“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
~Rumi
~Rumi
Counseling- it's a special relationship...
Sometimes we can find ourselves grappling with pain of change as well as the pain of NOT making changes. Sorting out these opposing viewpoints can leave us feeling uncomfortable. Many people find themselves questioning everything- this can lead to feeling frozen with fear, running away from making decisions, or fighting within ourselves and even with others. We can be stuck with not knowing what we want. Or we find ourselves questioning if we deserve the very things that we want.
Gaining an outside perspective can help us sort through challenging life events. How often do we find ourselves in situations where the person we are talking to is objective and completely separate from our family, work, and social circles? The counseling relationship is an opportunity for you to be heard in a safe, non-judgemental space. A counselor's objective is to assist you in exploring your life patterns, identifying the ways you cope, and practicing with new coping skills in order to widen your abilities to deal with life challenges.
Embarking on the journey of self discovery and exploration can be an intimidating choice. I urge you to ask a few questions as you interview potential counselors to determine if you 'click'. Just as each person is individual, so are counselors regarding how they view the counseling relationship and their beliefs around what it takes for whole health. I have a few sample questions below, along with my own views regarding the counseling relationship.
-How do you approach the counseling relationship?
My belief is that YOU are the expert on YOU. As we work to uncover your thoughts, beliefs, and responses my role is to support your process through our therapeutic relationship. My training allows me to view individuals in relation to all aspects of who they are as a human, including spirit and how we are all connected through our individual experiences. I believe that once our mind, body, and spirit are in alignment, we become more connected to the intuitive parts of ourselves. Through this deeper connection, we learn more about our inner truth. Once we have deeper understanding and compassion for ourselves we can start to feel more confident about our life decisions as they are based on our core being.
-What do you find most helpful for your clients on their path to healing?
I encourage clients to get curious about themselves. Start looking inward- what sensations are you physically feeling? What emotions and feelings come up through out your day? Can you identify beliefs about yourself and others and pick apart if they are 'true' or automatic perceptions? At first, it can be overwhelming turning our focus inward as the internal human landscape is vibrant. It can be difficult to find the words to express what is happening. With practice, support, and time these sensations, feelings, and beliefs can be utilized for 'whole being health' versus a source of our pain. Our physical bodies are a source of great wisdom and increasing our body awareness in therapy gives us another way to communicate with ourselves.
-What are the common themes that seem to appear in your practice?
Often in times of stress and duress we find ourselves asking heavy questions. 'Why did this happen to me?' 'Am I a bad person?' 'Who could ever love me?' 'I wish I would go to sleep and not wake up.' My approach in assisting clients with these difficult questions is to explore how these beliefs impact their daily functioning. As we begin to peel back the layers of these themes we can start to contextualize how different events have shaped your world view and how these perceptions are holding you back or perhaps even helping you. As we dig into these thoughts, we'll search together for deeper meaning in order to help make sense of it all. This type of work does not necessarily mean that we need to revisit all your hurts and pains- often times we can simply use what is happening in the present moment as the past informs how we react to real time events. In the present moment, we can catch these reactions and beliefs by shining light and contemplating alternative possibilities.
If my approach to counseling resonates with you, please call. I look forward to talking more with you about your situation and what you hope to accomplish from counseling.
I am an LGBTQ+, consensual non-monogamy, and alternative lifestyle affirming therapist.
-How do you approach the counseling relationship?
My belief is that YOU are the expert on YOU. As we work to uncover your thoughts, beliefs, and responses my role is to support your process through our therapeutic relationship. My training allows me to view individuals in relation to all aspects of who they are as a human, including spirit and how we are all connected through our individual experiences. I believe that once our mind, body, and spirit are in alignment, we become more connected to the intuitive parts of ourselves. Through this deeper connection, we learn more about our inner truth. Once we have deeper understanding and compassion for ourselves we can start to feel more confident about our life decisions as they are based on our core being.
-What do you find most helpful for your clients on their path to healing?
I encourage clients to get curious about themselves. Start looking inward- what sensations are you physically feeling? What emotions and feelings come up through out your day? Can you identify beliefs about yourself and others and pick apart if they are 'true' or automatic perceptions? At first, it can be overwhelming turning our focus inward as the internal human landscape is vibrant. It can be difficult to find the words to express what is happening. With practice, support, and time these sensations, feelings, and beliefs can be utilized for 'whole being health' versus a source of our pain. Our physical bodies are a source of great wisdom and increasing our body awareness in therapy gives us another way to communicate with ourselves.
-What are the common themes that seem to appear in your practice?
Often in times of stress and duress we find ourselves asking heavy questions. 'Why did this happen to me?' 'Am I a bad person?' 'Who could ever love me?' 'I wish I would go to sleep and not wake up.' My approach in assisting clients with these difficult questions is to explore how these beliefs impact their daily functioning. As we begin to peel back the layers of these themes we can start to contextualize how different events have shaped your world view and how these perceptions are holding you back or perhaps even helping you. As we dig into these thoughts, we'll search together for deeper meaning in order to help make sense of it all. This type of work does not necessarily mean that we need to revisit all your hurts and pains- often times we can simply use what is happening in the present moment as the past informs how we react to real time events. In the present moment, we can catch these reactions and beliefs by shining light and contemplating alternative possibilities.
If my approach to counseling resonates with you, please call. I look forward to talking more with you about your situation and what you hope to accomplish from counseling.
I am an LGBTQ+, consensual non-monogamy, and alternative lifestyle affirming therapist.
~Jamie Van MA Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Boise, Idaho
