    |
From my experience as a psychotherapist and from my own life experiences, I have concluded that there are four basic ways to deal with anxiety, depression, and other physical and mental disturbances:
First. Learn to tolerate and to adapt to the problem with the support of the therapist and/or other supportive people and groups. Reduce the anxiety about being anxious. Some anxiety is part of life, and in many cases, can ultimately be beneficial.
Second. Learn to understand and analyze the source of anxiety and depression. With this understanding, feelings of powerlessness can be diminished and symptoms alleviated.
Third. Find relief in natural techniques and modalities, including relaxation techniques such as rhythmic breathing, yoga stretching, t'ai chi chih, qi gong, imagery, affirmations, meditation, prayer, and herbs and supplements.
Fourth. Move closer to your spiritual identity and real self. This awareness increases ones capacity to tune in to a higher power, love, guidance, protection.
Traditional therapy is important. Together with psychotrophic drugs, when necessary, it addresses ways one and two mentioned above. It is important for ultimate spiritual development, as it can free energy for spiritual practices and knowledge by reducing emotional baggage and resolving conscious and unconscious conflicts. Accordingly, I view therapy as ultimately spiritual.
My clinical practice is eclectic since it includes many theories and techniques, including but not limited to object relations, ego psychology, relational, and cognitive. However, I have been most influenced by Control Mastery principles. Its theory and practice is the result of many years of scientific research as to how psychotherapy works to help clients overcome conscious and unconscious erroneous beliefs that have obstructed full growth. Each client has a plan, whether he or she is aware of it or not, to become whole. The therapist by creating a safe relationship with the client, by passing tests to disprove the pathogenic beliefs, and by interpretation helps the clients achieve his or her plan. For further information about Control Mastery, professionals can read the writings of Joseph Weiss, MD, HOW PSYCHOTHERAPY WORKS and George Silberschatz, PHD, TRANSFORMATIVE RELATIONSHIPS. Lay people can read Irwin Gootnick, MD, WHY YOU BEHAVE IN WAYS YOU HATE and Lewis Engel, PHD and Tom Ferguson, MD, IMAGINARY CRIMES.
I have also been influenced in the area of existential philosophy and spirituality by the works of metapsychiatrist, Thomas Hora, MD and healer Joel S. Goldsmith.
In understanding relationships of individuals and couples, I have learned much from the ideas of Howard Markman, PHD, John Wellwood, PHD, John Gottman, PHD, and Terrence Real, MSW.
My therapy, in addition to covering ways one and two mentioned above, can embrace the dimension of relaxation response techniques and spiritual awareness covered in steps three and four. I believe that we all are spiritual by nature. I help my clients evoke and access their own unique spirituality, thereby enhancing self-esteem, self-love, and self-empowerment. One of my approaches is to elevate positive virtues and attributes to a spiritual level. For example, to label a yearning for knowledge, peace, and wholeness as spiritually sparked. I frequently use spiritual parables and spiritual interpretation of dreams. I encourage my clients to cultivate relaxation-response techniques, both preventively and curatively as much as possible on a daily basis.
|
