EMOTIONAL HEALTH

Jungian Therapy with Ali Morrish

WORKING with our dreams is possibly one of the most intimate and individual journeys that we can make. Most of us dream and, indeed, it is a topic that fascinates a lot of us. Imagine the typical conversation around the breakfast table, “You’ll never guess what I dreamed last night…” However, there is more to it than just a casual topic of conversation. A lot of people appreciate that dreams have a deeper, symbolic nature that holds something far more revealing about our psyche. For people who might wish to discover more about their dreams, Ali Morrish RSHom is now offering Jungian psychology and work with dreams. Alongside her homeopathy, Ali has always had a fascination for this work. She said: “Some people may not be aware that homeopathy and Jungian work are quite similar in some ways and, for several years now, I’ve chosen to specialise in this area. “Many people who come to this work are at some kind of crossroads in their lives - maybe they’ve reached midlife, or they have a certain knowing that they wish to change things on a soulful level. Unlike regular counselling and psychotherapy, which of course are immensely valuable, Jungian work enables people to work not only with their dreams but also with stories and images that most will connect with. These insights can be fascinating.” Ali was particularly delighted to receive an endorsement from Senior Jungian Psychoanalyst, Julian David for her work. He said: “I have known Ali since 2002 and have been impressed by her natural skill with the soul and its needs. I support her expansion from homeopathy into dreamwork and a broad intuitive therapeutic approach.” And what of her clients? One recently summed up their experience by saying: “Exploring dreams and their images is exploring the depths, complexity and wisdom of your own psyche. To me, it has been the most challenging and yet rewarding journey I have ever taken towards harmony and personal growth. Some people call this journey ‘soul-making’ and I’m very grateful to Ali for holding a safe and sacred space for my soul-making process. Her deep understanding of Jungian psychology, dream work, stories and symbolism, her intuitive guidance and soulful presence have been the greatest support I could ever wish for my journey. I find our work rich in insight and integration, and our exploration full of courage, compassion and humour!” Sometimes people choose to see Ali for homeopathy alone and sometimes patients of her husband, Mo, opt to have a few sessions with Ali to work with dreams. Others come to focus purely on the Jungian work, looking at a deeper more soulful exploration of the unconscious. One said: “My years with Ali as a patient of her homoeopathic practice were unquestionably enhanced by her knowledge of Jungian therapy. Her breadth of experience makes her a unique therapist.” l Ali holds clinics from her home on Dartmoor, and from Exeter Natural Health Centre. For more information, to book an appointment or a free introductory session: 01364 661397 enquiries@ thehomoeopathicpractice.co.uk www.thehomoeopathicpractice. co.uk EMOTIONAL HEALTH WELCOME back to our exploration into all things emotional. In this edition our Emotional Health columnist Leigh Smith, explores harnessing the mental health benefits from within the natural elements.

“It’s elemental my dear Watson”

Ithink Sherlock Holmes may well consider the power of the Native have hit the nail on the head! American sweat lodge, I recall When looking for answers casting many despairs, and long to our ailments, we may well held grief into the fire pit, the heat find what we are searching for of the steaming stones cleansing embedded deep in the oldest my heart and soul as Carlos would understanding of medicine. share prayers to the ancestors, and As early as 460 B.C. Hippocrates and Galen taught us that the four I would emerge feeling reborn and unburdened. elements, or ‘humors’ of air, water, The positive effects of a sunny day fire, and earth, each had a direct on mood is tangible, and recently relationship and effect on our mind the sunshine throughout lockdown and bodies. And although medical helped massively to stave off the science has come a long way since dark moods and made the situation these rudimentary beginnings, it is more bearable. still widely believed that the natural elements contain potentially health enhancing benefits. So how can Air, Water, Fire and Earth, play a part in my emotional well-being? Water When I imagine removing this element from my life I realise how much I take for granted living so close to the river Dart. The Dart snakes around me at home and If you think of each of the elements at work, I travel along side her as separate ingredients, each one as I journey around doing my bringing a vital aspect of the meal, day to day chores. The serotonin and all four contributing in different boosting negative ions effecting ways to create a well balanced my wellbeing, and the background and nutritious banquet. When sound of water against stone is a you look at the spread of food constant backing track to my days. laid out before you you might well notice that there is too much of one elements, and a lack of another, thus the meal lacks harmony, and something feels out of kilter, until a balance is created. Water is fundamental to our physical health, and results from experiments to monitor the effects of dehydration, report that along with the physical symptoms such as headaches, dehydration was also found to Now think of your own connection produce a degradation in mood. and personal relationship to each of these elements, and consider: which do you absorb in abundance, and which do you lack. Each element has something to offer, a way to enhance our wellbeing, and can provide us with therapeutic benefits in the most simplistic of ways. Air Earth Time spent in nature, connecting to the earth beneath our feet, forest bathing, and becoming aware of our natural environment, are all so rich with therapeutic benefit. During lockdown I was lucky enough to be able to spend time walking the lanes and exploring the local hedgerows, and I believe When I consider the therapeutic that focusing on the life in the effects of the lack of air, I hedges helped me to maintain a see pollution and constricted good balance of mental health. breathing, I see a heavily When I feel I am becoming burdened chest, weighed down anxious I sit or stand with my feet with despair. Embracing this firmly on the ground, and allow element encourages us to focus myself to reconnect, sending roots on effective breathing, to resource down into the earth and anchoring ourselves with clean, fresh air, to the very core. If I lack energy I and to utilise focused breath work can draw resources from deep in (pranayama in yoga) to reduce the earth’s core. anxiety and stress. There are some very simple mindful breathing techniques which can greatly enhance our day to day ability to regulate our nervous system and become centred and calm. Fire The therapeutic possibilities of working with the natural elements are endless, free, and readily available. So perhaps it’s time to get your elemental fix, whether that be squeezing clay between your A lack of fire in my life results in fingers, wiggling your toes in the lethargy, an unfocused, pointless freezing river, lighting an autumn and passionless existence. Bringing fire, or filling your lungs with pure, the element of fire makes me fresh air…. Enjoy. Leigh Smith is director of studies, course designer and tutor at Heartwood Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Training. Visit www.heartwoodcounselling.org or call 01803 865464.