Have you ever created a collage out of paper or other material?

You may combine photographs with drawings, you might cut out words from magazines and collect leaves or flowers and bring them together to create one unique and unified piece of art. All of the materials you choose become integrated and create a whole, new and different visual experience for the viewer. As a practitioner of Integrative Counseling, I utilize different modalities to address the mind, body, and spirit.

Integrative counseling, Combining Different Modalities of Healing

Integrative therapy is like a collage as it combines different modalities of healing. The healing collage is always growing and shifting and is unique to you. In my practice, we engage in many forms of healing work inclusive of, including Somatic, Shamanic, Depth Psychology, Reiki, Trauma work, Mindfulness, Meditation, Eco-Therapy, Sacred Feminine, Intuitive work, and personal spirituality.

Integrative work is respectful of mind-body

Meaning, you are an integrative being and you need to be seen as more than a mind, more than a body. You are a collage of intricate systems which include your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs.

Why is Integrative Counseling Helpful?

Having multiple systems of healing gives you much more flexibility in your personal work. You may find great benefits with somatic therapy but also enjoy the dream work of depth psychology. You may find yourself working on a piece of trauma from earlier in your life. In trauma work, we must first learn how to resource ourselves so we can handle any sort of difficult memory which may arise. Learning energy work or mindfulness, or developing your intuitive side are wonderful resources. We need to honor the organic multiplicity of our complex minds and bodies.

What does an Integrative Session Look Like?

There are many paths to take for healing our wounds and working on any aspect of ourselves. You may begin a session with somatic awareness, a beautiful exercise of getting in touch with what you are feeling or sensing within yourself. It is like a gentle meditation that allows you to fully notice your state of being. Imagine you identify a deep emotion. That emotion may bring up a memory.

Different Options for Addressing Emotions and Memories

In the session, this memory can be worked with through shamanic intervention, energy work, or trauma work. Perhaps you have a dream that you remember vividly. We work with a depth psychological lens and allow the dream to show you the deeper parts of yourself. You are always moving toward self-discovery. We use the modality best suited to your journey.

Benefits of Integrative Therapy or Counseling

Each modality has benefits! When you are able to learn different forms of self-work you create a wonderful collection of resources full of all the benefits of each one. The benefits of mindfulness, like lowered stress and anxiety, become powerful allies for you as you work on trauma. The benefits of getting in touch with your intuitive side could help you to be more open to your personal spirituality and other beautiful aspects of living an intuitive life. Perhaps you will be drawn to learn a practice of mindfulness or develop your intuition or become more in tune with the natural world. 

Feel Both Gracefully Combined and Organically Spacious

With integrative work, you will feel both gracefully contained and organically spacious. Integrative therapy or counseling is expansive and helps you expand your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. It is a holistic pathway to finding your organic self-hood.