About Hakomi Therapy
"How do I stand in relation to these many realms?"
How do I stand in relation to these many realms? This question is the definition of the Hopi word Hakomi. This question lies at the core of Hakomi practice. Much of our everyday suffering is unnecessary and is produced by unconscious beliefs that are no longer relevant, true or necessary. By slowing down our quick reaction to life events and by integrating more awareness, a person can go beyond his/her patterns to grasp a deeper sense of self. The tangible sense of deeply knowing oneself grounds decisions we make and the way we interact with others. Organicity, a principal in Hakomi, states that through greater awareness of oneself, a person will naturally make decisions that lead to greater health and happiness.
A hakomi session generally begins by taking a moment to breathe and settle. Once a client settles into a more mindful, aware state he or she will bring up the focus of the therapy session. The therapeutic process includes talking while interweaving mindfulness and body awareness. When a client brings up a topic he or she is asked to explore his/her body reactions to the topic. There may be tension in the shoulders, heaviness in the stomach, a pain in the heart-or there may not be any sensation at all. What comes up will be explored through further questions. By staying with a natural deepening occurs that allows us to unfold and become aware of our own greater truths.
A Hakomi therapist uses his/her own awareness and connectedness to guide a person into their current awareness of sensations, thoughts, and emotional experience and to assist the person in staying directly with and aware of their process. I will always orient a first time client to the process of Hakomi therapy so that the client understands the process. Because the method is based on mindfulness' direct route to unconscious material, it is faster than most other methods. It works very directly with nonverbal expressions and does not spend a lot of time in conversation, analysis or explanation. Something significant usually happens every session.
Evolved from Buddhism and other forms of meditation practice, the Hakomi Method of Experiential Psychotherapy is based on the principles of nonviolence, gentleness, compassion and mindfulness. It is helpful if a client has a personal mindfulness practice such as meditation or yoga but it is not necessary. Hakomi therapy is a mindfulness practice.
Hakomi has been effectively used to help people who are struggling with various forms of anxiety, depression and trauma. Hakomi is best suited for people who are seeking to overcome limiting habituated behaviors and create personal and spiritual growth.
"It may be when we no longer know what we have to do, we have come to our real work, and that when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey" -Wendell Berry
Click here to read in more detail about the Hakomi Method.
