Core Values Guiding My Practice
Demonstrating Compassion to all Beings
Our pain is significant, it matters. In Buddhist philosophy, compassion is defined as a quivering heart in response to pain or suffering. Therefore, this is one of the core values at the heart of my practice.
While pain can be a source of anger and separation, it can also be a powerful teacher. Therefore, finding the right relationship to pain, both ours and that of others, is complex yet important. Pain can be manifested in many ways such as feeling fear, hurt, guilt, loneliness, and resentment. In addition, we can blame ourselves for seemingly being ineffectual in a world that requires so much.
Many individuals work toward showing compassion and support toward others. But too often, they neglect this kindness toward themselves. Hence, this tendency often becomes a painful roadblock in life. Individuals who function well, develop a sense of compassion for themselves and for those they encounter. I strive at helping others understand this balance of compassion toward self and others.
Recognizing that all Beings are Worthy of Love
We are all wired for love and connection. Because of this, shame — the sense that we are unworthy — has become a pervasive part of our culture. Additionally, it is the number one thing that keeps people isolated. Additionally, it prevents us from feeling that deep sense of love and belonging.
Hence, my goal is to help others live wholehearted*, to grasp that we are all worthy of love and belonging. We do this by dismantling negative beliefs. In addition, we learn to cultivate courage, connection, and compassion to believe that who we are is enough.
*Brene Brown, a researcher of shame and vulnerability, coined this term referring to those individuals who are most resilient to shame, who believe in their worthiness.
Respecting the Current Functioning for All Beings by Providing a Shame-free Environment
All of our behaviors, no matter how dysfunctional or destructive, make sense in light of our history and belief system. Even though destructive behaviors may not serve us, we engage in them to survive. It is important to respect an individual’s level of functioning and help them move toward a higher state of functioning. So if it feels weak or overwhelming to feel emotion, we will work at making it safe to feel. Therefore, we learn how to move toward, manage, and make sense of messy emotions without being overwhelmed by them. There is no shame in being where you are.
Providing help with a Minimal Reliance on Medication.
We are one of the most medicated cultures in history. There is a growing body of evidence showing the lack of effectiveness of popular antidepressants. However, they are still being prescribed in alarming numbers. Because of this, I work with a network of psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals who seek to keep medication to a minimum.
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