For today's publication, I interviewed Kimberley Dobbs, a licensed professional counselor, MS, LPC, and the owner of Intuitive Counseling, LLC, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here's what she had to say about intuitive therapy and what she has learned as a mental health therapist for over 15 years.
According to Intuitive Therapy & Consulting, Intuitive Therapy is a type of integrative psychotherapy that employs intuition to reveal what a client picks up on but may not be consciously aware of.
Kimberley has a degenerative eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa which has left her blind. She explains that she hasn't been blind her entire life but has found that as she's gone blind, she depends on what she "feels in the room" when she's with a client.
"I typically tell clients that I will never be the therapist that points out whether or not they are making eye contact with me. I will however, take notice of energy shifts that I experience and use this information to guide me in our sessions," says Kimberley.
Kimberley has a guide dog named Ursula, who was been her partner for five years. She says that interestingly enough, Ursula naturally evolved into a dual role of a pet therapist, as well. Kimberley explains that she, too, is intuitive and will often lay at her clients' feet, even putting her head in their lap.
"I always tell potential clients that our sessions will be conversations. Maybe at first, these conversations might seem different because they don’t know me. However, in time, trust is built" says Kimberley.
Kimberley has recently expanded her practice to include another therapist, Tim Wragg.
With over 15 years of experience, Kimberley has been helping individuals with numerous issues such as anxiety, self-esteem, grief, relationship issues, stress, and much more. Her specialties are focused on the areas of trauma and PTSD, life transitions, and depression.
"When it comes to things like trauma, relationships, symptoms of anxiety and depression, I believe, the “work“ begins with a person deciding that perhaps maybe they don’t want to go alone," says Kimberley.
Kimberely says that generally speaking, her approach is considered insight-oriented. Furthermore, she practices from the idea that to make changes within oneself, individuals need to have a deeper understanding and know where some of their thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors come from.
"I believe that my approach in sessions is warm and direct. My clients are encouraged to be their most authentic selves and speak on whatever it is they like to speak on. My job, is to assist and guide them in the “excavation process“, drawing and connections between current Life experiences and past experience," says Kimberley.
Kimberley suggests that the moment a person feels comfortable enough with the idea of reaching out to someone, to not wait. She says that she believes that taking action immediately is incredibly helpful in getting the ball rolling to get help.
"When looking for a therapist, the first thing I’ll tell people is to consider that you want to feel comfortable with that person right off the bat. Although it's different than other types of relationships like friendships or love relationships, a certain level of support and comfortability needs to be there for it to work," says Kimberley.
Janet Dunphy, an individual from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who overcame her anxiety after going to therapy for five years, says that going to therapy was the best thing she has ever done for herself.
"It helped me gain control of not only my anxiety but my life as a whole. All in all, I gained joy and lost range," says Janet.
Janet says that the process seems daunting and scary in the beginning because an individual is digging out all of the traumas and issues that they may have. However, she says that the amazing part is that once you reach that mountaintop, the other side is a much brighter life.
"For people starting therapy, I suggest sticking to a therapist that you feel comfortable with. It's important to trust the person you're going to for your mental health," says Janet.
According to ultrahealth.net, Intuitive Therapy may support someone to free themself from past experiences through tapping into their subconscious to remove blockages and rewire their brain.
For more information on Intuitive counseling, individuals can check out Kimberley's website, email her at Dobbs.kimberley@gmail.com, or call her at 610-504-5234.