This is an excerpt from an Introduction to Holistic Counseling, in which Jim Morningstar,PhD, gives three characteristics of the systems approach which distinguish it from more traditional forms of counseling. This paradigm shift is influencing our views of all the healing arts. How do you incorporate this way of dealing with relationships in your life?
Author Archives: Transformations
How to have family be a model of healthy relationships
Jim Morningstar, PhD, presents how to grow as an individual while retaining vital emotional connections in your family. Emotional enmeshment or separation are not your only two choices. Family relationships can become a model for strong successful relationships in your world.
Family Systems Study and Application
Students will get a foundational understanding of the theory and practice of Family Systems Therapy. Concepts of individuation, triangling, family secrets, multigenerational projection process and others will be explored. Methods for examining students’ personal patterns will be presented and their influence on their life and work will be demonstrated. This study is based upon the the research and practice of Murray Bowen, known as the grandfather of family systems theory and treatment.
Course Objectives:
*Be conversant with key family systems concepts,
*Identify three dysfunctional family patterns,
*Have awareness of effect of personal family roles and secrets,
*Know basics of evaluating and treating a family system.
Your Two Pillars of Wellness
Self-responsibility and love are primary expressions of life energy. Together, they form the supporting pillars of wellness, and encourage the free flow of all other types of energy.
Self-Responsibility means: taking active steps to knowing and getting what you want (yang or active principle of life).
Love means: accepting and caring for yourself as you are connected to all life (yin receptive principle of life).
With love and self-responsibility as the foundations of our being, living and wellness are synonymous. Each of us must find our optimal balance between taking charge/making changes and learning to adapt/go with the flow.
Introduction to Breathwork and Healing Trauma
Jim Morningstar, PhD, introduces the healing of trauma with the use of breathwork and other incisive clinical techniques. He defines trauma, states likely causes and different categories of trauma as well as identifying those most likely to be severely effected by the traumatic events we all experience at some time in our life.
Do you know the difference between your thoughts and your feelings?
Do you know the difference between your thoughts and your feelings? Knowing the difference and being able to communicate them clearly can make a world of difference in both your effectiveness and happiness in life. Jim Morningstar, PhD, explains the critical differences that lead to so much misunderstanding and confusion. Learn to identify and harmonize your mental and emotional life.
Prosperity Meditation for Your Daily Life
Jim Morningstar, PhD, shares a two and a half minute centering exercise for affirming prosperity in your daily life. This is an excellent way to begin your day by training your mind to find the treasures with you and in your world. This meditation is the beginning of the Creative Life Series Seminar #3: Prosperity which is a comprehensive handbook on abundance consciousness.
The positive polarity of the Empathetic Nurturing life
The positive polarity of the Empathetic Nurturing life theme shows strengths and core qualities which include the ability to be empathetic, serene, and to love directly from the heart. An individual with this theme can be a person of high intelligence and articulate with a sensitivity to injustice. They are light, approachable and warm with a yielding and receptive manner. Empathetic and compassionate with self and others, confident in their inner source, they have the ability to be happy and feel abundant with what they have. They are good in helping professions, do not over identifying with others and able to care for themselves.
The negative polarity of this theme is most frequently associated with depression and a fear of abandonment and dependency. Inner rage over feeling abandoned is coupled with a denial of having any needs, therefore the individual responds as either overly self-reliant or excessively needy. Deep-seated feelings of loneliness, and the fear of being alone, are met with disappointment and helplessness. There is a tendency to feel misunderstood. The lifelong strategy is a constant search for the place, person, event and situation, who or which, will meet their needs – reliving fears about inability to survive alone.
Breathing Life into Mud
Without our divine spirit we are simply a collection of molecules made up of a rather small sample of elements on our planet. The Bible suggests that human life was initiated by God’s breathing life into mud. I see this as a symbol of the creative act that puts our spirit into our cells and makes them a living body. Our breath is both a symbol and a vehicle to life mastery. Read More.
Psychic Sensitive Body Themes
Those with psychic sensitive body themes can live in a world of fear for their safety or become great contributors to our world with their artistry. In this clip from his training video, Jim Morningstar, PhD, explains how many individuals from birth, or even before, develop neurological and psychological patterns that can influence all of their life either negatively or positively. Therapeutic Breathwork can be of great assistance in helping shape the difference.
How Breathwork was Reborn in the Modern World
Why and how did the study of mastering our breathing become popular again? Pioneers of the modern breathwork movement began to experiment in the hot tubs of California in the early 1970’s. Their life changing discoveries lead to a revival of popular and professional interest in both ancient techniques and new advances in healing, peak performance and spiritual renewal. The keys: focused breath and intention.