“We all have the capacity to turn our wounds into wisdom.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
Holistic Counseling
Primarily, my intention is to optimally support you in moving forward and achieving your healing transformation goals. Holistic Counseling is an integrative approach grounded in the premise that the whole person is made up of interdependent mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional parts. Thus, if one part isn’t working properly, all the other parts are affected.
For instance, I possess the specialized clinical skills and tools to assess, diagnose, and treat psychiatric syndromes and populations; however, I go beyond the traditional wisdom of appraisal in the clinical environment, as I am very aware of the damage mental health stigma can have on an individual. The goal is to help you make sense of the mental health diagnosis you might have been given and also make sense of your experiences and symptoms, some which may be troubling or confusing. Learning about mental health can help you see that you are not your diagnosis, and that you are not alone.
On a similar note that stems from a holistic approach, I may first consider discussing with my clients, what steps they have taken or could take before recommending a medication evaluation; unless, of course, the situation appears to require an assessment by a psychiatrist as soon as possible. If it’s appropriate, I may introduce the use of breath, relaxation and mindfulness exercises, creative expression, or reframing negative self-talk as viable alternatives of conservative treatment.
I strongly adhere to the belief that there is basic goodness in everyone, that we are all doing the best we can, and that no one is broken, even though it may feel like it at times. I often encourage my clients to consider that, when they are willing to do the healing work it takes to get better, then their wounds can ultimately be experienced as precious scars as in Kintsugi or kintsukuroi: the Japanese art of filling in the cracks of broken pottery with gold.
For instance, I possess the specialized clinical skills and tools to assess, diagnose, and treat psychiatric syndromes and populations; however, I go beyond the traditional wisdom of appraisal in the clinical environment, as I am very aware of the damage mental health stigma can have on an individual. The goal is to help you make sense of the mental health diagnosis you might have been given and also make sense of your experiences and symptoms, some which may be troubling or confusing. Learning about mental health can help you see that you are not your diagnosis, and that you are not alone.
On a similar note that stems from a holistic approach, I may first consider discussing with my clients, what steps they have taken or could take before recommending a medication evaluation; unless, of course, the situation appears to require an assessment by a psychiatrist as soon as possible. If it’s appropriate, I may introduce the use of breath, relaxation and mindfulness exercises, creative expression, or reframing negative self-talk as viable alternatives of conservative treatment.
I strongly adhere to the belief that there is basic goodness in everyone, that we are all doing the best we can, and that no one is broken, even though it may feel like it at times. I often encourage my clients to consider that, when they are willing to do the healing work it takes to get better, then their wounds can ultimately be experienced as precious scars as in Kintsugi or kintsukuroi: the Japanese art of filling in the cracks of broken pottery with gold.
“We all have the capacity to turn our wounds into wisdom.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
Some of the Approaches you can expect to find in Holistic Counseling with me are:
Body Psychotherapy
Movement Therapy
Expressive Arts Therapy
Embodied Spirituality in Mindfulness & Meditation Practices
Shadow Work
Holistic Trauma & PTSD Therapy (Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, and Ancient Indigenous Practices)
Cultural Affirmation & Responsiveness
Racial and Ethnic Identity Exploration & Healing
Energy Psychology
Bionergetics
Psychospirituality
Self-Care for the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)
Ketamine Holistic Integration Therapy
Jungian Dream Analysis and Inner Work
Inner Child Work, including Parts Work
Movement Therapy
Expressive Arts Therapy
Embodied Spirituality in Mindfulness & Meditation Practices
Shadow Work
Holistic Trauma & PTSD Therapy (Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, and Ancient Indigenous Practices)
Cultural Affirmation & Responsiveness
Racial and Ethnic Identity Exploration & Healing
Energy Psychology
Bionergetics
Psychospirituality
Self-Care for the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)
Ketamine Holistic Integration Therapy
Jungian Dream Analysis and Inner Work
Inner Child Work, including Parts Work
What To Expect: Transformation, if you are ready
(c) 2019 Lina Návar
Let's Meet-and-Greet!
To start, I offer a free online meet-and-greet consultation from a laid-back and safe space in order to connect and see if we are a good fit for each other, as well as to explore how I can best support your whole person healing, personal or professional development, and conscious transformation process. I am now offering services online and in- person at this time. Please contact me if would like to schedule your free 20-minute meet-and-greet video meeting!
Video Sessions
I will support my clients with video chat instructions prior to the first day session. I invite you to think in terms of creating your own safe cocoon for transformative healing work in the privacy of your own home. Thus, you will be encouraged to, whenever possible, have a clear space to move, stand, or lie on a mat, quilt, or blanket. It may be helpful to have an extra blanket and/or cushion to use as a prop in case it becomes necessary for extra support or to promote comfort. Also, consider wearing clothes you are comfortable moving in.
Getting Started with either an Intake or a Discovery Session...
Intake Session
An intake sessions lasts anywhere between 1 hour to 1 hour and a half. At this time we review completed paperwork together, and address any pertinent concerns and/or questions you may have. Moreover, during an intake appointment, I take down any information you feel comfortable providing, that includes your history and background, which could help us find the ideal starting point for you.
Whatever you feel moved to share, whenever we meet, will support your treatment/healing intention, so that together we may organically come up with and follow a healing path that addresses your concerns and empowers you to experience the life you were meant to live. It will be important that I get your feedback periodically regarding your healing process, such as what works and what doesn't; in order to make certain we are on the same page, and ensure you get your needs met.
A question I often get is, "How often would we meet?" At the beginning, in order to develop rapport, trust, and a strong foundation, many of my counseling clients start meeting with me on a weekly basis for 60-minute sessions. While some continue to engage in 1-hour weekly meetings for the duration of our therapeutic relationship, while others at some point, move to every other week; biweekly meetings may be longer because we are meeting less frequently and a little extra time may be needed to catch up. Eventually, some transition to once a month or meet on an as-needed basis, depending on what is going on in their lives; longer sessions may always be requested ahead of time.
In addition, some of my clients are already seeing a therapist or a coach/mentor, though seek me out to provide a specific distinctly specialized service to further advance and complement their healing process. If you would like this level of support, you will be required to sign a release of information for both the other professional and myself.
I do my best to promote open, honest, and authentic communication, as it will enhance our therapeutic relationship. I will encourage you to be true to what wants to happen for you and in you, one moment at a time. May our time together serve you as your lab to practice how you want to show up in the world.
"A relationship is a great gift because any intimate relationship, if we view it as practice, is the clearest mirror we can find."
~ Joko Beck
I am here to wholeheartedly support you and provide you with the best holistic care possible.
Whatever you feel moved to share, whenever we meet, will support your treatment/healing intention, so that together we may organically come up with and follow a healing path that addresses your concerns and empowers you to experience the life you were meant to live. It will be important that I get your feedback periodically regarding your healing process, such as what works and what doesn't; in order to make certain we are on the same page, and ensure you get your needs met.
A question I often get is, "How often would we meet?" At the beginning, in order to develop rapport, trust, and a strong foundation, many of my counseling clients start meeting with me on a weekly basis for 60-minute sessions. While some continue to engage in 1-hour weekly meetings for the duration of our therapeutic relationship, while others at some point, move to every other week; biweekly meetings may be longer because we are meeting less frequently and a little extra time may be needed to catch up. Eventually, some transition to once a month or meet on an as-needed basis, depending on what is going on in their lives; longer sessions may always be requested ahead of time.
In addition, some of my clients are already seeing a therapist or a coach/mentor, though seek me out to provide a specific distinctly specialized service to further advance and complement their healing process. If you would like this level of support, you will be required to sign a release of information for both the other professional and myself.
I do my best to promote open, honest, and authentic communication, as it will enhance our therapeutic relationship. I will encourage you to be true to what wants to happen for you and in you, one moment at a time. May our time together serve you as your lab to practice how you want to show up in the world.
"A relationship is a great gift because any intimate relationship, if we view it as practice, is the clearest mirror we can find."
~ Joko Beck
I am here to wholeheartedly support you and provide you with the best holistic care possible.
Discovery Session
On the other hand, before committing to working together and moving forward with an intake session, know that you may request a discovery session to get a felt sense of what it’s like to work holistically with me. In other words, a Discovery Session is an experiential one-time session that is designed to give us both the opportunity to interact, experience, and sense what it would be like to work together.
Thus, after you and I decide to explore the possibility of working together during a complimentary meet-and-greet video meeting, a discovery session may be scheduled to:
- find out if we are good fit for each other
- experience the kind of work I do
- do dreamwork
- have a one-time session to work through a difficult situation without committing to therapy, if you are not ready
- do holistic healing work
- just show up and see what arises
Once we both conclude that we are a good fit, we'll then discuss scheduling an intake appointment session and set up a time to meet.
I warmly invite you to schedule a free 20-minute consultation, if you are feeling a strong desire to connect in order to see if we are a good fit for each other, and very importantly, discuss the movement you would like to experience in your life as a result of possible change and conscious transformation. Contact me to book your free 20-minute meet-and-greet online consultation!
Lina Návar, Counselor & Theracoach, MA, MEd, LPC, Body Psychotherapist, Registered Somatic Movement Educator/Therapist, Psychospiritual Healing Facilitator, and Registered Kundalini Yoga Teacher in the greater Austin, Texas metropolitan area.
To learn more about other holistic healing services I offer Click here.
