Traditional Counseling Approaches (Talk Therapy)

At Yogi Counseling, we use a variety of evidence-based therapeutic models to work with clients. This allows us to be flexible to each client’s unique needs and attuned to their deeper meaning-making systems while also staying grounded in scientific research. These models fall into two types, talk-therapy counseling approaches, and deeper, nervous system targeted trauma recovery models. If you are interested in learning more, click on the links below.

    • Developed by Fritz and Laura Perls in the 1950s, Gestalt counseling offers a refreshing and transformative approach to self-discovery and healing. By embracing the principle of wholeness, cultivating awareness of the present moment, and exploring our experiences through creative techniques, we can uncover the power within ourselves to transform, grow, and live more authentically. Gestalt counseling stands as a guiding light on our journey toward a more fulfilled and integrated existence, helping us find wholeness amidst life's complexities.

      • At the heart of Gestalt counseling lies the principle of wholeness. Unlike traditional psychotherapy, which often dissects individuals into parts and focuses on specific problems, Gestalt therapy views individuals as holistic beings. Our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and bodily sensations are all interconnected, and understanding ourselves as a whole is essential to achieving self-awareness and growth.

      • Gestalt counseling also places a strong emphasis on cultivating self-awareness in the present moment. The counselor guides clients in exploring their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations as they arise, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences. Through heightened awareness, clients can recognize patterns, resistances, and unresolved issues, paving the way for personal insight and transformation.

      • A hallmark of Gestalt counseling is its utilization of experiential techniques. The counselor may employ creative exercises, role-playing, and the famous "empty chair" technique, where clients interact with an imaginary person or a part of themselves. These techniques offer a safe space for clients to express their feelings and inner conflicts, facilitating a deeper exploration of their emotions and fostering self-growth.

      • Gestalt counseling encourages clients to live in the present moment and explore what is happening right here, right now. By focusing on the present, clients can break free from ruminations of the past or anxieties about the future, enabling a profound connection to their immediate experiences and emotions.

      • The ultimate goal of Gestalt counseling is to support clients in their journey of personal growth and self-acceptance. The counselor nurtures a non-judgmental and empathetic environment, allowing clients to experiment with new ways of being and relating to themselves and others. This emphasis on personal growth and integration empowers clients to embrace their authentic selves and develop a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

    • Developed by thinkers such as Viktor Frankl - a holocaust survivor - after WWII and existential philosophers like Rollo May, existential therapy is grounded in the belief that individuals have an innate capacity for self-awareness and the power to create their own meanings in life. Existential therapy offers a profound and transformative journey into the human experience, guiding individuals to embrace life's meaning, freedom, choice, and responsibility, and the reality of death. By confronting existential dilemmas and embracing authenticity, individuals can discover a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment. In the face of life's uncertainties, existential therapy empowers us to create our own meanings, shaping our lives with intention and purpose. Through this introspective and empowering approach, we embark on a journey towards living a life that is authentic, meaningful, and in harmony with our true selves.

      • At the heart of existential therapy lies a deep exploration of the human condition. Existential therapists recognize that life is filled with uncertainties, choices, and existential dilemmas, such as the inevitability of death, freedom, responsibility, and the search for meaning. Rather than avoiding these challenging aspects, existential therapy encourages individuals to confront them directly, ultimately leading to a more authentic and fulfilling life.

      • Existential therapy places a significant emphasis on the search for meaning and purpose in life. By examining our values, beliefs, and life goals, we can discover what truly matters to us and create a sense of purpose that guides our actions and decisions. This process of self-discovery and meaning-making empowers individuals to lead lives that align with their true selves.

      • Existential therapy highlights the interconnectedness of freedom and responsibility. With freedom comes the burden of responsibility for our choices and actions. Existential therapists encourage clients to embrace their freedom by taking ownership of their decisions and acknowledging their power to shape their destinies.

      • Authenticity is a central theme in existential therapy. Living authentically involves being true to oneself, embracing one's values, and aligning actions with personal beliefs. By living authentically, individuals can foster a deeper connection with themselves and lead more fulfilling lives.

      • Existential therapy acknowledges that anxiety is an inevitable part of life. Rather than seeking to eliminate anxiety, existential therapists help clients embrace it as a natural response to life's uncertainties. By embracing anxiety, individuals can discover opportunities for growth and transformation.

      • Existential therapy confronts the existential fear of mortality and the impermanence of life. Through this exploration, individuals gain a deeper appreciation for life's preciousness and are inspired to make the most of their time on Earth.

    • Developed by philosopher Ken Wilber, Integral Counseling seeks to embrace the full spectrum of human experience, acknowledging the interconnectedness of body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Integral Counseling offers a profound and transformative journey into the depths of human experience. By embracing a holistic, inclusive, and developmental approach, individuals can uncover the layers of their being, fostering personal growth and wholeness. In the safe and nurturing space of Integral Counseling, clients can explore their challenges, discover inner strengths, and gain a deeper understanding of their unique life journey. Ultimately, Integral Counseling stands as a beacon of hope, guiding individuals towards self-realization, harmony, and a fulfilling life aligned with their authentic selves.

      • At the core of Integral Counseling lies the integral model, which comprehensively incorporates various dimensions of human experience. This model recognizes four major quadrants: the individual interior (consciousness and psychology), the individual exterior (behavior and biology), the collective interior (culture and values), and the collective exterior (social systems and structures). By addressing all four quadrants, Integral Counseling offers a holistic understanding of individuals within the broader context of their lives and society.

      • Integral Counseling takes a holistic approach, recognizing that individuals are multifaceted beings with interconnected dimensions. Clients are viewed as complex systems influenced by various factors, including their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, relationships, and cultural context. By addressing all aspects of a person's experience, Integral Counseling strives to promote harmony and balance.

      • Integral Counseling incorporates a developmental perspective, recognizing that individuals evolve and grow throughout their lives. The counselor helps clients understand their unique developmental stages and explores how past experiences impact their present challenges. By gaining insight into their growth journey, clients can embrace personal evolution and transformation.

      • Integral Counseling celebrates diversity and inclusivity, respecting various cultural, spiritual, and psychological backgrounds. By valuing differences, the counselor creates a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to express themselves authentically. The counseling process honors the richness of human experiences, promoting understanding and empathy.

      • Integral Counseling encourages mindfulness and self-awareness as essential tools for personal growth. Clients are guided to cultivate present-moment awareness and develop a deeper connection with themselves. Through self-reflection, clients gain insight into their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, leading to increased self-compassion and empowerment.

      • Integral Counseling recognizes the importance of transpersonal experiences, such as moments of interconnectedness, spiritual insights, and transformative awakenings. The counselor supports clients in exploring their transpersonal dimensions, fostering spiritual growth and self-realization.

Neuro-counseling theories are specifically for trauma recovery. Models such as EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Somatic Experiencing were developed to address the ways traumatic experiences become stored in the nervous system, body, emotions, and implicit memory. Rather than relying primarily on insight or discussion, these approaches work directly with the physiological and emotional patterns that often remain long after a traumatic event has ended. More traditional talk therapy tend to emphasize self-awareness, meaning-making, personal responsibility, and the therapeutic relationship as pathways to healing. While these approaches are deeply transformative, and healing cannot occur without safe relationships, neuro-counseling theories provide additional tools for processing overwhelming experiences that talking alone may not fully resolve. Click on the links below to learn more about these neurocounseling trauma approaches to treatment.

Neuro-Counseling Approaches (Trauma Recovery)

    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a research-supported therapy designed to help people heal from the emotional distress caused by traumatic or overwhelming life experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require you to talk in detail about what happened. Instead, it helps you process and reframe difficult memories so they no longer feel as emotionally triggering or stuck. Many clients describe feeling like past events are no longer “right there” but instead feel more distant, like something that happened to them, not something that defines them.

    • EMDR uses a structured approach that includes recalling specific memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, tapping, or sounds, that activates both sides of the brain. This process helps the brain reprocess the memory in a way that reduces its emotional charge and allows for new, healthier associations to form.

    • EMDR is particularly effective for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, phobias, and even negative self-beliefs that linger from past experiences. Sessions are paced safely and collaboratively, and clients often report a greater sense of relief, clarity, and confidence as therapy progresses. It’s a gentle yet powerful tool that helps the nervous system complete what was once overwhelming and restore a sense of emotional balance.

    • Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is a compassionate, evidence-based approach that helps individuals understand and heal the different "parts" or within themselves. Rather than seeing thoughts, feelings, or behaviors as problems to fix or eliminate, IFS views them as parts of you that have developed to help you survive, often in response to past wounds or trauma.

    • These parts may show up as inner critics, people-pleasers, angry outbursts, or anxious voices, and while they may seem at odds with your goals, IFS sees them as protective, even if their strategies no longer serve you.

    • At the heart of IFS is the belief that everyone has a core Self, a wise, calm, and compassionate inner presence capable of healing and leading the internal system. In therapy, you'll be guided to connect with your Self and form relationships with your parts from a place of curiosity rather than judgment. As you build trust with these inner parts, their burdens, often rooted in past pain, can be gently released, allowing them to take on more supportive roles. IFS is particularly helpful for those who feel inner conflict, struggle with trauma, or have trouble accessing self-compassion. Many clients find IFS empowering, because it honors the full complexity of their inner world while offering a clear, respectful path toward healing and integration.

    • Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy identifies three primary types of parts that work together to protect us: Managers, Firefighters, and Exiles. Understanding how these parts interact is a key part of the healing process.

      • Managers are proactive and controlling parts that work hard to prevent emotional pain from surfacing. They often appear as perfectionism, overthinking, people-pleasing, or self-criticism, doing everything they can to keep us functioning, avoid vulnerability, and maintain control.

      • Firefighters, on the other hand, are reactive and emerge when Exiles, the parts that hold deep emotional pain, threaten to break through. Firefighters try to extinguish that pain quickly and often turn to impulsive or numbing behaviors like binge eating, addiction, dissociation, rage, or compulsive distractions. While their strategies can be extreme or feel disruptive, they’re ultimately trying to protect you from overwhelming emotion.

      • At the core of the system are Exiles, the vulnerable parts of us that carry burdens from past wounds, such as shame, fear, abandonment, or grief. These parts are often young and stuck in time, holding onto the raw feelings from difficult experiences. Because their pain can feel intense, the system learns to push them away or suppress them. However, true healing in IFS happens when the Self can compassionately connect with these Exiles, unburden them, and allow them to reintegrate into the system in a healthier way. By helping Managers and Firefighters trust that the Self to safely care for Exiles, IFS creates lasting internal balance and emotional freedom.

    • Somatic therapy is a holistic, nervous system and body-centered approach to healing that recognizes the deep connection between the mind and body. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily focuses on thoughts and emotions, somatic therapy explores how unresolved trauma, stress, or emotional pain may be stored in the body. Many people find that their symptoms, such as anxiety, chronic tension, dissociation, or feeling “stuck”, are not just psychological, but also physical.

    • Somatic therapy works gently with bodily sensations, posture, breath, and movement to help clients reconnect with their physical selves and release what the nervous system may be holding onto. This approach draws from neuroscience, trauma research, and practices like mindfulness and body awareness to support healing from the inside out.

    • In a session, you might be invited to notice subtle physical cues or track sensations as you speak about your experiences. Rather than forcing insights or revisiting traumatic memories directly, the therapist helps you slow down, stay present, and build safety in your body. Over time, somatic therapy can increase your capacity for self-regulation, deepen your sense of embodiment, and support a greater feeling of aliveness, resilience, and integration. It’s especially helpful for those recovering from trauma, chronic stress, or feeling disconnected from themselves.