Whole Person Counseling and Therapy

MIND/BODY (Somatic) Counseling Programs

 

My counseling practice in downtown Portland Oregon offers a variety of mind/body or "somatic" counseling programs including individual session, group, and occasional workshos. A description of each of these programs follows.

Individual Sessions

Individual 50-minute sessions are the principal method of experiential mind/body counseling. In an individual session, I work with you using any combination of techniques drawn from the physical, body awareness, breath, energetic, other non-verbal, and verbal techniques inherent to the somatic counseling mind/body approach to personal growth.

Each individual session is different, for your unique needs determine the direction, pace, and content of a session. Sometimes, for example, you may work with verbal techniques; at other times non-verbal body-centered techniques. Sometimes you may work to loosen boundaries or defenses; at other times you may work to strengthen the sense of self, build boundaries and defenses. The range of the work is so very diverse. Yet all of it is experiential. And at all times, I respect your defenses and boundaries.

Group

The experience of working in a group is very different than working in a private individual session with me. And, it's that very difference that makes group and workshop work so important. Naturally, persons are at first a little intimidated at the thought of doing group work. Yet consistently my group participants are genuinely pleased to discover just how valuable group work has become to them. In group, you often discover that your feelings are not unusual; that you are not "odd" for feeling as you do - you're just human like everyone else. You find supportive fellow group members who may be working with the very same or similar issues. The special vulnerability of working in group can contribute to important breakthroughs in your personal growth.

Somatic counseling groups are non-confrontational. The group format offers you special paired exercises and group activities that cannot be done in individual sessions. Still in group, individual work also is done. A group session is 2 ½ hours, often scheduled in the evening.

I encourage my clients to supplement their individual programs with group work when they can, because of the unique benefits that somatic counseling group work provides.

Workshops

I also offer day-long and weekend-long workshops throughout the year. In a workshop, participants do concentrated individual, paired-feeling, and group work. Often workshops are thematically organized on topics such as personal authenticity, discovering purpose, or working with anger, shame, abuse, etc.

My current schedule of workshops is listed on the Events page of my website. To request to be added to my email and/or postal mail lists to be notified of future workshops, please click on the "Subscribe" button below.

What's a "Typical" Somatic Counseling Program?

Most of my somatic counseling clients work with me in weekly individual sessions. Of these, often my clients will supplement their individual work with group work and/or workshops. Some clients choose only to participate in a group. Others perhaps limited by time or geography may choose only to participate in workshops.

Consider a free consultation

Counseling is a transformative relationship shared by two persons. So, it is important that you take the time to check out counselor with whom you might work. Is the chemistry right for you? Does the therapist's background and abilities meet your needs? Would a referral be appropriate? Because I believe that it is important that you explore such questions at no cost to you before beginning work, I offer prospective clients the opportunity to meet with me for a free 50-minute consultation.

Consider a free consultation

Counseling is a transformative relationship shared by two persons. So, it is important that you take the time to check out counselor with whom you might work. Is the chemistry right for you? Does the therapist's background and abilities meet your needs? Would a referral be appropriate? Because I believe that it is important that you explore such questions at no cost to you before beginning work, I offer prospective clients the opportunity to meet with me for a free 50-minute consultation.

How do you arrange a consultation?

The easiest way to arrange a consultation is to use the "Online Appointment Booking" link at the top of the page. There you can book a consultation (or any appointment) at a day and time of your convenience. Of course this can be done by phone (503.226.2771) or email, but my busy practice may result in my not replying to you in a timely manner.

 

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