An Experiential Approach to Wellness
We humans learn best by doing. Most Western psychotherapy approaches focus on the mind, hoping that changing thoughts will lead to changed behaviors and feelings. This approach can work well for some folks, but for many of us it feels incomplete because it neglects the physical and spiritual aspects of our humanity. Experiential therapy invites all parts of you into the process by engaging the body, mind, emotions, and spirit in your healing journey. Together we’ll decide what activity would be most helpful to you each session. We’ll engage in that activity together in a mindful, trauma-informed way and have deep, reflective conversion, weaving together relevant threads from Evidence Based Practices like Adventure Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and somatic trauma therapy.
“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”
Our Time together might include
Hiking in the forest ✴ Wading in a creek ✴ Skipping stones ✴ Making a collage of pinecones, acorns, leaves, or feathers ✴ Deeply connecting with nature ✴ Building a fire ✴ Splitting wood ✴ Throwing snowballs ✴ Playing chess ✴ Meditating ✴ Practicing Yoga ✴ Tracking body sensations ✴ Shamanic journeying ✴ Smoke cleansing ✴ Energy work ✴ Pranayama (breathing exercises) ✴ Petting a Golden Retriever ✴ Foraging ✴ Ascending the Ropes Course ✴ Star Gazing ✴ Connecting with Ancestors ✴ Singing, rattling, or drumming ✴ Laughing ✴ Exploring non-ordinary states of consciousness ✴ Retrieving parts of your soul ✴ Exploring and reintegrating your shadow parts ✴ Dancing ✴ Flower Baths ✴ Anything you are passionate about
