Ellen Hirshberg

Because of what has happened or not happened to us in our lives, we develop particular stories and patterned beliefs about ourselves that limit our capacity to be alive and open in the present moment. These stories and beliefs make it difficult for us to change and to create the lives we want. Words and talking encourage staying with these stories and beliefs and solidify them in the brain’s neural networks. Working with images through dreams, sandplay, simply-made visual maps, and with the body’s postures and patterns, surprises us with new information and insight so previously unknown possibilities can emerge. Imaginal psychotherapy can sneak up on what is underneath what we label pathology. Working symbolically with images and our bodies can offer us vital information and transformative ways of understanding and seeing things. These visual and physical cues help us access the wisdom that we need to be whole, authentic and fully alive. Creative encounters are invitations to work symb