both your mind and your body and the connections between them, and to bring your whole self into greater harmony.

I work very sensitively and always respect your sense of modesty and personal boundaries. Sessions may sometimes be challenging, but you will never be pressured beyond your comfort zone.

If you wish to experience a body-centred approach without an explicit psychotherapy framework, you might try transformational bodywork.

Help when you feel overwhelmed and need to regain control of your life

People often seek therapy only when they have reached a crisis point in their lives or when a sudden event throws them into turmoil. Things can be so overwhelming that it's hard to think about what you need - except that you know need support right now. This might be the result of a bereavement or any one of a number of those life events that floor us.

If this is true for you, my focus will be on ensuring immediate stability so that you are able to function. One of the first results of a crisis can be clouded judgment, an inability to think straight, and feeling lost. For most people life still has to go on: getting out of bed, washing & dressing, cooking & eating, earning a living, paying the bills. These can seem too demanding, but for most people, it is essential to continue doing these things, so stability and functioning are vitally important. I can help you find your feet and start regaining control of your life.

Once you have re-balanced, you will then be in a better position to start looking at how to resolve the crisis and move forward with your life.

The approach in this case will vary according to individual needs, but is likely to be more based around talking through your thoughts and feelings about your situation, backed up with practical tools and techniques that you can take away and utilise in between sessions: mindfulness, breathing, de-stressing routines, and habits of good self-care.

Finally…

Not sure what you need? Whatever requirements you may have in terms of therapy, bodywork, counselling and support, whatever you need, I am very happy to tailor sessions to suit you. If you're not sure what would be best, feel free to call or email me.

I offer a free 1 hour consultation session to help you decide what would be best and if I am the right therapist for you.

Contact me