About Michael and my Portland Oregon Therapy Practice

 

 

Statement of Purpose of My Counseling / Therapy Practice

"What a piece of work is man!" said Shakespeare. "How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! In form, in moving, how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a God!"

Our human potential is indeed magnificent. Yet whoever we are, each of us faces personal obstacles that challenge us to grow and thereby to fulfill our potentials. Sometimes our challenges may overwhelm us, and we need help.

Perhaps we are overwhelmed by a personal problem such as depression, low self-esteem, or anxiety. Perhaps instead we long for a deeper sense of purpose and greater fulfillment, but we are uncertain how to renew ourselves. Or we may be bothered by an irksome habit or behavior such as a phobia. The challenges that confront us are as diverse as is our human potential. No one psychological school or technique can embrace them all.

Therefore to serve the diverse needs of my clients across the spectrum of personal growth from everyday problems to spiritual concerns, I offer these different therapy and counseling approaches:.

Somatic Therapy Focus - (individual sessions, groups, and workshops) for profound psychological growth spanning changes to mind, body, and feelings.

Clinical Hypnotherapy Focus - (individual sessions) - for rapid relief of specific ailments, especially those that are psychosomatic in origin.

Authenticity Counseling Focus - (individual sessions, groups, and workshops) - to actualize the existential uniqueness of the client.

Transpersonal Therapy Focus - (individual sessions, groups, and workshops) - to explore and integrate one's spiritual nature and experience.

Principles of My Work

By way of self-introduction, some of the principles embodied by my therapy approaches are shared below. Each is based firmly on almost four decades of study, practice, and experience of humanistic and transpersonal psychology and various contemplative traditions.

The Imperative of Personal Growth

At root, our social, economic, and global problems are problems of individuals in relationship. They are problems of individual psychology, attitude, values, and actions reflected in interpersonal relationship. Effective social change therefore requires that we change ourselves.

The Humanistic Psychology Model

Unlike the medical model that underlies psychotherapy viewing persons as being either "sick" or "healthy," the humanistic psychology model views individuals as existing at different places on the spectrum of psychological growth.

Self as Process

We are not static, unchanging beings. Rather, we are psychological and physiological processes that unfold ceaselessly into each new instant of experience. As Buckminster Fuller commented, "I seem to be a verb." The self is a psychological process.

Self (as process)-Actualization

Inherent to our natures is a drive to develop towards greater differentiation, wholeness, and integration - towards individuation as Jung might claim - or towards self-actualization as Maslow might assert.

The Existence of Biophysical Energy

Underlying the gross physical body is a subtle biophysical energy. This energy is known by such terms as qi, prana, orgone, animal magnetism, odyllic force, the Holy Ghost, and other terms known to many other cultures.

Dis-Ease Results from the Inhibition of Process

Psychological and physiological dis-ease results from the inhibition of process. Physiological inhibitions result from chronic muscular tensions that inhibit the flow of biophysical energy. Psychological inhibitions result from identifications with personal history, attitudes, values, thoughts, feelings, learned behaviors, etc.

Wholeness / Non-Duality

Restoring ourselves to process leads past socially conditioned dualistic conceptions of "right" and "wrong" to a radical permissiveness or acceptance of ourselves as we are. Psychological wholeness is sought, and in becoming and expressing that wholeness, we become our authentic selves.

Unconditional Positive Self-Regard

The very act of opening ourselves to the experience and reintegration of previously disowned parts of our psychology (wholeness), implicitly is an act of unconditional positive self regard (to borrow from Carl Rogers) or -- unconditional love.

Personal Authenticity

Personal authenticity then is the living in unqualified accord with the unique givenness of our psychological processes (to borrow from Bugental).

The Transcendent Human Nature

There is a transcendent capacity within human nature. This is attested to by contemporary research in transpersonal psychology, the world's contemplative traditions and religions, a surfeit of anecdotal evidence, and one's own direct experience. Spiritual experience is the farther range of human nature and psychology

My Background

Education

M.A, in Psychology with Distinction, Saybrook Institute, 1997.

B.A. in Psychology, University of Kansas, 1975.

Certifications & Trainings:

Certification, RADIX Therapy Practitioner, RADIX Institute

Certification, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Knightsbridge Institute

Certification, Certified Hypnotherapist, National Guild of Hypnotists

Certification, Neuro-Linguistic Programmer, Grinder & Delozier Associates

Various certifications to teach qigong forms, Oregon College of Oriental Medicine

Training in Focusing, Focusing Resources

Focusing Teacher Training with Focusing Resources (2007-2008)

Professional Affiliations:

National Guild of Hypnotists

Focusing Institute

Although trained and experienced in a variety of therapy modalities, it is important to understand that I am not a licensed psychotherapist. Persons seeking diagnosis or treatment of behavioral, emotional or mental disorders are advised to seek the services of a licensed psychotherapist.

Instead, my therapy work is educational in its efforts to expand your understanding, to enhance your functioning, and to realize the promise of your potential.