Well-Being
“What shape waits in the seed of you to grow and spread its branches against a future sky?”
-David Whyte
Prioritising Well-Being
My approach to psychotherapy and counselling is entirely holistic; this means that we will consider you as a whole person: your physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing. Even if you feel there is no specific “issue” to bring to therapy at present, you may have reached a point in your life where you are out of alignment with how you wish to be living.
Well-being sessions can either be done individually or you might choose to take part in some of the group sessions on offer. Well-being walks, workshops and retreats will be advertised on the website and on social media – keep an eye out for these or contact me if you would like details now. Whatever you decide, the four key areas we work with are detailed below.
Connecting
Connection is a core human need but increasingly modern life is getting in the way of us making meaningful relationships with others. Increased reliance on technology and home-working have resulted in a pandemic of loneliness, isolation and disconnect. Well-being therapy can help foster that authentic connection with another individual, group of people or nature to ensure our basic needs are being met.
Moving
Whilst talking will be central to the therapy, we can also use somatics: the mind-body connection to explore what is going on for us internally. The body is always present and insightful and provides a pathway towards healing the mind and soothing the soul. For me, listening to the body, connecting with it and moving is fundamental to well-being – whether through dance, running or yoga. We will draw on established practices such as the Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method and mindfulness breath work to release any anxieties, fears and uncertainties we may be holding at an embodied level in a way that promotes holistic well-being.
Meaning Making
Finding meaning is entirely unique to each individual and we each have a responsibility to create the meaning that aligns to our core self. The recent pandemic and current international conflict can force us to question what it all means. We can all start by exploring our very personal “whys”: What creates a sense of meaning for you in your life? Do you feel fulfilled or are missing something but not sure what it is? Are the choices you’ve made aligned to your true self and your core values? These are questions we all need to ask ourselves but it can feel daunting to go it alone. These questions can be explored within the safety of an individual therapy session or during group workshops and retreats.
Grounding
Grounding basically means ‘coming back to the earth’; it is an ancient practice that involves re-connecting your body, mind and spirit to the planet by physically “touching” nature. This can be done through cold-water immersion, wild swimming or walking barefoot. Any of these practices can be experienced during an individual ecotherapy session, specific workshops or group retreats. Research has shown that when you physically connect with the earth it calms your nervous system, reduces inflammation, improves energy and generates well-being and peace.
If any of these practices interest you, please contact me to discuss individual sessions or look out for upcoming workshops and well-being retreats advertised on the website and social media.
“If you allow yourself to be the person you are then everything will come into rhythm.”
-John O’Donohue