PSYCHOTHERAPY Through psychotherapy individuals may address mental or emotional distress by looking, most often with the help of a trained therapist, at their own mental processing and identifying problematic or self-defeating patterns. Individuals may develop understanding about the nature and process of their own experience and their development. While employing eclectic methods of client-centered psychotherapy, the method I often find most useful is known as Gestalt or “whole” therapy. The goal of this kind of therapy is to promote awareness. A client may learn to see their own behavior and its effects from a new perspective. A typical counseling session may involve exploration of the various states of one’s body, spirit, thoughts, emotions, and relationships. In collaboration, we may consider these areas separately, exploring joys and struggles in each. We will aim to identify strategies for aiding the developmental process. Ultimately, I hope to see clients achieve a sense of contentment with and curiosity about the world. A client should ultimately feel empowered to create the person they want to become. Therapy may be an effective way to process through difficult emotions associated with grief, loss, change and development. Psychotherapy may also help in controlling impulses, balancing moods and getting over traumatic experiences. Margi Clifford, MS, RYT, received graduate training in Counseling Psychology at Alaska Pacific University. She is currently supervised by Ann Stockman, MSW, PhD while in pursuit of licensure as a Professional Counselor in the State of Alaska.