What is Therapy?
Have you wondered what is therapy and what is the purpose of going to or receiving therapy?
The English word therapy comes fom the Latin root therapīa from Greek: θεραπεία and literally means "curing" or "healing". In the Ancient greek it signified medical treatment for an illness or diagnosis. In mental health the word therapy is a synonym to Psychotherapy which is the space to provide evidenced based treatment towards healing the mind.
In the past mental illness or any symptoms related to mental distress were labeled as a taboo, stigmatized, a forbidded topic. Thankfully throughout years of medical research, the study of clinical psychology, psychiatry, neurosciences, family therapy and the human experiences in so many different cultures around the world, it is finally now recognized and proven how the body and mind are closely connected and how the human being is a whole person. This is where psychotherapy comes in and it is now recognized as a space for healing from the brain to the body and from the body to the brain.
In the past it was thought therapy was only for the mentally ill, for the one who lost judgement. Nowadays we can see therapy from more open lenses and really enjoy the gifts we can receive through it towards our wellness and ongoing growth!
Therapy is for you and for me, at any point of our lives, at any moment where we need it, for any issues or concerns in life. From the spiritual concerns, issues with adjusting to life and its transitions, dating, sleep problems to severe depression, panic attacks, post traumatic stress, grief and a wide range of other issues or concerns. We don’t need to label them. Therapy is about life, about you and for you.
Therapy is a safe space to develop self awareness, understand ourselves, undisguised our vulnerabilities, see ourselves, identify life issues and the roots of problems, develop a sense of safety, emotional stability, see the different parts of ourselves, the parts that need repair, the different wounds that we carry. A space to learn skills for self growth, a space to see our relationship dynamics and develop the tools to bring necessary changes, a space to heal. Therapy and healing come together.
Therapy is a space, a holding space, of endless possibilities to heal internally and wholeheartedly. A space to bring in the connection, the peace and the authentic healing you need and to walk with them throughout a life journey with a deep sense of courage and peace!
In Healing Therapy and Consultation we are here to support you in your journey. Take courage in stepping into therapy today!
What is Healing?
Throughout human life experiences, stages and relationships there is a need of healing. In the practice of Medicine and Psychology there have been research and several questions intending to identify and understand what healing is.
The word healing comes from the Old English haelan and the Protogermanic root khailaz which means cure, make whole, ‘‘wholeness’’, which encompasses the depths of the process of healing and the human being, in the human experience. Even before birth, from the womb, and throughout all the phases of life, we are warriors. Life, as it is, is challenging, imperfect in nature, and with every challenge, struggle and call to grow, we become warriors, survivors. Sometimes a traumatic and unexpected experience or a series of repeated experiences can occur and shape our body and mind at their cores, fragmenting us in broken parts. Our body and brain are changed.
However, no matter how complex our traumatic experiences have been, and how difficult and stressful life is right now, research and clinical practice have proven healing is possible and must be holistic, as it is a lifelong journey.
We carry wounds, sometimes from experiences we don’t explicitly remember. These wounds are internal and have taken the shape of internal holes, sometimes they reflect in our behaviors, our relationships, the way we attach, the way we hide.
Therefore, healing is internal, healing must come from within. Healing is a process that begins with the creation of safety and emotional stability. At the core of any healing process dwells self awareness and connection. In listening to your body and what the brain is trying to tell you through daily emotions, thoughts and body sensations you are embracing the healing process, which entails self awareness and willingness to acknowledge the painful past and differentiating it from the present, reminding the body we are here: Connected and safe right now.
Healing is an internal work that takes courage: The courage to see all the fragmented parts of ourselves, our vulnerable parts; the curiosity and patience to listen to our wounds non-judgmentally, our older parts; and accept ourselves with compassion; the courage to see our strengths inside the wounds.
Healing occurs in many stages, in different forms, moments of life, it is a lifelong journey, an endless experience that may hurt sometimes in the process, and simultaneously brings growth, transformation, connection. Healing entails the finding of meaning, the integration of ourselves, the acceptance of the past, the living in the present and finding hope and connection.
Therapy is a space for healing and through therapy we will discover genuine healing is possible and comes from the inside, driven by the power of faith and self compassion.