By Isabel Prystawik – Motionally Counselling and Facilitation
Somatic Counselling in Vernon, British Columbia | Okanagan Valley
What if I told you I don’t think you’re broken?
Despite your very real pain of regret and fear, the deep frustration of patterns you feel powerless to change, or the goals you feel you keep missing, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you.
I’m honoured by your gift of being invited into your world. I take your struggles seriously, and I don’t lose sight of everything you’ve already survived, accomplished, built and learned along the way. Your pain matters to me. It just isn’t the whole story—and I don’t see it as evidence that there is something wrong with you.
Curiosity Before Judgement
When you hire me, we get curious together. We slow things down enough to notice. We might talk, pay attention to words, sensation or movement, try something slightly different, or follow something neither of us expected to be important.
We work this way because I’m interested in how your responses have made sense. What have they helped you do? What have they protected? What happens in your thoughts, emotions and body when those familiar responses show up?
Knowing another response is possible isn’t the same as being able to choose it
I don’t believe people change because they finally understand what they should do. Most of us are already overwhelmed with information, advice and hacks.
Instead, I believe change becomes possible when we feel safe. Part of that safety can come from feeling accepted as we are. And part of it comes from increasing our capacity for discomfort—growing our ability to stay with ourselves when something feels uncertain or unfamiliar.
The agony and ecstasy of change
Doing something differently can be uncomfortable. Sometimes it’s thrilling to say no or ask for what you want. Sometimes letting someone be disappointed, resting when there is more to do, or allowing yourself to be seen can feel entirely cringe.The agony and ecstasy of change
My role is to bring my training, experience, attention and curiosity to your exploration. I’ll ask questions, notice patterns, offer possibilities and sometimes challenge you. You are the expert on your life, and you know best how to integrate what you discover into your life and relationships. Which means that, for me, the most exciting part of the process is hearing what you discover and seeing what you choose to do with the possibilities you discover in session.
That’s what I mean by counselling that honours your whole self. You may come to counselling believing there’s something wrong with you. You don’t have to agree with me that there isn’t. I’ll make room for how you understand yourself, while remaining curious about what else might be possible. If that sounds like a way you’d like to work, we can start there.