Guiding Principles of My Work
I graduated from California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco, CA. My graduate trainings in Integral Counselling Psychology is a unique program integrating Eastern wisdom and Western counselling approaches. To bring forth emotional and psychological health, the counselling process is holistic and integrates the mind, body and spirit of the whole being to achieve healing and growth.
I graduated from California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco, CA. My graduate trainings in Integral Counselling Psychology is a unique program integrating Eastern wisdom and Western counselling approaches. To bring forth emotional and psychological health, the counselling process is holistic and integrates the mind, body and spirit of the whole being to achieve healing and growth.
Mindfulness
The practices of non-violence and compassion are important parts of a mindfulness practice. Our emotional pain and sufferings intensify when we put ourselves down, judge ourselves harshly, or when we try to push away unwanted feelings. When we are faced with challenges and our limitations, it is important to remind ourselves to accept who we are with gentleness and kindness wherever we are at in this journey.
The philosophy of Lao Tzu and his beautiful writings of Tao Te Ching (or Dao De Jing) guided ancient Chinese through a chaotic and tumultuous time. Lao Tzu’s teachings emphasized the concept of Wu Wei (non-interference / non-doing / non attachment), Guan (observing without judgment) and Zhi Ran (return to nature, harmony with nature). Wu Wei teaches us to not force, control, or get in the way of ourselves or others as we move through life. It is easy to fall into the temptation to control or force things, and interfere with the natural flow of things by limiting, restricting or putting barriers against ourselves. By allowing and not interfering, our mind becomes still and empty, and we behave and act in a more open, flexible and adaptive ways, allowing whatever needs to emerge to surface unobstructed.
The practices of non-violence and compassion are important parts of a mindfulness practice. Our emotional pain and sufferings intensify when we put ourselves down, judge ourselves harshly, or when we try to push away unwanted feelings. When we are faced with challenges and our limitations, it is important to remind ourselves to accept who we are with gentleness and kindness wherever we are at in this journey.
The philosophy of Lao Tzu and his beautiful writings of Tao Te Ching (or Dao De Jing) guided ancient Chinese through a chaotic and tumultuous time. Lao Tzu’s teachings emphasized the concept of Wu Wei (non-interference / non-doing / non attachment), Guan (observing without judgment) and Zhi Ran (return to nature, harmony with nature). Wu Wei teaches us to not force, control, or get in the way of ourselves or others as we move through life. It is easy to fall into the temptation to control or force things, and interfere with the natural flow of things by limiting, restricting or putting barriers against ourselves. By allowing and not interfering, our mind becomes still and empty, and we behave and act in a more open, flexible and adaptive ways, allowing whatever needs to emerge to surface unobstructed.
Person-centred / Client-centred
Person-centred or humanistic counselling is based on the idea that each person is capable of self-actualization and reaching his or her full potential for growth. Empathic understanding, unconditional positive regard, and congruency of the therapist create an environment where clients feel accepted and understood. These qualities facilitate the development of self-regard, trust of one's own experience, and the innate growth tendency that is in all of us. The counsellor is non-judgemental, genuine, and deeply involved in the process. The counsellor may also draw on his or her own experience to help build a stronger therapeutic relationship.
Person-centred or humanistic counselling is based on the idea that each person is capable of self-actualization and reaching his or her full potential for growth. Empathic understanding, unconditional positive regard, and congruency of the therapist create an environment where clients feel accepted and understood. These qualities facilitate the development of self-regard, trust of one's own experience, and the innate growth tendency that is in all of us. The counsellor is non-judgemental, genuine, and deeply involved in the process. The counsellor may also draw on his or her own experience to help build a stronger therapeutic relationship.
Relational
The therapeutic relationship can be a great foundation of growth and healing. Through a safe, trusting and authentic relationship, the real self is allowed to emerge without danger of being hurt, judged, or misunderstood. This relationship creates a sacred ground for the client to open up, reveal his or her self, experience all ranges of feelings, and allow thoughts previously considered unwanted or unacceptable to appear. A trusting relationship also provides corrective emotional experience which often were missing in the clients’ earlier experience where they may have been exposed to an unsafe, neglectful, abusive or traumatic environment.
The therapeutic relationship can be a great foundation of growth and healing. Through a safe, trusting and authentic relationship, the real self is allowed to emerge without danger of being hurt, judged, or misunderstood. This relationship creates a sacred ground for the client to open up, reveal his or her self, experience all ranges of feelings, and allow thoughts previously considered unwanted or unacceptable to appear. A trusting relationship also provides corrective emotional experience which often were missing in the clients’ earlier experience where they may have been exposed to an unsafe, neglectful, abusive or traumatic environment.
Existential Psychotherapy / Counselling
Human conflict arises from our confrontation with existence: Isolation and aloneness, freedom and responsibility that comes with it, meaninglessness, and inevitability of death / fear of non-existence. Human beings long to be connected and feel validated by others, however, we often return to moments of being alone with our thoughts, feelings, dialogues and this can feel like we are utterly alone in the world. We have the freedom to choose how we want to live our lives, and we are also responsible for those choices. Sometimes it is easier to say that we don't have a choice because we are afraid to act, or we don't want to be responsible for the choices we make.
Existentialism encourages people to face the conditions of being human: Face life, embrace the freedom to choose or to be, and at the same time take responsibility for those choices. We do not need to be content with meaninglessness, and can find meaning and hope by changing perspective or direction. The fear of death and the anxiety of our mortality can be daunting, but we can choose how to embrace life.
Existential issues are sometimes explored with my clients in our work together. Questions such as: Why are we here? What does it mean to be me? Who am I? What do I want out of life? Why do I make certain choices? or not? What am I so fearful or anxious about living? Why am I so afraid of aging and death?
Human conflict arises from our confrontation with existence: Isolation and aloneness, freedom and responsibility that comes with it, meaninglessness, and inevitability of death / fear of non-existence. Human beings long to be connected and feel validated by others, however, we often return to moments of being alone with our thoughts, feelings, dialogues and this can feel like we are utterly alone in the world. We have the freedom to choose how we want to live our lives, and we are also responsible for those choices. Sometimes it is easier to say that we don't have a choice because we are afraid to act, or we don't want to be responsible for the choices we make.
Existentialism encourages people to face the conditions of being human: Face life, embrace the freedom to choose or to be, and at the same time take responsibility for those choices. We do not need to be content with meaninglessness, and can find meaning and hope by changing perspective or direction. The fear of death and the anxiety of our mortality can be daunting, but we can choose how to embrace life.
Existential issues are sometimes explored with my clients in our work together. Questions such as: Why are we here? What does it mean to be me? Who am I? What do I want out of life? Why do I make certain choices? or not? What am I so fearful or anxious about living? Why am I so afraid of aging and death?
Joy Tsai-Yuan Hung, MA, RCC
Tel: 604-837-3375
4885 Kingsway, Suite 303, Burnaby, BC V5H 4T2
Email: psychotherapywithjoy@gmail.com
Tel: 604-837-3375
4885 Kingsway, Suite 303, Burnaby, BC V5H 4T2
Email: psychotherapywithjoy@gmail.com