Like with butterflies, the real work is what happens inside the cocoon.
“There is no such thing as unresourceful people, only unresourceful states.”
-Tony Robbins
We are often under the illusion that self-awareness equals transformation. While awareness is important, it is only a part of the change process. The real work takes place in our unconscious mind. The main job of our unconscious mind is our survival, therefore, it keeps out of our awareness negative experiences, allowing us to live ‘normally.’ However, our wounds, trauma, and negative experiences are held in the subcortical (unconscious) part of the brain, often in the realm of our unawareness.
Together, we can create a kind of healing that brings unity to your conscious and unconscious mind, leading to better emotional regulation and congruent living.
How does the therapy relationship promote and further the change process?
As your therapist, I can provide you with constructive interpersonal experiences that subconsciously and consciously challenge your relational beliefs and schemas. Our ongoing encounters can create new awareness of internal experiences that have been previously ignored, disowned, repressed, or suppressed. You may experience new or reclaimed parts of yourself, and from the surfacing of these internal experiences, come a better understanding of yourself and the construction of reality as you create it.
Every therapist is unique in their style of therapy as well as what they integrate into their therapeutic process. The therapist’s understanding and perspective of humanity, human potential, and the nature of change guides the direction of therapy. This, along with your own individuality, is what makes each and every therapeutic relationship and process unique.
What Informs Our Therapy Process
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Childhood Attachment
The level of attachment to our caregiver can impact relationships in adulthood. Childhood attachment also helps shape our neurobiology, nervous system, and genetic data along with our ability to have and maintain healthy adult relationships. The effects of childhood attachment wounds in adulthood can be as severe as experiencing trauma.
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Neurobiology & the Triune Brain
We are learning more and more about how differences in behavior, personality, and mental health can be seen in our neural landscape. We need to be able to view our mental health through the lens of our neurobiology. From depression to anxiety and trauma, advances in neurobiology allows therapists to have more targeted treatments than talk therapy alone.
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Trauma Response & the Nervous System
Trauma is not only what happens outside of the body, but is also what happens inside of the body. Trauma affects our brain, nervous system, organs, emotions, and behavior. Polyvagal theory-informed therapy frames trauma through bodily responses that are outside of our conscious control. Thus, healing from trauma requires our nervous system to relearn safety.
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Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB)
Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) speaks to the way that humans—being social creatures—have the ability to shape and regulate each other’s neurocircuitry. IPNB-informed therapy benefits the client in that the therapist has an understanding of the neural change possible through the therapeutic relationship.
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Object Relations Theory
Object relations theory posits that the formation of Self is created through our relationships and experiences with other subjects/objects. Early in childhood, we begin the process of internalizing what we perceive is being reflected to us by our experiences and environment. Object relations theory helps us detangle the (often unconscious) narrative and perception of Self that dictates our behavior and view of the world.
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Adaptation & Survival
Every organism has within its genetic makeup the ability to adapt to its environment. This is as true for animals as it is for human beings. Since birth, we adapt strategies (often unaware of what we are doing) that helps us to survive our environment. The Dynamic Maturational Model gives us the framework to understand behaviors that may have been adaptive at one point in our lives, but have become maladaptive for the current situation.