What is shamanically-informed counseling?
Shamanically-informed counseling is a wholistic approach that combines both spiritual and mental health practices.
This approach views humans within the context of their larger environments: families, communities, countries, and the natural world.
Shamanically-informed counseling places an emphasis on wholeness, connection, balance, self-awareness, insight, empowerment, and wisdom.
Who is it for?
Shamanically-informed counseling may benefit anyone struggling with the following:
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma
Substance misuse
Problematic anger
Emotional dysregulation
Family conflict
Relational concerns
Major life changes
Low self-esteem
Spiritual crisis
Grief
What techniques are used?
As a trained mental health professional I incorporate theories and techniques from counseling approaches such as CBT, DBT, Person-Centered, Narrative, Existential, and Jungian therapies.
These are used in conjunction with spiritual practices such as mindfulness, meditation, breathwork, symbolic act, the chakra system, learning from nature, and healing through the shamanic journey.
What is the Shamanic Journey?
The shamanic journey is a dreamlike state brought on by the sound of a rhythmic drumbeat, similar to meditation. In this state, individuals can access the personal and collective unconscious, interacting with elements of this world through symbolism and metaphor. In the journey, a person may experience imagery, sounds, sensations, and emotions. Individuals also connect with personal sources of power traditionally known as “spirit guides,” and work with these guides to create healing and find wisdom.
Shamanic journeys are a very empowering personal experience. They allow us to face challenges within ourselves and access a knowledge that the waking mind often resists. By working with the unconscious mind and activating many regions of the brain, individuals can change long-held patterns and beliefs and heal from painful emotions or difficult experiences.
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
―C.G. Jung