Episode 1 Introduction and Discover Holistic Therapy
Welcome to the Holistic Counseling Podcast, I am excited to be on this journey with you!
IN THIS PODCAST:
- Meet your host, Chris McDonald
- Why I started this podcast and who it's for
- What to expect
- How do you discover what kind of holistic practitioner you want to be?
Meet your host, Chris McDonald
I believe a good holistic practice starts with a ritual, and so this morning I lit the candle at my 'desk/altar space' to remind me of my intention for the year, which is summed up in my word for the year: ACCEPTANCE.
I like to do a Word of the Year to show something I want to focus on, and I have it surrounded by my crystals as well as my Palo Santo essential oil which is diffusing around my office right now helping to keep me calm and start my day the right way.
What would be a good holistic ritual for you while you listen to this podcast? There is no wrong answer to this. It is an open space and invitation for you to practice a small ritual with yourself to create an intentional space of healing and awareness.
So, I am Chris McDonald, and to me, Holistic Therapy looks at all parts of the self: the mind, body, and spirit. It focuses on wholeness and, not just the psychological aspects.
Years ago I was a school counselor and went to a retreat for teachers. This was my first experience with meditation, I immediately connected with it and really loved it.
I started to learn more about meditation, breathwork, essential oils, mindfulness, and yoga and thought about how I could incorporate these into traditional therapy.
Why I started This podcast And Who It's For
There are not a lot of holistic therapists out there. We are spread few and far between and often struggle to find one another in the midst of traditional therapy.
Traditional therapy is great and has its strengths but I wanted to build up the holistic therapy world and provide a voice for this budding community.
I wanted to build that strong community, especially those that are like-minded and free from judgment… some people who are more traditional-minded may not [understand] and could judge you for that so I think having people who are non-judgmental would be great, to be able connect with them and learn from each other.
This podcast is geared towards mental health therapists who are interested in integrating these holistic strategies into treatment, or even if you just want to build your own personal practice.
What To Expect
- Solo shows
- Guest/Interview shows
- How to integrate your learnings
- A variety of topics spanning meditation, breathwork, and essential oils
- How to do this safely and ethically
- Practice building tips
- Your self-care
How do you discover what type of holistic practitioner you want to be?
The way you do this is by turning inward to hear yourself more clearly. Opening up your mind and heart and listening.
- Where do you want to be with your therapy practice?
- Who do you want to be?
Pause if you would like and write some thoughts down, without judgment, and be playful, curious, and creative with your raw ideas.
Explore your ideas: research different teachers, practices, free courses, podcasts, and teachings. Spend some time looking through the resources you find on Google or Youtube.
Look around to see if there are any holistic centers near you to see what is available. Consider visiting a local Buddhist temple if you have one near you and spending time with like-minded people and engaging them in the conversations you would like to learn more from.
Connect with me
- Instagram @holisticcounselingpodcast
- Join the private Facebook group
- Sign up for my free email course: www.holisticcounselingpodcast.com
- Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spotify and Google Podcasts.