Holistic Wellness
Our brain is incredible!
It has thousands of evolutionary years pre-programmed into the ways we act, think and create connection.
Environmental considerations create epigenetics which add to the program and create a whole host of survival skills.
Though originally helpful, this meshing of genetics and experiences develops into unique nervous system adaptations and can eventually be expired, no longer needed or even maladaptive.
Therapy aims to shift those patterns by creating new ones! Yay neuroplasticity!
Neuroscience began to discover plasticity in the early 1920s, which means that even though it is pre-wired for survival,
because of it's flexibility, we can change how our systems respond to stress.
This ultimately changes both the physical and emotional experience we have.
Overtime, we not only feel the difference in how we respond to stressors,
we can actually see changes in brain structures, hormone/stress levels and functioning of organs (such as the heart and digestive system), with a scientific lens of course.
Why shift those neural networks?
Well, although survival-focused functioning worked in the past, it can get in the way of enjoying our lives right now.
May it helped our ancestors (or us) survive when vivid details were remembered, coping behaviors rehearsed and danger was anticipated. Our systems stay alert to keep us safe. Orientation to threat takes many forms, it can look like...
Constantly replaying a negative thought, memory or interaction over & over in our minds...
Griping tightly to details about a traumatic event, causing us to feel like it's happening all over again...
Physical anxiety like unease, heaviness in the chest, pain in the stomach or tension in the muscles...
Difficulty sleeping, challenges being present or trouble communicating with others...
It can impact our appetite, resulting in eating too much or not at all...
decreased motivation and/or energy or the opposite, feeling unable to stop doing doing doing...
The list goes on.
At Golden Spiral Counseling I want to help you reconnect to your nervous system in a way that feels both authentic and empowering.
Holistic approaches can not only help you reduce symptoms, it helps you create a whole new way of moving through the world and relating to yourself.
Let's face it, being human can be pretty hard.
It can also be pretty amazing, pretty messy and pretty rewarding.
Sometimes it is difficult to see past our struggles and that is completely normal.
But just because it's normal doesn't mean we have to stay feeling that way.
Our wise, intuitive systems are designed to return to balance but if something makes that safety feel out of reach, we compromise authenticity for survival, leading to an unbearable disconnect, both physically (from our bodies) and emotionally. Under all those stuck emotions, overwhelming thoughts and ineffective behaviors is a beautiful and powerful being, waiting to lead you home.
Holistic healing is the concept that we cannot define wellness by only one part of our life.
Holistic healing is taking into account all aspects of well-being and aligning them with intention, so we can experience life in vibrant fullness.
Holistic wellness is the process of intentionally returning back to your natural flow by reconnecting to your truth, your needs, your emotions and your body.
Mindfulness of the body, mind, emotion and self can be explored through each modality listed here or more often, through a combination of these.
I use eclectic modalities that I feel, compliment one another in terms of processing, accessing emotion and building effective coping skills.
The sky is the limit with how we combine interventions, making it customized to exactly what you need.
Holistic Interventions in our sessions could include but are not limited to:
Psychoeducation about the brain and it's influence on the body's physiological systems (and visa versa); when we understand WHY we experience certain reactions when stressed, it allows us to recognize that many "symptoms" of mental health concerns are normal reactions. One of my favorite ways to teach this is through Polyvagal and Attachment Theory.
DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) interventions allow clients to acknowledge opposing forces in their lives (such as the desire for change and feelings of being stuck in current struggles) so that they can learn applicable ways to shift out of negative patterns and into intentionally effective behaviors. DBT also comes with handout-worksheet set for each skill, making the elements easier to use and simple to track. For more info on DBT therapy visit What is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)? - DBT Self Help
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): EMDR is an evidence-based practice shown to effectively reduce symptoms of trauma. Trauma can simply be defined as any life experience too overwhelming for the brain to process and understand. I am EMDR certified and can provide this wonderful intervention virtually. For info specific to EMDR therapy check out About EMDR Therapy - EMDR International Association (emdria.org)
Somatic awareness and processing; becoming attuned to the emotional energy within our bodies, thought and beliefs so that energy can be released and recycled into that which supports emotional wellness and healing. Mindfulness IFS and visualization exercises are used frequently in my practice and have been life changing for many, myself included. Parts work helps us gain both perspective and appreciation for those stuck parts/energies, allowing us the capacity to be with, relate to and support our nervous system needs.
Artistic interventions; using art to process is an expressive and non-judgmental way that allows us to access parts of the brain and emotional experiences that might remain otherwise hidden. Though not required, using a "therapy journal" to draw, take notes or journal in can be very therapeutic within it's own right.
Mindfulness interventions; although the term implies that our minds will be full in the process, mindfulness is actually intentionally focusing the mind on one experience in the moment. In sessions this can include practices like body scans, breathwork, visualization and more. The act of living a mindful life means moving through the world with awareness, intention and deliberate action.
Exploration of spiritual connections; defining what your own spiritual beliefs are, what they mean in terms of how you live your life and how you can practice those beliefs with an open heart. Having a connection to a higher power, whether it be God, the Universe, our highest Self, Ancestors, Earth or something else, allows us to shift into a space of connectedness, strength and love. This guiding light holds space and compassion for not only ourselves but others and can be a powerful vessel in healing, manifesting and letting go.