THE HELP CENTER
Find Your Answers Here
WHAT HAPPENS IN TRANSPERSONAL THERAPY?
In essence, "Transpersonal" means beyond the person and is based on the idea that humans are more than mind and body, but are also composed of intangible, or transcendent, factors that make up the whole person. Just as your mind and body sometimes require treatment, your spirituality and other intangible aspects of yourself often require healing of a sort.
From the transpersonal view, whatever is happening to us now is viewed as a positive opportunity for growth. Through each session, I facilitate and guide you on a gentle journey into your inner 'wise self.'
In Art Therapy, the insights come by allowing the most hidden part of yourself, that is part of your psyche, to come forward. In this safe environment you can move the Inner Critic to one side, and let yourself play without censorship. Drawing, painting, collage and image cards can allow symbols and the symbolic to appear. The symbolic is the language and gateway to your psyche. There is no judgement or doing Art Therapy "right."
Carl Jung wrote in The Man and His Symbols: "Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate." We all have this ability to access this part of ourselves, but most of us have never been shown how. Art Therapy is a very gentle way to start this journey of self-realisation and help the integration of all parts of yourself.
In Transpersonal Counselling, I use visualisation processes such as Focussing, which is a technique pioneered by Psychotherapist Eugene Gendlin. Focusing involves holding a kind of open, non-judging attention to an internal knowing which is directly experienced but is not yet in words. By helping the client focus on the felt sense, the client tunes in to their body’s own wisdom or intelligence and uncovers and resolves an issue at its source. I also work with dreams, where work together to uncover the deeper meanings of dreams..
These are just a few of the many techniques that a transpersonal counsellor may employ. If this type of therapy resonates with you, it may be just what you need at this stage of your journey.
HOW MUCH DOES EACH SESSION COST AND HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
The cost of each session varies between $120.00 -$150.00. This depends on the length of the session. I offer discounts for students and pensioners. This price also includes all art materials.
Each session takes approx. 1 hour, although they may run a little over, if we need more time to have a proper completion to your experience, and to make sure you are properly grounded before you leave the therapy space.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRANSPERSONAL COUNSELLING AND TRANSPERSONAL ART THERAPY?
Counselling doesn't use art materials, for the most part, it is more talk-based, using meditations and guided visualisations to access and have a dialogue with parts of yourself that are usually hidden. You are in control the whole time. Sometimes we may use paper and pencil to explore certain beliefs or emotional states.
Art Therapy uses art materials, image cards, collage or clay, to enable you to bring forth aspects in a similar way.
There is no analysis, Artworks produced are used to externalise your inner world providing you with an opportunity to explore them in a tangible way. The focus is not on analysing or interpreting the art, but rather amplifying and enquiring into what's on the paper, so you can make your own meaning.
DO I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DRAW?
No! It is not about making art. It is about trying to bypass the ego-based conscious mind, and letting your unconscious off the leash! Sometimes it is harder for artists to access their unconscious for this reason. A change of media in this case, often helps, as well as using your non- dominant hand.
DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE SPIRITUAL BELIEFS TO DO THIS?
No, it is a secular process. We all have a conscious and unconscious mind. Doing Art Therapy or guided processes during the Transpersonal Counselling sessions, allows us to find and access the strengths and resources that we can bring into our daily lives.
IS IT SAFE?
Yes, you are in control of the session. It is client-centred. We meet you in your world. We don't impose any beliefs or psychological or social frameworks on you.