My Approach
I serve as a guide and compassionate witness until you get comfortable accessing your self-compassion, inner wisdom, and healing intuition to become a loving guiding presence for yourself.
Going inward…
You may have noticed that when you set everything aside and begin slowing down, a nervous energy starts to bubble up. This is a very common response for those of us who learned early on that it’s not safe to just be ourselves.
We start with safety…
Our exploration together starts with helping you get familiar with coming into the present moment and observing yourself with a gentle curiosity. Through experiments and listening, we find the practices that bring ease to your nervous system. We hone these resources so you can use them out in the world as well as during the therapy process.
Discovering your inner world…
For those who would like to journey on, we use this curious and accepting attitude to start to explore your internal landscape. As you turn inwards and listen deeply, alienated parts of yourself may begin to surface. Some may have been waiting eagerly to be seen and heard by you while others may hang back, making sure it’s safe. We use the skills gained earlier to provide a welcoming setting and then collaborate with the parts to create the experiences that will help them heal. Some parts might like to talk and share things such as how they are trying to protect you, lessons they have learned, and the burdens they have been carrying. Other parts may want to process things through sounds, movements, art, or enactments.
Trusting Organicity
Throughout the process, I offer invitations and experiments, and you can choose which ones feel right for you. I believe that your system organically knows what it needs to heal and move toward wholeness, and it is our work to remove any obstacles and provide a nourishing environment of acceptance.
Theoretical Orientation
As I dip into various types of therapies to meet an individual’s needs, I rely heavily on mindfulness to facilitate deeper growth work. I find that mindfulness, which involves directing awareness to what is happening in the present moment, is helpful in providing the distance necessary to explore internal workings from a curious, less reactive place. Intense events, emotions, and sensations can be experienced and processed in a way that feels safer and more manageable.
The modalities that I specialize in center around a mindful state and can help clients go beyond ordinary states of consciousness. By exploring material while in these states of deeper awareness, clients are able to process patterns and trauma in a real and lasting way.
These are the three modalities that I use most often:
EMDR
Learn more at https://www.emdria.org/page/what_is_emdr_therapy
Internal Family Systems
Learn more at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/internal-family-systems-therapy
Sensorimotor Therapy
Learn more at https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/sensorimotor-psychology
Ready to explore?
Lynn Kitajima, LMFT 