Do you sometimes feel torn between a part of you that wants one thing, and another part that wants just the opposite? Like a part that wants to be fit and healthy and another one that can’t stop eating? Or do you have a part that does, feels or thinks in a way that another part of you says you shouldn’t, so another part feels guilty about it? Say a procrastinating part that leaves important tasks till the last moment, a self-critical part that beats down the procrastinating part, and a “there’s something wrong with me” part that feels a terrible sense of shame? Or maybe an anxious part of you avoids certain situations only to trigger harsh treatment from your inner-critical part, which leaves you feeling all the worse?
If this resonates with you, let me tell you that you are not alone. We, human beings, are complex, multifaceted individuals comprised of different parts and a core self. And yes, most of us experience inner turmoil when parts of us are polarised and hold different views, needs, feelings and behaviours. Moreover, many of us have been taught to treat some of these parts particularly the ones that get us into trouble, with suspicion. So, we try to learn techniques to manage or suppress them, and these may work temporarily but after a while we find ourselves living in a never-ending internal war.
The good news is that there is a different approach that leads to deep and lasting healing and it is one of integration and wholeness. We are called to grow and flourish like a tree whose many parts (roots, trunk, branches, leaves) live and grow together in harmony and equilibrium within and with the bigger ecosystem where we are planted.
My role as a therapist is to help you cultivate the environment that your tree needs for its many parts to live and grow through the different seasons of life: to make sure that it has sufficient sunlight, water and nourishing soil and to prune or remove anything that may be thwarting growth and life. It’s an organic process where one learns to listen and respect the needs and times that each part needs to grow, heal and flourish within the bigger ecosystem of human society.
I believe that each of us has inherent dignity, goodness, worth, and the capacity and freedom to live a meaningful and integrated life. Through the lens of a parts modality and a holistic approach (mind, body and spirit), I provide a safe and welcoming space where you can explore yourself and your different life experiences in a way that is accepting, and that leads to healing.