Contemplative Care is a mindfulness-based, Buddhist-inspired alternative to therapy or life coaching.
In my private practice, I mostly meet with:
• millennials (love you! I am one...) • people experiencing anxiety / isolation • those in recovery from substance abuse • people who want do develop self-love • people who might consider themselves weird • activists who want to learn self-care • people who just want to talk about their life • people experiencing grief or loss • people interested in mindfulness or Buddhism
Therapy is great. You shouldn't use my services to replace sessions with your therapist or or psychiatrist. As a Contemplative Caregiver, I serve people who:
• also see a therapist, but want to explore mindfulness, Buddhist teachings, or other forms of spirituality • haven't seen a therapist because they don't necessarily need or want one • have tried therapy but found it wasn't quite for them
So then, what's a contemplative care session like?
The best way to get a sense of that is to try it out! Schedule your free session with me to see if my approach to Contemplative Care is right for you.
A lot of what we might do together in a session would depend on what's going on for you, and what your interests and challenges are. Contemplative Care doesn't have a one-size-fits-all approach. Imagine meeting with a friend who's Buddhist but not trying to convert you; Imagine that friend doesn't need to see only your "put together" side; this friend has done a lot of meditation and compassion training, and they've also had a lot of practice listening to people and supporting them through challenging experiences. That's about what you get when you sign up for a Contemplative Care session with me. Whether you want to explore a particular theme or emotion, do some guided mindfulness practice, pray or create a ritual, talk about what's coming up for you as you de-colonize your mind and support the movement for Black Lives, explore what this "higher power" thing is about for you--we can do any or all of that that, together...
How is contemplative care different from therapy or spiritual life coaching?
Contemplative care is great for people who may be feeling a bit tired of trying to solve problems and pursue goals--or who want to approach these things from a different angle. Problem solving and goal setting are very helpful, but they're not necessarily the focus of contemplative care. Instead, in a session with me you have a chance to talk about your life and reflect on what you're going through, without the need to "figure it all out," or fix anything. Generally speaking, therapy is great for people who want to use western psychological models and the expertise of their therapist to treat a specific problem. Spiritual Coaching is great for people who want to pursue or develop a specific spiritual goal while relying on the techniques and encouragement of their coach.
In contemplative care, we explore what you're going through and how you're making meaning of it. It's a process of bringing awareness and compassion to what's happening with you. Then, if you want, we can also explore mindfulness practices designed to help you come into closer contact with your body, mind, and emotions without trying to fix or get rid of anything. If that sounds worthwhile to you, contemplative care could be a great fit! I look forward to meeting with you.