Psychotherapy with Joy

A journey of self discovery, change, and growth

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Guiding Framework
Guiding Principles of My Work                                                


I graduated from California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco, CA.  My graduate trainings in Integral Counseling Psychology is a unique program integrating Eastern wisdom and Western psychotherapy approaches.  To bring forth emotional and psychological health, the therapy process is holistic and integrates mind, body and spirit into the whole being to achieve healing and growth.

Mindfulness

The philosophy of Lao Tzu and his beautiful writings of Tao Te Ching (or Dao De Jing) guided ancient Chinese through a chaotic and tumultuous time.  Lao Tzu’s teachings emphasized the concept of Wu Wei (non interference / non-doing / non attachment), Guan (observing without judgment) and Zhi Ran (return to nature, be in harmony with nature). Wu Wei does not mean that we do not act or put efforts into accomplishing what we do, but essentially it teaches us to not force, control, or get in the ways of oneself and others.  We attempt to control or force things, and interfere the natural flow of things by limiting, restricting or putting barriers against ourselves.  By allowing and not interfering, our mind is still and empty, and therefore we behave or act in the most open, flexible and adaptive ways.  Allowing whatever needs to emerge to surface itself.

Another important part of mindfulness is the practice of non violence and compassion.  Our emotional pain and sufferings intensify when we put ourselves down, judge ourselves harshly, and when we try to push away unwanted feelings.  When we are faced with challenges and limitations of ourselves, it is important to remind ourselves to accept who we are and where we are at in this journey. Be gentle and kind to our growing selves.
 
Hakomi Method

Hakomi Method is a body oriented, somatic psychotherapy developed by Ron Kurtz.  Hakomi combines Western psychology, Eastern philosophy of mindfulness and non-violence, and body centered techniques.  People are living systems organized psychologically around core memories, beliefs and feelings. By working through core material and core beliefs, we are able to transform the way we are being in the world. After a safe relationship between therapist and client is established, therapist help client understand and study how their experience are organized by mindfulness practice: exploring body sensations, muscular holding and  stored memories in the body.  As the core feelings or beliefs start to surface, therapist and client make contact with them.  These core feelings, beliefs and memories are then processed when the client is ready. This experience is transformative and healing, and can then be incorporated to the client's new experiences.



Existential Psychotherapy

Human conflict arises from our confrontation with existence: isolation/aloneness, freedom and responsibility that comes with it, meaninglessness, and inevitability of death / fear of non-existence. Human beings long to be connected and feel validated by others, however, we eventually return to moments of being alone with our thoughts, feelings, dialogues and we realized that we are utterly alone in the world.  We have the freedom to choose how we want to live our lives, and we are also responsible for those choices.  Sometimes it is easier to say that we don't have a choice because we are afraid to act, or we don't want to be responsible for the choices we make.

Existentialism encourages people to face the conditions of being human: face life, embracing freedom to choose or to be, and at the same time take responsibilities for those choices.  We do not need to be content with meaninglessness, and we can find meaning and hope by changing perspective or direction.   The fear of death and the anxiety of our mortality are daunting, but we can choose how to embrace life.

Existential issues are sometimes explored with my clients in our work together. Questions such as: Why are we here? What does it mean to be me? Who am I? What do we want out of life? Why do we make certain choices? or not? What are we so fearful or anxious about living? Why are we so afraid of aging and death?

(For more information regarding Existential Psychotherapy, you may be interested in
reading writings from Irvin Yalom and James Bugental)



Person-centered / Client-centered

Person-centered or humanistic psychotherapy is based on the assumption that each per son is capable of self actualization and reaching his or her full potential for growth.  Empathic understanding, unconditional positive regard, and congruency of the therapist are qualities that create an environment where clients feel accepted and understood.  These qualities facilitate the development of self regard, trust of own experience, and the innate growth tendency that is in all of us. The therapist is non-judgmental, genuine and deeply involved in the process and may sometimes draw on his/her own experience to build the therapeutic relationship.



Relational

 

I see the therapeutic relationship as the foundation of growth and healing.  Through a safe, trusting and authentic relationship, our real self is allowed to emerge without the danger of being hurt, judged, and misunderstood.  The relationship creates a sacred ground for the person to open up, reveal his or her self, experience all ranges of feelings, allowing unwanted or unacceptable thoughts to appear.  A trusting relationship also provides corrective emotional experience which often is missing as we go through life and are inevitably exposed to unsafe, neglectful, abusive or traumatic environment.