MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness is a powerful tool for helping people study the organization of their experience.  Mindfulness is an exploratory, relaxed and alert, meditative (though non-hypnotic), state of consciousness, which allows us to move beyond our normal, habitual thoughts and actions to the often richly non-verbal intuitions of our deeper states. The process also supports the mobilization of our essential or core selves, which has a presence, centeredness, compassion, and wisdom that transcends the limitations of our historical experience.

NON-VIOLENCE

Non-violence is a principle that promotes safe, non-forceful, cooperative exploration through honoring the signs and signals of our organic processes. In contrast to confronting or overpowering our defences, the practice of non-violence means supporting and appreciating the wisdom our defences and resistance contains.  Change then only takes place when a client is ready and defensive behaviours yield only when appropriate.

MIND BODY INTEGRATION

The principle of mind-body integration affirms that the mind and body jointly manifest and reflect the beliefs we hold about ourselves and the world, which in turn organize how we creatively experience and express ourselves in life.

UNITY

The unity principle assumes that we are living, organic systems that are integral wholes, composed of parts, which also participate in larger systems.  The interdependency of all levels of the system, including the physical/metabolic, intrapsychic, interpersonal, family, cultural, and spiritual are taken seriously.

ORGANICITY

Organicity assumes that when all the parts are communicating within the whole, the system is self-directing and self-correcting and has an inner wisdom of its own.  The clients’ organic unfolding toward wholeness is supported.  There is trust that this is the direction that their system will naturally seek, rather than imposing anyone else’s (including the counsellor’s) agenda on them.