For many people, December represents a time to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the next one. Transpersonal therapy is a modality that can help facilitate this. Because many people are not familiar with this modality, we chose to use our blog this month to highlight its usefulness.
I sat down with Viva Clinician Sonja Favaloro, LGPC, who specializes in transpersonal therapy, somatic techniques, Brainspotting, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). In this post, we explore transpersonal therapy and share rituals that can be used to transition into a new year with purpose.
What is Transpersonal Therapy?
Transpersonal therapy combines spirituality and psychology to take a holistic approach to wellness. As such, personally meaningful traditions are often integrated into the healing work.
Sonja shared that she loves helping clients find meaning beyond just a personal level, including getting in touch with nature, loved ones, and their larger community. Transpersonal therapy can also be used to help clients access different states of consciousness, to deepen insight and shift long-held patterns. Tools like psychedelic therapy, mindfulness, or other meditative practices can be particularly useful.
In her work, Sonja uses transpersonal therapy to assist clients in grounding through the use of individualized rituals and personalized traditions.
Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail
Nearly 40% of US adults engage in the ritual of setting New Year’s resolutions. Now approximately 30% of those resolutions are related to mental health. Some of these include seeing a therapist, meditating, and exercising. But despite best intentions, only 9% of people stick to their resolution.
This can be for a multitude of reasons. Not being ready to change, setting goals that are too big and immeasurable, and failing to ask why we want to make a change are a few. Sonja shared that transpersonal therapy is particularly helpful at addressing blocks that come up when striving for a goal. For example, Sonja teaches her clients contemplative activities that reflect on one’s personal values and how to translate those values into action. Setting intentions for the new year that are rooted in one’s values can increase motivation and make it easier to follow through.
Transpersonal Practices for the New Year
If you’re looking to turn inward and contemplate, here are a few practices that can help:
- Values clarification and exploration. What’s important to you? What do you value? And where do your actions align with your values? Notice where your actions and values are not in alignment. What small steps can you take to incorporate these values in a new way? For a start, try out this values ranking exercise or this values sorting exercise.
- Meditation and breathwork. Grounding in the present moment and in your body creates space for reflection. Wisdom waits for us in stillness. Also meditation or deep breathing in nature can increase our feelings of interconnectedness to all living beings. Find a peaceful spot outside for this meditation.
- Letting go ritual. Upon reflection, you may discover patterns that are no longer serving you or things to let go of. Sonja recommends creating a “letting go” ritual to symbolize release. This could involve writing down things you want to leave behind, then burning the paper. Elements from nature, such as fire or water, can also provide as tool for grounding through the environment.
- Ritual to mark the change of season. An important aspect of transpersonal practices can be connecting with the larger world around you. Changes in season occur naturally throughout the year. Rituals such as Winter Solstice celebrations, mark the darkest day of the year and the coming of more light. A personally meaningful ritual could include lighting a candle on the solstice to invite in more light. Or try going for a walk in nature to be present with the changes happening around you.
Here at the Viva Center, we’re dedicated to helping you achieve your goals and live your most meaningful life all year long. To get started, reach out to us info@vivapartnership.com today.
