Loretta Kissel
Artistic Systems Therapist

• http://www.SpiralsOfFreedom.com

I am an Artistic Systems Therapist with more than 27 years of research and study regarding the human condition. My education and research has been extensive especially in regards to trauma, violence, relationships, co-dependency, grief, family dynamics, change and transformation, spirituality and matters of the heart and soul. During this time I have worked with individuals, couples, families and groups in a collaborating environment of creativity and possibility.

My theoretical approach is broad and multi-dimensional with a holistic and systemic base. I believe healing comes from utilizing skills, models and techniques that are customized to an individual's unique needs and circumstances. Treatment plans are designed in collaboration with my clients. Treatment may be of short term or long term duration with a varying degree of frequency.

I believe that the client-therapist relationship is the sacred core of therapy. Attention is paid to the relationship from the beginning of treatment and on a regular basis throughout the course of therapy. Therefore, establishing rapport is the most important element for creating a therapeutic foundation. From this foundation a broad view including the client's past, present circumstances and view for the future is essential for understanding and empathy. Special care is given to creating an atmosphere of trust and compassion that is as judgment free as possible.

I have a strong belief that the client is the expert in their own lives. Each client holds the power for change and transformation within themselves and has the inner resources to solve their own problems. I believe my task is to assist a client in reconnecting with their organic creativity, motivation and desires. This is best accomplished by generating hope, no matter how minute. It's important that as a therapist I nurture this hope with support and encouragement in order to foster growth.

I use a here-and-now approach utilizing present interactions between therapist and client(s) to influence and guide the therapy session. In addition to using the here-and-now in therapy, efforts will be maintained to incorporate the clients experience and perspective of the past and future as a valuable resource. This resource will be examined, worked and re-worked as needed to integrate new ways of being with those experiences and perspectives in the here-and-now. The power of the past and future is not to be minimized and will rather be given honor and respect. While a treatment plan will be used and referred to often, use of the here-and-now will supersede the treatment plan.

Every issue and problem brought to therapy has roots in the mind, heart, body and soul. The goal is to bring unity through integration of these roots into a systemic whole. By doing this an individual, couple, group and/or family can live a fulfilling life. Fulfillment is defined as having mental peace and freedom, physical acceptance, trust and confidence and passion and purpose that is generated from deep within the soul. Throughout therapy these three components will be taken apart and joined together as needed in order to have a holistic experience of flexibility and flow between them. It is the flow that creates the systemic whole.

Very insightful and co-creative with my clients. I am extremely resourceful and able to sit in the moment and/or "fire" with my client(s).

My greatest need presently is to network with other professionals as a resource for inspiration, motivation and connection.

Master's degree from Bastyr University in Applied Behavioral Science-Systems Counseling. My training has been very broad, eclectic and holistic.

I have over 16 years direct client experience counseling a wide variety of clients. My clients have been very diverse. I've counseled individuals, groups, couples and families in these settings: Crisis/Victim Service Center, Spiritual Facilities, Outpatient Chemical Dependency Treatment Facility and Mental Health Facility, both in and out-patient.