I offer mindfulness-based transpersonal counseling for spiritual and existential concerns/crisis, spiritual growth, and self-acceptance. I came to San Francisco to practice therapy because we have a culture that values self-reflection, and there are many opportunities here for self-exploration.
Transpersonal counseling is not anything overt about spirituality. It is a way of looking at the therapeutic process – inner work and human potential – through an integral lens including the body and consciousness itself. Put simply, it is about supporting you to make intimate contact with the truth of your everyday life, so you can know the depths of who you are. You can learn to invite your unconditioned self to provide you with profound guidance and understanding for your journey of self-discovery, rather than relying only on the mind, which is often the source of suffering. From the transpersonal perspective, what we experience as “self” is a narrow band of awareness of conditioned thoughts, memories, and ideas and sensations of the body. Traditional psychotherapy heals the wounds of the past and gives you the strength to live competently in the world. Transpersonal therapy takes the next step to examine the boundaries of “self” and follow positive experiences to discover innate aspects of consciousness: joy, compassion, spaciousness, and true strength. It is possible to find and rest in the still, sweet simplicity of Being while living in today’s complex world.
I hold a BA in Contemplative Psychology from Naropa University, where Eastern/Buddhist and Western approaches to psychology are taught along with mindfulness training. I have been practicing meditation regularly for over 10 years. Mindfulness is a practice of noticing and appreciating each moment as it happens, and mindfulness can help to regulate emotion and expand awareness. Such careful observation of thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and sensations can help move the brain toward new ways of experiencing the world. Studies have shown that mindfulness is a powerful way to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. While I rarely bring this practice explicitly into sessions, its effects enhance my work. Mindfulness practice trains me to sustain a calm, focused attention and a non-judgmental, curious stance on whatever arises in session. One benefit of therapy is that this stance is passively learned, helping you build self-acceptance and self-understanding. As I listen carefully to you, you learn to listen more closely to yourself, which can lead to a discovery of sources of inner guidance and affirmation.
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Jacob Art, MFT459 Fulton St. #107 San Francisco, CA 90102 415-255-2558
