By: Donna Wallace LPC, LADC, ADCR-MN; Integrative Yoga Therapist
I came into the mental health field through a solid grounding in wellness. In 2005, after several years of studying, practicing and teaching yoga, I went on to complete Integrative Yoga Therapy’s Professional Yoga Therapist program. My passion for helping individuals in recovery through integrative wellness practices led me to seek additional training. I became a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and worked for several years in inpatient addiction treatment. What followed was a passion to deepen my practice and bring even more to my clients, and more training in psychology and clinical counseling and additional licensure ensued.
Why do I choose to work from a holistic outlook? Stress in one area of our lives creates stress in others. For example: financial and family stress can lead to job stress, time management problems , poor self care choices, over-commitment, crammed schedules, too many fast food/junk food meals, skipped or neglected fitness goals, poor sleep , miscommunication, tense or broken relationships, substance abuse or dependence, reactive parenting choices, feeling chronically disconnected, empty, dispirited, angry, out of control, etc. Holistic Psychotherapy is about treating the whole individual body, mind, and spirit.
In my practice I use a variety of time tested treatment modalities to help clients regain balance in their lives. I look at root, long standing or buried causes through the lens of attachment. I may combine elements from Adlerian psychotherapy, insight therapy, mindfulness, existential therapy, psychoeducation, bibliotherapy, stress reduction , breathing/relaxation/meditation, journaling techniques, yoga.
What sorts of problems benefit from this type of practice? Anxiety/depression, poor stress management, anger issues, grief and loss, low self esteem, addiction recovery, compulsive behaviors, parenting issues, childhood trauma, PTSD, adjusting to life transitions, relationship and parenting issues, and many more.
How is spirituality addressed in holistic psychotherapy? I believe it is important for people to have a grounding in spirituality, and will help clients discover what that means for them individually. The process is client directed, whether it is returning to a belief system they once embraced and have neglected, or suggesting resources to help look for a new connection that is a better fit for them currently.
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