The Hakomi Principles: Mind-Body Holism
Even though there are specific techniques and ways of working with clients that are particular to Hakomi therapy, the underlying principles form the necessary foundation for this powerful, body-centered approach to psychotherapy.
The third Hakomi principle is known as mind-body holism, the belief that the mind and body are not separate entities, and that addressing them both simultaneously is necessary for deepest healing. In terms of therapy, it means that to be most effective, therapy must embrace all aspects of a person in order to engender lasting growth and change.
“It is common in Western thinking to separate the mind and body. This separation, proposed by René Descartes, has not stood up well in recent centuries in philosophy, and has been thoroughly disproven by research in neuropsychiatry and psychoneuroimmunology.”
The mind-body principle makes intuitive sense to us modern folk, but it’s still a bit radical in the field of “talk therapy.” For those who are also familiar with Chinese medicine, it also makes total sense—and, whether you’re seeing us for Chinese medicine or psychotherapy, we view you as an integrated whole, body and mind.
Interested in pursuing therapy that utilizes mindfulness and respects the connection between your mind and body? Schedule an Initial Consultation to see if this work might be a good fit!
