Joan BechtelMarriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT

About

How do we break the spell of trauma? Shame, internalized gaslighting, trust issues, addictions and all the rest. How do we break free? The funny answer is not by fighting them as enemies. But by befriending them. Once we befriend them, they lose their power over us. But how do we befriend an enemy that lives in our Unconscious? Dreams, art, play, and imagination are all natives of this realm. so they are perfect guides through our underworld of rich personal symbolism to befriend shadow elements and integrate repressed capacities, replenishing vitality. Fun breaks the spell. View 7 Photos What lies below? Buried treasure we had to disown. Self-abandoning defense mechanisms are only the ancient protectors who shut us down to help us survive our early challenges. Befriending these now useless warriors through deep empathic engagement can free us to reclaim demonized parts of ourselves. The creative process can liberate us.

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