Therapy and Counseling in Boulder: New Transpersonal Psychotherapy

by admin | May 9, 2016 | Psychotherapy

When looking for Boulder therapy counseling options, the number of choices and options available can be overwhelming. Perhaps you want a counselor who can address more than just a particular issue, who, instead, has more a “whole person” approach? My methodologies allow me to work with you and look deeper…to find not just therapeutic, but also spiritual answers to your struggles.

Using Transpersonal Psychology

Transpersonal psychology is a holistic approach that looks at therapeutic issues through the mind, body, and spirit. These are fundamental to the human experience, and should not be ignored when seeking treatment. They can be powerful resources to aid you with healing.

Transpersonal psychology can be helpful for treating:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD)

A part of transpersonal therapy is becoming Body Centered. This where we work to integrate the relationship between the mind and the body.

The Hakomi Method

The Hakomi Method is a form of experiential therapy that utilizes expresses principles of:

• Mindfulness
• Nonviolence
• Unity
• Organicity
• Mind-Body Integration

It is a method taught by the Hakomi Institute here in Boulder, Colorado.

Using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Also known as DBT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is another Boulder therapy counseling option. It is a therapeutic approach that helps clients identify what their strengths are and  build upon them in order to cope with weaknesses. For instance, if you struggle with depression, DBT might help you realize that being with animals helps improve your mood. This is a realization that you and your therapist could work together to find.

Practicing Meditation

Another aspect to my therapeutic practice includes meditation. Meditation is a powerful tool that allows us to slow down, focus on our breathing, and loosen the grip we have on our minds, allowing our thoughts to exist. As we experience thoughts, feelings, and emotions, we can acknowledge their existence, and return to the rhythm of our breathing. Mediation allows us to accept ourselves as we are in that moment, instead of having to create a façade for others.

Using Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing is a therapeutic process where a therapist works with the client to help them find the answers they seek. It is client-centered, so that your perspective, life experiences, and outlook can help with facilitating change. This is much more holistic than simply being told the “answer.”

Incorporating Spiritual Development

Many of the issues we face, such as anxiety and depression, may be rooted in a spiritual crisis. Questions such as “What should be the meaning of my life?” or “Am I living the life I want?” are existential ones that can distressing. A therapist can help with these issues by incorporating Personal Growth Therapy, which includes:

• Spiritual Awakening: becoming aware of your spiritual nature.
• Spiritual Growth: becoming more connected with your spiritual nature.
• Spiritual Transformation: integrating your spiritual nature.

The Diamond Approach

Another way to blend psychology and spiritual teaching is the Diamond Approach. This technique, according to pioneer A.H. Almass, it is vital to look at the process of one’s understanding as a path by recognizing both psychology and the spiritual as two separate factors, or dimensions, in the same consciousness of a person. This can help a person discover the structure of reality and eternal truth.

As you may imagine, my therapeutic approach is meant to be collaborative. I want to work with you side-by-side on this path together so that you may find what is the root causes for what troubles you, and how to become whole again. I believe for this to occur we can incorporate traditional psychotherapy techniques with approaches that integrate the mind, body, and spirit. By using these Boulder therapy counseling options this can allow you to open yourself up to discovering your own truths, and find healing.

MDMA Research:  A Potentially Final Solution to Trauma?

by admin | May 2, 2016 | Psychotherapy

There are many tools available for people who struggle with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These include medication, lifestyle changes, peer support groups, and sessions with a counselor. MDMA research has the potential to be another asset in helping those who experienced trauma to find resolution.

What is MDMA?According to the U.S. Government, MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a drug, taken in pill form, that affects the brain’s neurotransmitters. It also:

• Leaves one feeling increased enjoyment and energized.  
• Can cause harm to nerve cells, if taken in large doses, MDMA.  
• The drug has also been known to raise the body’s temperature.  

MDMA is often mixed with other drugs such as caffeine, cocaine, methamphetamine, and dextromethorphan. It is also called Ecstasy or Molly on the street, and is used by party-goers attending concerts seeking a heightened, mind-altering experience. MDMA is illegal in the United States.

How Can MDMA Help People with Trauma?

MDMA may have the potential to help people with trauma when used during a session with a trained counselor. The drug allows a user to feel more open, empathetic, and euphoric.  These feelings can help the user become more open and trusting with a counselor, who can then discuss with the client about their trauma and to process their experiences. One patient interviewed on NPR said that MDMA caused her to see a maze that led back to her childhood and trauma that until then she had not remembered. This allowed her to process these experiences with her therapist and find closure.

MDMA Research by MAPS

Currently, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is conducting MDMA research and lobbying the U.S. Government on the subject. Some of the results of their research show that:

• MDMA helps to increase the release of prolactin and oxytocin, which are hormones connected with trust.

• MDMA affects the brain by lowering activity in the left amygdala, which affects traumatic memory and fear.

• MDMA is only given a few times during therapy sessions, unlike other medications that must be taken daily for long periods of time.

Results of MDMA Research

During the MAPS MDMA research, people were given either MDMA or a placebo during two 8-hour sessions that were 3-5 weeks apart. This was in combination with other weekly therapy sessions. After two months 83% of the participants were no long considered to have PTSD. Follow-ups after over three years, reported that the benefits from the treatment were maintained by the patients. There was no negative impact on the brain as a result of using MDMA for therapy.

What Does MDMA Research Mean for Trauma Patients?

MDMA research shows some promise for patients who struggle with PTSD and its symptoms. However, more study into the subject is necessary before MDMA can be made widely available. Dr. Eugene Kiyatkin of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes in a USA Today article that MDMA in its pure form can kill research rats when given moderate doses, and reproducing the conditions found in a hot and crowded music concert. Other negative side effects can include:

• Nausea
• Involuntary teeth clenching
• Muscle tension
• Fainting
• Blurred vision
• Sweating
• Chills

In some cases MDMA can cause hyperthermia, which is when the body overheats. This can lead to kidney, liver, or heart failure, and death.

MDMA, when used under the guidance of a therapist and combined with traditional talk therapies, has the possibility of significantly helping people with PTSD resolve their symptoms. Although more research is needed into the effects of the drug, MDMA holds the promise for PTSD sufferers for hope and finding healing.

Life Coaching vs. Therapy:  Explore Their Differences and Similarities

by admin | Apr 25, 2016 | Psychotherapy

There are often a lot of similarities between coaching vs. therapy, as well as important differences too. Both though, are meant to ultimately help clients improve themselves and become the best that they can be.

Coaching vs. Therapy:  Areas of Focus

What are the areas of focus for a life coach vs. a therapist? Consider these descriptions:

• A life coach is someone who can help with a particular area of your life that you wish to improve. These specialties can range from job searching, employment skills, finances, even helping people with learning differences such as ADHD. They advise, but do not give directives. Instead, they help people discover for themselves how to achieve their goals.

• A therapist can also be specialized or a generalist. However, their focus is more about diving deep and finding the meaning of your feelings, and to address therapeutic concerns such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or even a spiritual crisis.

Coaching vs. Therapy:  Similarities

A life coach and a therapist share many similarities, including:

• A desire to help people to be their best and live healthy lives.
• Specific skills and knowledge that can be an asset to clients seeking help.
• May use similar strategies for facilitating a session.
• Can be “sounding boards” for clients to gain new perspectives to effect change in their lives.

Coaching vs. Therapy:  Qualifications

• A life coach will have experience related to the area of focus they specialize in. For instance, a life coach who helps people with employment skills could have a background in human resources. They can also hold a certification from a life coach training organization.

• A therapist will usually hold a master’s degree or higher in social work or counseling, and will have had professional internships as part of their graduate training. They may also have attended post-graduate training courses as well.

Coaching vs. Therapy:  How to Use Both

A client who has both a therapist and a life coach can utilize both professionals to their advantage. For instance:

• A life coach can help with specific action objectives that the client wishes to achieve:  writing a better resume, understanding learning styles, being able to navigate work or school environments effectively.

• A therapist can help you process a wide variety of emotions that you are feeling and help you learn new tools to better understand and regulate them. For example a therapist would provide help understanding why you are depressed or assist you in resolving past trauma.

Combined together, you gain someone who can help with specific steps to reach your goals, and a person that allows you to better understand the roots of your feelings and emotions.

Coaching vs. Therapy:  Transpersonal Life Coaching

If you are looking for a life coach that uses a spiritual approach, consider a transpersonal life coach. Someone trained in transpersonal coaching can help you find the connection between the spiritual self and your consciousness in order to help you become your authentic self. You can also find a therapist trained in transpersonal psychology to get the added benefit of both perspectives.

A life coach and a therapist are not opposite ends of a spectrum. In fact, they can share similar objectives, values, and a committed desire to help others. They do have their own specialties and methods as to how they approach and  accomplish this. However, by utilizing both a life coach and a therapist, you can gain much from their knowledge and be doubly able to make positive changes in your life.

Does Therapy Help? What Can Therapy Do For You?

by admin | Apr 18, 2016 | Psychotherapy

Are you struggling with a problem and wondering whether therapy really helps?

Ask yourself, are you content with the way things are now? If you are grappling with issues like anxiety, depression, PTSD, or even a spiritual crisis, participating in therapy could help you find the answers that you are looking for.

Why Should I Go to Therapy?

Good question! Going to therapy is a personal choice for each individual. However, for whatever reason, you may have come to a point in your life where things just aren’t working.  These could include:

• The way you handle (or don’t handle) your emotions.
• How you relate to other people.
• How you connect (or don’t connect) with people who are close in your life.
• Feeling like you don’t have control over your thoughts or feelings.

Whatever it may be, the result is that you may be finding it difficult to work or stay employed. Maybe you are struggling to express yourself to others. Or perhaps issues like as anxiety have taken such a toll, that you don’t feel like you can function “normally.”

Does Therapy Help Me Be Happy?

Therapy is not an answer to finding happiness. It can help you get to the root cause of why you feel the way you do. This can take time, and may not lead in directions that are pleasant. Yet, by going on this journey, you can get to a place where you will find not happiness, but, perhaps resolution for whatever issue troubles you. The advantage of working with a therapist is that you do not have to take this journey by yourself, but instead, receive the guidance of someone experienced with these kinds of issues.

What Happens During a Therapy Session?

That depends on what you are struggling with specifically. You can expect an environment that is private and interactions that are nonjudgmental. A therapy session is an opportunity to be honest with yourself and to trust someone else with what troubles you. You should expect to work with a therapist who is professional, compassionate, and understanding. In addition, you have the chance to practice therapeutic tools and learn new ways of communicating and experiencing your feelings in a healthy way.

What Kinds of Strategies Are Used in Therapy?

There are different kinds of methodologies that a therapist can use to help you achieve your goals.  Some of these include:

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): A cognitive technique that emphasizes mindfulness, change, and acceptance.  Grounded in Eastern traditions.

• Transpersonal Psychology: Incorporates traditional psychology with spirituality.

• Body Centered Psychology: Using the human body as a resource for addressing therapeutic issues.

Does Therapy Help With My Spiritual Development?

Yes, it can! Participating in therapy often involves taking a personal journey of your spiritual exploration. In the process, you will learn new things about yourself that go beyond your tangible concerns. The result can be a new awareness of who you are, perhaps even a change in the direction of your life that you weren’t expecting. This can be broken down into three developmental sections:

• Spiritual Awakening: Becoming aware of your spiritual nature.
• Spiritual Growth: Getting in touch with your spiritual nature.
• Spiritual Transformation: Integrating your spiritual nature into your life.

Does Therapy Help?

It can if you let it. If you fight the process, it can be difficult for you to learn the lessons you need to learn in order to address your issues. By having a degree of acceptance, you can allow yourself to be more open to change and growth.

If you are struggling with an issue in your life, consider the benefits of therapy. Take a journey of reflection and contemplation, then you and your therapist together, can find resolutions to your issues.

Existential Anxiety?  When Life’s Big Questions Cause Your Stress

by admin | Apr 11, 2016 | Psychotherapy

It may sound cliché, but do you ever find yourself asking, “What is the meaning of life?”  Are you anxious that the path you are on isn’t right for you? Are there parts of yourself that you have never been true to, and are now finding need release? Existential anxiety can be a real concern that leaves you searching for answers.

What is Existential Anxiety?

Existential anxiety is a specific kind of an anxiety disorder. Unlike some people whose anxiety is caused by the fear of germs, being embarrassed in public, or other fears, existential anxiety sufferer’s fears are more rooted in the “big picture.” For instance:

• “What is the meaning of my life?”
• “What is my purpose?”
• “Is there more out there”?
• “What’s the point?”
• “Why do I feel so disconnected from other people?”

You may also feel existential anxiety regarding whether or not you can truly be your authentic self and are afraid of the possible rejection that may occur if you do.

The Crisis of Existential Anxiety

Although it may be normal and healthy to have periods of self-reflection, asking these kinds of questions often could trigger a spiritual crisis. People who have a “midlife crisis” and suddenly buy an expensive car, participate in an affair, or quit their jobs, are suffering from a crisis of existential anxiety. It can be disconcerting, to say the least, to come the conclusion that your life has no meaning or purpose, even if, to others, you have the trappings of  “success.”

Looking for Meaning In Life

It is not important just to be alive, humans also need a reason for existence. This has been true for as long as our species has existed.  For example:

• People have a need to feel belonging and acceptance.
• We believe that there is a purpose to life.
• We want to know that what we do means something in this world.
• People need to be connected to other people.

When we don’t have answers to these kinds of “big picture” issues, we may either go searching for answers, or become trapped in a thought process that can lead to depression, or worse.

How Can Existential Anxiety Be Treated?

Existential anxiety may seem like an overwhelming problem, but it can be treated. A therapist who is trained in transpersonal anxiety treatment, can help you find resolutions to your anxiety. This treatment method allows the therapist to work with you to develop the resources already inside you.

You can  identify resources outside of yourself that support you and allow you to be more confident in your place in the world. The process allows you to identify the sources of your anxiety and develop tools to address those issues. Together, you and your therapist can help you to find meaning again in your life.

Healthy Ways to Address Existential Anxiety

Besides formal therapy, there are other ways that you can address existential anxiety in your life. Ways that don’t involve making rash decisions with lifelong consequences. For example:

• If you are questioning the value of your work, it may be time for a career change.  Consider transitioning into a new field that will have more meaning than your current work. A life coach can be a great resource for this.

• Are you realizing you aren’t as young as you used to be? You can combat the effects of aging by exercising, eating healthy foods, and consulting with your doctor.

• Spend time in nature, which can be calming and have positive mental health benefits.

• Volunteer your time and give back to your community through an organization aligned with your values and interests.

• Spend time with family, friends, and the people who care about you.

Existential anxiety does not have to lead to a crisis. Work with your therapist, can help you discover new meaning in your life. Together, create opportunities to feel like you are being true to your authentic self.

Let’s Explore 4 of the Best Trauma Therapies

by admin | Apr 4, 2016 | Psychotherapy

Do you struggle with the effects of trauma, even years after the trauma occurred?

Are you looking for answers and to find help?

Living with trauma can feel like there is a disconnect between yourself and the world around you.

Fortunately, there are several techniques and trauma therapies for resolving trauma that focus on the mind, the traumatic event, and even the body available to you

Transpersonal PTSD Trauma Therapy

One strategy for resolving past trauma is transpersonal PTSD trauma therapy. This technique focuses on the building of your skills and resources for coping with the trauma, as well as discussing the event (or events) that caused the trauma in the first place.

Transpersonal therapy focuses more on looking at trauma from a position of strength, rather than weakness. It also addresses the connection of trauma between the mind and body. Being able to have more resources to rely upon can help clients feel more empowered to face their trauma.

Somatic Experiencing Therapy

Another of the trauma therapies available to you is called somatic experiencing. The idea behind somatic experiencing, as with transpersonal therapy, is that the connection between the mind and the body may be used as a tool to help people resolve trauma. The Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute notes that animals in nature experience acts of trauma, such as the potential for death, but are seldom traumatized by these events. This is because animals use body movement as a way to release energy and to regain balance. These “involuntary movements” include:

• Trembling
• Shaking
• Deep breathing.

Humans are more prone to trauma because we mentally internalize it but don’t do anything physically to release it. This does not give the body a chance to “reset” itself. This can have a negative impact on us physically and emotionally. Somatic experiencing allows us to use our bodies to be free of this energy.

Sensorimotor Therapy

A third form of trauma therapy is related to somatic experiencing, called sensorimotor psychotherapy. According to the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, this technique combines an awareness of the physical body with traditional psychotherapy. When people experience trauma, there can be a disconnect between themselves and their bodies. Sensorimotor therapy tries to heal that disconnect by using:

• Attachment theory
• Cognitive therapy
• Neuroscience
• The Hakomi Method

The Hakomi Method

As explained by the Hakomi Institute, this method works to help you change, “core material.” These include:

• Images
• Memories
• Beliefs
• Emotional frame of mind.
• Neural patterns.

The general approach for the Hakomi Method is to create a relationship between the practitioner and the client and then help the client create a state of mindfulness, specifically dynamic mindfulness. The concept of mindfulness is derived from eastern traditions of spirituality. This process involves working with the client’s experiences as they come up in the present. The eventual goal of Hakomi is to foster healing of the “core material.”

When looking for options to address your trauma, there are many therapies available for consideration. These techniques allow you to harness the power, not just of your mind, but also your body, as a way to resolve past trauma and find healing. With your therapist, you can find the closure you need to move forward in your life, and to be free of the trauma that burdens you.