CHELSEA E. BRANDENBURG, LMFT
  • Home
  • About
  • Counseling Services
    • Individual & Couples Therapy
    • Spiritual Therapy
    • Brainspotting
  • Hours & Rates
  • Supervision
  • Contact
  • Blog
The Spirit Of Therapy Blog

The Tree's Secret

4/4/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
In counseling, we talk about people being “stretched” by their willingness to engage in an exploration of themselves. The word “stretched” indicates that two opposite ends are being pulled in two opposite directions. So, what do we mean when we talk about being stretched?

One of the premises of yoga is being able to notice pairs of opposites – both in the body and in the mind. Yogis pay attention to polarities, noticing their relationship to one another. Dialectical Behavior Therapy also helps clients notice and accept opposites, and to strive to maintain a balance between them. We label things as “good” and “bad,” “right” and “wrong,” “happy” and “sad,” but there is a magnetic pole between those pairs of opposites, making them dependent on one another and not mutually exclusive. Opposites can both be true at the same time. Getting a new job can be both “good” and “bad” at the same time. What is important, is noticing the relationship between the opposites, not the labels.

Trees are an excellent metaphor. A tree roots itself deep in the ground. In fact, this is the first thing it does as a seedling; it begins to explore the deep underneath. As it grows, it continues to reach downward, seeking nourishment and finding stability. If a tree does not reach down into that depth, it will die. A tree also grows upward. It spreads itself high and wide and produces incredible beauty as well as nourishment and protection for others.  This tree continues its growth in opposite directions for its entire lifespan because it needs both to survive.

We, too, need this opposite growth. If we focus only on grounding and settling, we may miss out on personal growth, mystery, discovery and giving to others. If we focus only on expanding, we may lack the stability of knowing who we are and making decisions.

Where do you tend to put your time, attention and energy? What would change for you if you sought to balance yourself, to stretch, to embody the wisdom of a tree?



0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    The Spirit of Therapy

    Where psychotherapy interacts with our mental, emotional, spiritual, physical and relational wellbeing.

    Categories

    All
    Acceptance
    Anxiety & Fear
    Depression
    Dialectical Behavior Therapy
    Forgiveness
    Jungian Psychotherapy
    Mind & Body
    Mindfulness
    Mythology
    Relationships
    Spirituality
    Values

    Archives

    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Counseling Services
    • Individual & Couples Therapy
    • Spiritual Therapy
    • Brainspotting
  • Hours & Rates
  • Supervision
  • Contact
  • Blog