FAQ
What Are the Benefits of Focusing?
What is Nonviolent Communication?
What is the Tapas Acupressure Technique®?
What happens in a session with Shulamit?
What kinds of things can Shulamit help me with?
How will I know I’m ready to work with Shulamit?
How long will it take to achieve my goals?
Will anyone know that I am working with Shulamit?
What if I start working with Shulamit, something comes up and I can’t continue?
What is Focusing?
Focusing is direct access to a bodily knowing. It is a mode of inward bodily
attention, more than being in touch with your feelings and different from body
work.
Focusing occurs exactly at the interface of body-mind. It consists of specific
steps for getting a body sense of how you are in a particular life situation. The
body sense is unclear and vague at first but, if you pay attention, it will open
up into words or images, and you experience a felt shift in your body.
In the process of Focusing, one experiences a physical change in the way that
the issue is being lived in the body. We learn to live in a deeper place than just
thoughts or feelings. The whole issue looks different, and new solutions arise.
What Are the Benefits of Focusing?
Focusing helps to change the places where our lives are stuck. The felt shift
that occurs during Focusing is good for the body and is correlated with better
immune functioning. More than 100 research studies have shown that Focusing
is teachable and effective in many settings. Focusing decreases depression and
anxiety and improves one’s relationship to their body.
For more information, see
www.focusing.org
www.focusingresources.com
What is Nonviolent Communication?
The NVC process develops skills of consciousness, listening and communication with self and others, supporting a quality of connection that gives rise to a flow of natural compassion in which the impulse to contribute to the well-being of self and others arises from within.
NVC processes and consciousness are useful for personal growth and for interpersonal communication and conflict resolution in all kids of settings, including close or intimate relationships, families and workplaces.
What is Nonviolent Communication?
NVC is a communication process and consciousness that nurtures deep honesty
and intimacy, as well as an environment in which all participants are more
likely to have their needs met.
Nonviolent communication (NVC) is a process developed by Marshall Rosenberg
that focuses on two things: empathy (listening with deep compassion) and
honest self-expression (exposing what matters to oneself in a way that’s likely
to inspire compassion in others). Formal NVC includes four elements:
observations (distinguished from interpretation or evaluation), feelings
(emotions separate from thoughts), needs (deep motives or values) and
requests (clear, present, doable and without demand).
Rosenberg gave the following definition of Nonviolent Communication at
Lausanne, Switzerland, in September, 2003: Nonviolent Communication is
“language, thoughts, communication skills and means of influence that serve
my desire to do three things:
* liberate myself from cultural learning that is in conflict with how I want
to live my life.
* empower myself to connect with myself and others in a way that makes
compassionate giving natural.
* empower myself to create structures that support compassionate
giving.”
For more information, see:
www.cnvc.org
www.nonviolentcommunication.com
What is Mindfulness?
“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the
present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” Jon Kabat-Zinn
By purposefully directing our awareness we create a space of freedom where
calmness and contentment can grow.
For more information on the applications of mindfulness, see mindfulness and…
Stress Management: www.umassmed.edu/cfm/index.aspx
Symptom Management: www.ottawamindfulnessclinic.com
Cognitive Therapy: www.mbct.co.uk
What is Yoga?
Yoga is a set of principles and practices that show us we are interconnected, multidimensional beings composed of body, breath, mind, emotions and spirit. The practice of yoga can include physical postures as well as meditation, breathing practices, devotional practices such as chanting and prayer, text study and self-inquiry or self-study.
What is Yoga therapy?
The word yoga has been interpreted to mean joining, with the first syllable
representing the moon and the second, the sun. Metaphorically, the joining of
these two elements thus can mean the integration of mind and body. Yoga
therapy is student-centered, non-sectarian and non-hierarchical, with an equal
focus on Mind, Body and Spirit. It is the facet of yoga that encourages both
balance and integration of the mind and emotions, as well as the health and
wellness of the physical body. It also touches the spiritual dimension of
experience.
Yoga Therapy addresses the needs of the individual with respect to age,
specific physical conditions, culture, religion and the student’s goals or needs.
The Yoga Therapist is a guide or mentor for self-discovery. She or he creates a
safe learning environment, uses the understanding of the elements of yoga to
facilitate a safe environment for the student and creates an energetic space by
being present for the student. A yoga therapist’s tools of assessment can
include body and breath awareness exercises, observation by the therapist at
both the physical and subtle levels, the student’s own inner awareness and the
teacher’s experiential understanding.
Anyone with a desire to stretch—both literally and metaphorically—can benefit
from yoga therapy.
For more information, see:
Kripalu Centre for Yoga and Health
www.kripalu.org
Integrative Yoga Therapy
www.iytyogatherapy.com
What is Reiki?
The word Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key) comes from Japanese and means universal life-force energy.
Reiki is a holistic, light-touch, energy-based healing modality that originated in Japan. Reiki treatments re-establish a normal energy flow of ki (life-force energy, sometimes also called chi or prana, or chayut in Hebrew), which supports and accelerates the body’s innate healing ability. The reiki practitioner allows for energy to flow through their body, then, as the practitioner moves through a series of hand placements either directly on or just above the client’s body, the client receives the amount of energy required for his or her healing.
Reiki energy directs itself where it is needed, thus a reiki practitioner does not diagnose or prescribe. Reiki works in concert with any other form of therapy or treatment; this is the holistic approach. It is strongly recommended that you do not discontinue any medications or treatment plan unless you first speak with your health care practitioner.
What happens during a session?
The fully-clothed client lies on the treatment table. The practitioner places her hands in a series of stationary positions gently on, or slightly above, the body. There is no manipulation of the skin or tissue. Reiki is not massage.
What about results?
It is important to remember that, whatever is troubling us, we didn’t get this way overnight, nor will we recover overnight. As with any other modality, healing takes commitment and time.
For more information, see the Canadian Reiki Association FAQ.
What is the Tapas Acupressure Technique®?
Promotes inner peace, relaxation and empowerment by placing your attention on whatever the issue is and touching a few specific acupressure points on your face and at the back of your head. TAT® is good for stressful situations and for cultivating and integrating positive outlook on life.
TAT® and the Tapas Acupressure Technique® are registered trademarks of Tapas Fleming www.tatlife.com.
What happens in a session with Shulamit?
You will begin by having a conversation, in which you determine the subject and direct the conversation. Shulamit will listen and provide reflective and exploratory responses. Together you will decide which, if any, of Shulamit’s other tools you might like to use. These include Focusing, Nonviolent Communication, Yoga, mindfulness, Reiki and the Tapas Acupressure Technique.
What kinds of things can Shulamit help me with?
Shulamit may be able to help you if:
- you want to make the world a more peace-full place, and want to start by cultivating self-connection, self-compassion and inner peace-full-ness.
- you want to achieve a greater balance between self-care and accomplishment.
- you’re interested in embodied practices to support you in (re)connecting with your body-mind wisdom.
- you want a warm and compassionate listener.
- you want a space in which to voice what’s alive in you and support for carrying that forward.
Some of the issues we can work with include life transitions, personal or spiritual growth, 12-step or other recovery work, post-traumatic growth and integration, living through or after a divorce, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, weight loss or maintenance.
Even if your issue or situation is not mentioned here, it would be worth scheduling a free, 15-minute phone conversation with Shulamit to explore whether it would be suitable to work together.
How will I know I’m ready to work with Shulamit?
You know you are ready when you realize that you keep trying the same things and they do not to work; when what you are doing is interfering with some aspect of your life; when you want to change your life and move forward. Paradoxically, you may also be ready when you want to learn to accept and be compassionate toward yourself. When are ready inquire into pain, shame, guilt and damaging beliefs about yourself, then you may be ready. When you want to celebrate who you are and come into that more fully, you may be ready.
How long will it take to achieve my goals?
It depends on how open and ready you are for change. Habitual patterns can keep us from moving forward. Even though they served a purpose at one time, they can also keep us stuck. And yet, even though you may want to drop them, realizing that, where they once kept you safe, they now are keeping you way from the life you want to lead, your fear of letting them go may be greater or stronger than your willingness to let go. And that makes sense, since those habits originally had a good reason for being here. It can take time to see their good reason, or the needs they were there to meet, and discover fresh ways to meet those needs.
What will happen when I call?
Some basic information will be taken such as name, telephone number, availability etc. and an appointment will be scheduled. It can take up to two weeks to get in. At your initial meeting, you will discuss your situation, concerns and goals and decide on a plan of action. At that time, you can decide the frequency with which you want to meet. The usual time for each session is 50 minutes.
Will anyone know that I am working with Shulamit?
All sessions with Shulamit are confidential. This means she does not tell anyone that you have come to see her. There are a few situations in which the law may require her to share information with the appropriate authorities. You will discuss this thoroughly in your first session. Her private office is located on the ground floor of her home. Someone may see you come to the office, but you don’t have to explain who you’ve come to see or your reason for being here if anyone should ask.
What if I start working with Shulamit, something comes up and I can’t continue?
You are always welcome to return whenever you want to. You are also free to choose not to continue. It is always your decision. Only you know when you are ready, willing and able. It’s a good idea to have a brief conversation with Shulamit if you decide you no longer want to work with her.
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