“Change occurs when one becomes what he is, not when he tries to become what he is not.
The paradox is that the more one tries to be who one is not,
the more one stays the same.”
~ Arnold Beisser
Experiential Therapy
GO DEEPLY INTO WHERE YOU ARE TO GET SOMEWHERE ELSE. You are the expert on yourself, the most powerful and reliable resource we have as we work together. This is the definition of Experiental Therapy in a nutshell. Integration happens when you meet and attend to yourself where you are, as you are. The popular trend of trying to become different, better, smarter, or kinder through bullying or affirming yourself into change simply doesn’t work. We humans have an organic capacity to settle, relax and gather significant information from the inside. When we soften into acceptance of the way it is, change occurs on its own, without pushing or coercing. Awareness, by its very nature is, healing. This paradox is integral to my practice as I find that this leads to a gentler transformation and more fulfilled life experience. Your basic attention wakes up the clarity, power and fullness already present in who you are.
GestaltGestalt Therapy is an existential, humanistic and experiential therapy that focuses on the individual's experience in the present moment. The word "Gestalt" means "whole" — meaning integration of all our disowned parts into wholeness. The tools used are the therapist-client relationship, the here and now, and an exploration of core belief systems. This is action therapy, not just talk therapy. It's about having your experience and experiencing itself rather that talking about that experience. It's direct and starts with observing the here and now. The emphasis is on what's being done, thought and felt at the moment rather than on what was, might be, could be, or should be.
Gestalt sees everyone as whole, healthy and resourceful while striving towards greater wellness, connection and actualization. It restores your natural ability to find balance and self-regulation under stress. The ability to engage with oneself and others grows, creating better communication and relationships. "You have to be in contact with yourself and others before any real work can happen Everything is based on contact -- how we make it, how we break it, how we can foster more of it. Contact in relationship is reciprocal. When we become more fully alive, energy expresses itself naturally." ~ Duey Freeman |
MindfulnessSimply-stated, practicing mindfulness brings you fully into the NOW without judgment, interpretation or evaluation. It trains your nervous system to know itself better and interfere with itself less. This is not about changing your thoughts or controlling your feelings — it's about gently being with all that arises within you without commanding or demanding anything to be different than what it is. When you focus your attention and attend to your own inner experience with curiosity, mind and body settle into a greater sense of relaxation. As you uncover your capacity for enhanced mindfulness and befriend your inner observer, you will find you have greater resilience for challenges and tolerance for the unfamiliar. Soon, the stronghold of our egos loosen, and we start to experience a sense of ease regardless of whatever difficult circumstances we find ourselves in.
“Mindfulness is an awareness process, not a thinking process. It involves bringing awareness to your experience in this moment as opposed to being 'caught up' in your thoughts. It is the art of living consciously—a profound way to enhance psychological resilience and increase life satisfaction.” ~ Russ Harris |
Expressive Arts
Expressive Arts Therapy utilizes the healing power of arts modalities such as visual arts, writing, movement, music, voice or drama to access deeper material by nonverbal means. Beyond the inherent benefit of cultivating creativity, these techniques often allow access to unconscious emotional material and tap the non-analytic, intuitive capacities of the right brain. It transcends traditional talk therapy by acknowledging that each person's expression is unique. The accessibility of the therapeutic arts is due to the focus being not on artistic outcomes but rather on the open process of creating itself.
Couples & Families>>
Trauma & Anxiety>>
Grief & Loss>>
Welcome>>
Heather Pylant, MA, MFT, offering supportive counseling for Individuals, Couples & Families in the Boulder, Colorado area.
Contact Heather Pylant at (303) 803-6728 or email TwoWingsCounseling@gmail.com.
Contact Heather Pylant at (303) 803-6728 or email TwoWingsCounseling@gmail.com.