“Creativity is the alchemy of making art out of suffering.”
~June Singer
WHAT IS HAKOMI
Hakomi is a mindfulness-based, body-oriented approach created by Ron Kurtz in the late 70’s. Hakomi is a Hopi word that means: “Who am I”. Thus, Hakomi is a therapy of applied mindfulness whereby we come to know ourselves through mindful assisted self study. The idea is that much of our suffering is a result of unconscious beliefs and habits of mind and behavior. Hakomi is a way of gently and compassionately accessing those unconscious habits, bringing them into conscious awareness, so they can be known, modified and healed.
A Hakomi therapist listens to and closely observes your non-verbal cues, allowing the therapist to become of aware of how your unconscious is controlling your behavior and beliefs. From these observations the therapist can then offer a simple movement or a statement, while the client is in a mindful state. In this way, very gently, unconscious material, beliefs, memories, and feelings, can be uncovered, accessed and worked with.
Sessions move from everyday conversations to a deeper, more mindful approach to self study: internal self-exploration, paying attention to body sensations, thoughts, memories, emotions – whatever comes up. As experiences rise into our consciousness, a path of possibilities may emerge, inviting further exploration.
Hakomi is experiential in the sense that we are not talking about or intellectually analyzing something, rather, we are accessing an actual experience – a wound, a limiting or self-sabotaging belief – and in doing so, we come to know it consciously. These internal, unconscious habit patterns can be known and different, more self-affirming choices can then be made. Thus, unhealthy and unhelpful beliefs that have run our lives unconsciously can then be challenged, changed and healed.
What makes Hakomi unique – as opposed to traditional therapies – is sitting in silence, listening internally, noticing with awareness, being curious and surprised. It is not an ordinary conversation, but a way of assisting a client to understand their experience on a more intimate basis. Hakomi takes place in a compassionate and loving environment, creating a safe haven for mindfulness and for vulnerable wounds and mind states to emerge. In summary, Hakomi is a nourishing therapy, creating the possibility for experiences the client did not get while growing up and experiences that might be needed for healing and wholeness to be found.
INTRODUCTION TO HAKOMI
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of hakomi, I’ve hand-selected some resources to get you started. Materials include video, downloadable meditations and handouts. This is my gift to you, I am here to support you on your journey. Simply fill in your name and email address and you’ll be taken to a page loaded with free goodies.