Positive, Wellness-oriented Psychotherapy for
Individuals and Couples
by Jon Terrell, M.A, L.M.T.
As I see it, psychotherapy as a healing journey to reconnect with lost wisdom, creativity, goodness and love that is buried in problems and life situations. The practice of therapy is the art of transforming old pain and discomfort. People often come to psychotherapy feeling empty, bogged down and confused, unable to find a way out of their predicament. They've tried to solve their problems rationally, but end up going in circles, repeating the same patterns again and again. Or they avoid the offending person or situation...by moving away, divorcing, etc. But then the same issues shows up in the next person or job. Some people see the problem "out there" in another person or situation. "It's their fault." Others see the problem as deep inside of themselves...something that can't be fixed, a fatal flaw or handicap that will forever keep them unhappy and unfulfilled. Both views hold a seed of truth but keep us stuck in a never ending repetitive pattern of pain. The truth is, our problems do show up out there and are held deep within. But the solution is also deep within. The way out of our repetitive cycles of pain is give space and loving awareness to our struggle, and those parts of us that are hurting. It is here that we discover the light and love of our true nature. And in this discovery is healing and an awakening to new aliveness. Here we find peace, deeper understanding and compassion to ourselves and others. This is the path to deep, lasting change.
Sometimes the journey in can look frightening or impossibly difficult. We will explore our challenging, "dark" emotions...anger, grief, fear, insecurity. Here is where a good guide can be helpful--to shine a light so you can find your way to your own healing, creative and resources.
A Different Kind Of Psychotherapy
I do not focus on pathology, on what is wrong with you. Nor do I use diagnostic labels I learned in my mental health and family therapy training. Rather than a disease focused medical model, we turn in the opposite direction, to seek out, find and emphasize that which is health and life giving in each person.(I therefore do not take medical insurance. This assures complete confidentiality as well.) As a body-oriented psychotherapist I view our bodies and minds are interacting, mutually supporting energy systems. Our thoughts and feelings show up and can be worked with, not just in our brains, but in our bodies. Some of the tools and techniques I work with transform energy blocks--thoughts, feelings and fixed perspectives--that we are stuck in. Within those blocks, within the pain that we feel, is hidden gold. This gold is a true source of unlimited renewable energy, our own unique resource of pure aliveness.
I've found it helpful to discuss counseling as a two-part process of
Getting Your Act Together and Taking It On The Road.
Getting Your Act Together
In the early part of psychotherapy we explore where your life energy is stuck or draining. Your issues are like holes in a bucket, draining your energy and awareness. Unresolved relationships, trigger issues in your life, anxiety and stress—all these can suck your life force out of you. As these issues are transformed, we work together to find new resources of vitality and excitement. We might use tools and techniques drawn from Transpersonal (beyond the "normal" ego) psychology, depth psychology and spiritual traditions in our exploration.
Taking It On The Road
Then we explore how you can manifest your dreams and live life fully on a daily basis. Here we look at road blocks, connecting with allies and angels and practicing the
"Skills of Loving."
We will work to develop greater inner strength, self love and stronger relationships. Our work might include grounding exercises, guided imagery, and coaching tools.
Emotional Wellness is the
Key to Change and Success
I put a special emphasis on Emotional Wellness. Unexpressed, stuck emotions holds our reactive patterns/belief systems together. They are like glue, tying repetitive thoughts and fixed perspectives about ourselves and others in a knot. We suppress our emotions and try to think our way out of problems, but this rarely works. Emotional work is so important that a whole section of this website
(Go to Healing Emotions)
focuses on the alchemy of transforming anger, fear, grief, depression and other feelings into pure radiant life energy and enlightened awareness. Transforming stuck emotions is the big work of life, and brings us home to ourselves, to the power of our true Love.
It all comes together at our Emotional Intensive called
Breaking Free of the Old Story.
"What issues do you work with?"
Anxiety and Stress I use an anxiety and panic protocol that is based on current psychotherapy research. It includes teaching relaxation techniques such as Autogenics and Mindfulness, and specific tools that work with the body, emotions and thoughts. For more information go to my
Anxiety page.
For a discussion of Fear, Anxiety and Change, including 5 Keys to Help With Change click
here.
Life Transitions--Relationships, Career, Bereavement
The most effective way of working through some issues is to go beyond our normal thoughts and thinking mind, and learn to trust the process of our lives. I offer a variety of approached beyond talking. As part of psychotherapy I offer a unique form of
Energy and Deep Tissue Bodywork
that can speed up our letting go of old patterns of thoughts held in the body. Many people can also benefit from
Meditation
which has numerous positive effects.
For more information on my perspective on emotions take a look at my
Grief Page
or at my
How To Deal With Anger Page.
For some perspectives on Relationships go to this page:
4 Core Relationship Skills.
You might want to also view
Characteristices of Healthy Relationships.
And don't miss
Building Loving Relationships.
For information on intimacy go to
this page.
Jon Terrell offers Psychotherapy for individuals and couples at his office in Northampton, Massachusetts and in midtown Manhattan. He does not take insurance, but has a sliding scale fee. For more information or if you have a question, contact him using the form below.
Jon Terrell, M.A., L.M.T.
Fitzwilly's Building
25 Main Street, Suite #342
Northampton, Massachusetts
(413)687-7955 mailbox #21
Return from Psychotherapy to Awakenment Wellness Home
Go to Anxiety Page
Go to Emotions page
Go to Anger and Depression page
Go to Anger page
Go to Building Loving Relationships Page
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