1. Comprehensive Understanding: Holistic mental health care recognizes that mental well-being is interconnected with various aspects of a person's life, including physical health, social relationships, environment, and spirituality. By considering these interconnections, it provides a more comprehensive understanding of the individual's mental health.
   
2. Individualized Care: A holistic approach tailors treatment to the specific needs and circumstances of each person. It acknowledges that what works for one individual may not work for another, and it seeks to address the unique factors contributing to mental health challenges.
   
3. Preventive Focus: Holistic mental health care doesn't solely focus on treating existing mental health issues but also emphasizes preventive measures. It promotes a proactive approach to maintaining mental well-being through lifestyle choices, stress management, and self-care.
   
4. Emphasis on Root Causes: Instead of solely addressing symptoms, holistic mental health treatment seeks to identify and address the underlying causes of mental health challenges. This approach aims to provide long-lasting solutions rather than temporary relief.
   
5. Incorporation of Mind-Body Connection: Holistic mental health recognizes the strong connection between the mind and body. It integrates physical health practices like nutrition, exercise, and sleep into mental health care, acknowledging that these factors can significantly impact mental well-being.
   
6. Promotion of Self-Awareness: Holistic approaches often encourage individuals to develop self-awareness and self-empowerment. This enables them to take an active role in their own mental health journey and make informed choices.
   
7. Reduced Stigma: By acknowledging that mental health is just one aspect of overall well-being, holistic approaches help reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues. It normalizes discussions about mental health and encourages individuals to seek help without shame.
   
8. Integration of Complementary Therapies: Holistic mental health care may integrate complementary therapies like mindfulness, meditation, yoga, art therapy, and acupuncture. These practices can provide additional tools for managing mental health challenges.
   
9. Long-Term Success: The holistic approach seeks to create long-term, sustainable improvements in mental health. By addressing the person as a whole, it can lead to lasting positive changes and a higher quality of life.
   
10. Collaboration and Communication: Holistic care often involves collaboration between various healthcare professionals, such as therapists, doctors, nutritionists, and alternative therapists. This interdisciplinary approach fosters open communication and a more well-rounded understanding of the individual's needs.
    

In summary, a holistic perspective on mental health treatment takes into account the complexity and interconnectedness of an individual's life and well-being. It promotes a more patient-centered, preventative, and empowering approach to mental health care, ultimately leading to more effective and sustainable outcomes.
​Check out our holistic treatment options, and schedule a session today!

1. Research-Based: The Gottmans have conducted extensive research on couples' interactions and relationships, observing thousands of couples over many years. Their research has led to the development of the Sound Relationship House Theory, which forms the foundation of their therapy. This research-based approach ensures that the therapy is grounded in empirical evidence.
2. Assessment Tools: The Gottmans have created assessment tools, such as the Couples Satisfaction Index and the Love Maps questionnaire, to help therapists and couples gain a better understanding of their relationship dynamics. These assessments provide a starting point for therapy and help identify areas that need improvement.
3. Focus on Communication: A significant emphasis is placed on improving communication skills within the relationship. The therapy helps couples learn to communicate more effectively, express their needs and feelings, and listen empathetically to their partner.
4. Conflict Resolution Techniques: The Gottmans teach couples specific strategies for managing and resolving conflicts. They emphasize the importance of managing conflict in a respectful and constructive manner rather than avoiding it or engaging in destructive patterns of interaction.
5. Emotional Regulation: The therapy helps couples learn how to manage their emotions and avoid emotional flooding, which can lead to destructive conflicts. Couples are encouraged to develop self-soothing techniques and emotional awareness.
6. Building Friendship and Intimacy: The Gottmans stress the importance of maintaining the friendship and intimacy in a relationship. They provide exercises and techniques for deepening emotional connection and maintaining a strong bond.
7. Turning Towards Bids: The Gottmans' research has shown that successful couples consistently "turn towards" each other's emotional bids for connection and support. The therapy teaches couples to recognize and respond positively to each other's bids, which strengthens the emotional connection.
8. Positive Perspective: The therapy aims to shift the couple's perspective from a negative one, where they may focus on each other's flaws and shortcomings, to a more positive perspective, where they recognize and appreciate each other's strengths and positive qualities.
9. Relationship Education: The Gottman method educates couples about common relationship pitfalls and dynamics, such as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling), and provides strategies to overcome them.
10. Ongoing Support: The therapy is often structured to include ongoing check-ins and support, helping couples apply what they've learned in therapy to their daily lives and navigate new challenges as they arise.

Gottman Couples Therapy is considered effective because it combines research-based knowledge, practical techniques, and a focus on building and maintaining healthy relationships. The Gottmans' approach is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather a flexible framework that can be tailored to the unique needs and dynamics of each couple. It has been widely adopted by therapists and has helped many couples improve their relationships and build a strong foundation for the future.

Book a session with our Gottman couples therapist, Laura Brown, today!

A standard Tarot deck typically consists of 78 cards, divided into two main categories:

1. Major Arcana: These are 22 cards that represent significant life events, archetypal experiences, and major spiritual lessons. They include cards like The Fool, The Lovers, The Chariot, and The Tower.
2. Minor Arcana: These are the remaining 56 cards, which are further divided into four suits (similar to playing cards): Wands (or Rods), Cups, Swords, and Pentacles (or Coins). Each suit contains 14 cards, including the Ace, numbered cards from 2 to 10, and four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King).

Tarot readings typically involve the Tarot reader shuffling the cards, while the person seeking a reading (the querent) concentrates on their question or issue. The reader then draws a certain number of cards, usually in a spread or pattern, and interprets their meanings based on the card's symbolism, their position in the spread, and the reader's intuition and knowledge.
It's important to note that Tarot is often considered a tool for self-reflection and guidance, rather than a means of predicting the future with absolute certainty. Tarot readings can provide valuable insights, provoke thought, and help individuals gain a deeper understanding of their current situations and potential paths forward. Many people find personal meaning and spiritual insight in Tarot, but its effectiveness and interpretation can vary from one practitioner to another.

​Interested in a tarot session? Book a session with our tarot reader, Priscy, today!