Philosophy
Amethyst Integration works off some basic assumptions that help make sense of the healing process and guide treatment decisions
Interconnection
Humans are inherently interconnected beings. Our minds, bodies and spirits are deeply intertwined and impact each other in profound ways. Beyond this, our interconnectedness as humans extends to our interactions with others, our surrounding environment, our immediate communities, the broader global society, and even the vast expanse of the universe. It is through experiences of trauma, both big and small, that a sense of separation and isolation develop in mind/body/spirit, in our relationships with others and in our groundedness in the world. It is in re-establishing these bonds of connection where true restoration and wellness emerge.
Inner Healing Intelligence
Humans have an innate inner healing intelligence. Just as our bodies know how to fight illness and repair bones, so too do our minds and spirits inherently know what is right to move us toward healing and homeostasis. Also known as our intuition or ‘gut instinct’, our inner healing intelligence is a non-linear form of knowing that transcends rational thought. Those affected by mental health symptoms often lose touch with this inner healer as they grapple with self-doubt, fear of the unknown, and a lack of purpose. Often people are told they need to do X, Y or Z to manage their symptoms, only to feel like a failure when those suggestions don’t bring reprieve. Amethyst Integration honors the inner healing intelligence present in each of us. By slowing down and helping you learn how to listen to your unique needs, desires, and inner knowing, you can gain a sense of self-trust and personal meaning in your life.
Authenticity
Authenticity serves as a catalyst for healing and growth. If given the right conditions, children naturally express their authentic selves: their unique likes and dislikes, senses of humor, and current needs and beliefs. But along the way, messages from our families, our communities and society about what is desirable or not disconnect us from authentic expression. Humans are biologically wired for connection. We naturally fear social rejection so we mold ourselves to be what we think others want, while suppressing our own unique voice and spirit. Amethyst Integration strives to model honest and open communication, even (and perhaps especially) during times of disagreement. It takes courage to give voice to your truth, and it is through expressing this truth and being regarded with respect and kindness that you can unlearn harmful habits of self- neglect grounded in relational trauma.
Approach
Amethyst Integration was founded by Ellie Barch, PsyD, a clinical psychologist looking to help clients find deeper, more meaningful relief than that offered by traditional talk therapy. Ellie’s therapeutic approach is based off the assumption that trauma underlies most mental health distress. Developing a genuine, caring relationship serves as the foundation of Ellie’s therapeutic style. With this sense of relational safety in place, Ellie blends psychodynamic and narrative therapies, parts-work, and somatic interventions to help clients explore how past experiences may have shifted them away from their essential ways of being. She may also incorporate specific trauma processing techniques, such as EMDR, the Flash Technique or the Safe and Sound Protocol into a client’s care. Slowly, clients come to accept their pasts and turn their attention to the present, where they practice attuning their nervous systems to be more adaptive under stress and work on small behavioral shifts towards greater life fulfillment. Through these strategies, clients begin to shift their developmental trajectory back towards who they truly were before trauma influenced their lives.
Although finding a therapist who you feel comfortable with and seen by is important in all psychotherapy, this is especially true in KAP. Click HERE to learn more about Ellie.