Creating a More Embodied, Emotionally Nourishing Relationship.
Struggling to develop and maintain a satisfying intimate relationship is one of the main concerns that comes up in my work with clients.
Many of us want to create a relationship that is more fulfilling, and we want to know ourselves and our partners better, but we just don’t know how or where to begin.
Start where you are – no matter what is happening in your relationship, whether you are in a crisis, or simply want to understand your conflict patterns and negative cycles, and begin to know yourselves as a couple in more emotional depth – now is a good time to begin.
To create and sustain an intimate relationship takes continued effort.
People often tell me that they wish they had come in sooner – that they thought they could figure out what was going on in their relationship and work through it on their own – but they weren’t able to – and they waited until the relationship was in a crisis to come in and learn about how to have a more connected and emotionally nourishing relationship.
It’s important to understand that no matter how sophisticated we may be in other ways, most of us have not been well-educated when it comes to intimate relating. We were not taught that when things change or aren’t going well (and it always will) in our intimate lives, both partners have to be willing to develop new skills if the relationship is going to shift in any significant way.
When individuals and couples want to have more connection and aliveness in their lives, they have to learn how to embody themselves and their feelings more fully.
It’s as simple, and as complicated as that.
Learning to notice, express and receive feelings is an important component of this work and it takes some time to learn. It requires a determined effort of self-discovery. It requires a willingness to embody the language of feelings and body sensations. It requires a readiness to be vulnerable, and a desire to experience a more whole and balanced existence.
Those who make a commitment to do this work together, certainly reap the rewards. To embody and know your feelings is to know yourself. To be able to be with your feelings, and know how and when to express them, is part of living a balanced life – and you have to build a container inside yourself, to begin this exploration.
I hold space for you and your partner to explore and grow – within yourselves and your relationship. We work together to grow the emotionally less mature parts of yourselves – the more reactive and fearful parts – that may be controlling your behavior in your relationship.
This process of developing a connection to the feelings you have in your body, the thoughts you have in your mind and the vulnerability you feel in your heart, is a process of taking responsibility for the underdeveloped (and sometimes hidden) aspects of ourselves, is the work we’ll do together.
When working together, I take time to get to know what’s happening for each couple and work with the root(s) of what’s happening for both of you – within the first few sessions.
Our work together does take some time, and each couple makes a commitment together to learn about Embodied Emotional Intimacy in their relationship, and we work through the following areas of focus (and more):
– Exploring Your Family of Origin
– Understanding Your Negative Cycle
– Developing Mindful Awareness of Thoughts & Sensations in Your Body
– Paying Attention to Anger and/or Shame Patterns
– Learning about Emotional & Embodied Expression
– Building a Container within Yourself
– Homework Practices in-between sessions
– Checking in, in-between sessions to discuss new insights that are happening between you and your partner
Many of us are not aware of how much our intimate, emotional relating is driven by automatic body responses and our nervous system – you and your partner will learn simple, body-oriented interventions for tracking and exploring what’s happening in your bodies as you relate to one another, and how you may feel chronically shut down, numb or anxious. You will learn how to restore a sense of connection to your body, when you may be feeling fragmented during conflicts or disruptions with your partner.
The quality of your connection is important. If you’re ready to open yourself to experience your body and your ‘self’ as it is and to be curious about a whole body approach to your emotional life and your relationships – get in touch.
I look forward to being with you.
love Kim, xoxo
NEW Class Experience– Coming in 2018…
Moving Rest – Somatic Movement – Time and space for slowing down to receive supportive nourishment from the inside of your body outwards. Simple movements, breathing, body awareness and flowing energy. This class is for everyone – for those who are moving fast and want time for themselves – to slow down and create new awareness in their body and to regulate their nervous system.
The first class is on Monday, February 12, 2018 – 7:30pm to 8:30pm.
If you have questions about what it would be like to work with me – I’d love to hear from you.
I cannot heal anything: I can create a generative field of possibility, within which healing is possible.
