What's this about?

"What do you mean, I have to get on the table? How bizarre is that?!
I just want some counseling!"

A tremendous amount of knowledge is held in our physical tissues, in our emotional body, and our levels of energy. As a child develops, there are opportunities to disengage from emotions during traumatic times - emotional or physical wounding at the hand of others. Because of the inability to process as an adult, a child will internalize the wound and develop dysfunctional beliefs such as low self esteem, unworthiness, or feeling unlovable. These beliefs develop into life patterns that mirror the negative feelings they have about themselves. The phrase, "what you resist, persists" applies to this mechanism. The more disconnected from the original feeling, the more opportunities there are to create and live out beliefs that fail to support an authentically joyful life.

Mind body integration counseling guides the client into their body by sensing and paying attention to where they are in the moment - physically, in their body and also their ability to feel their emotions.

As the work deepens, the client feels the shift of their own energy as they accept my touch, feel their breath in various areas of their body, or become awakened to a closed off or rejected feeling(s). For example, in the heart area, grief and sadness are often present under an energetically hardened chest. Having my hand there and having the client meet it with warmth will often soften the area and allow the feelings to rise. The client can notice if they are disconnected and not allow its release, or they can accept and experience the feelings that are there. If they can do that, the feeling will rise and run its natural course. The client will feel lighter and an energy flow will be restored. If the energy stays locked up, it can manifest in physical tightness, depression or anger.

The real work though, is not in "the results" but in the capacity to notice and be conscious of what is going on. Getting on the table and taking the time to settle into your body is a gift that is endlessly rewarding.