* The Mobile Muse
Since 1995...I have had the honor of working with an amazingly diverse range of people and circumstances; from refugees to plane crash survivors; from East-side teenagers to West-side entrepreneurs; from three-year-old's to ninety-two-year-old's. No matter who comes, or how far they have wandered or been derailed from their path, my goal is always the same: To help people 'come back to life' with a renewed sense of meaning, trust, passion, and purpose.
What services do I offer?
Basically, I am a 'therapist.' I help people to express their feelings. I help people to do and say things they have been meaning to do and say all their lives. I help people change. I help people grow. Although I believe strongly in helping clients make peace with their past, I believe equally in helping them make peace with their future. With this said, my services include 'creative-life-coaching' elements to encourage my clients to fully embrace their potential using their innate talents and passions as their guides.
My sessions involve a combination of many techniques including counselling skills, life-coaching techniques, role-playing, dream-work, creative-visualization, and hands-on metaphoric exercises involving writing and drawing. As Dorye Roettger once said, "There are no problems, just opportunities to be more creative."
Why am I called The Mobile Muse?
Although I had a private-practice as a therapist for many years, I have recently gone mobile. I now take my therapeutic- skills and creative-coaching services directly out into the world. I now go where ever people want me to go -- to their homes, to their schools and institutes, to their work environments, to their conferences, and if need be--directly to their streets. And, while I maintain my 'registered therapist' status, I no longer refer to myself as such. I prefer to call myself a 'Muse,' as it lends itself to a more modern, inspiring and creative kind of mentor-ship, hence The Mobile Muse.
How did I learn to do this?
Like anything worth doing, it took vision, risk, education, patience and practice! I have 8 years of post-secondary training; including a degree from The Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design; a Master's level education from the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute; and an abundance of academic credits in Psychology and Social Science from SFU and VCC.
Although I truly value having an education, schooling is never enough. The soul needs more than certificates and degrees to understand its terrain. With this said, I have spent a great deal of time undergoing my own therapy, professional supervision, and life-coaching (we can only take others where we have been ourselves) as well as many years cultivating my own creative-talents as an artist, designer, musician and writer (go to the 'MORE' section of this blog (top right) for images and text about my other creative projects).
Additional Information
My service is mobile. Wherever you are, or would like to be, I'll meet you there.
All ages are welcome. Specialized experience working with teenagers and young adults in transition.
Private, individual sessions are generally one hour long and can be done in person or in special circumstances via email and over the phone.
Private, individual sessions are $80- an hour, or a monthly fee of $300- is offered to those who are ready to commit to once-weekly sessions. Other rates and session lengths are offered to groups, couples or individuals requiring special services (just ask).
If you or someone you know is interested in sampling my sessions, I offer a free introductory phone consultation. During this conversation we will explore your current situation and then come up with a potential plan (sometimes just taking this first step can feel very healing). However, there is absolutely no obligation to continue beyond this free consultation, nor are there any hidden fees involved; I simply love and believe in what I do.
Make Contact
With this said, if you or someone you know is looking for new inspiration and support on a personal, business, or community level, I would love to help. I am available for private sessions, group workshops and conferences locally and internationally.
Please direct your queries to BarbaraBernath@telus.net and I will contact you shortly.
I truly look forward to hearing from you.
Examples
Private clients
Many of my individual, private clients call on me initially because of a 'presenting problem,' meaning, a current obstacle or issue in their lives which seems to be hindering them in some way. It can be a relationship issue, a health problem, a family dynamic, a conflict at work, or just a niggling feeling that something is not 'right.' Whatever their 'problem' is, they want it to be gone as quickly and painlessly as possible.
However, as we work together what they often find (to their amazement) is their presenting problem is a signpost to a deeper secret, memory, issue, or feeling tangled up with blocked creative energy. In other words, their most vulnerable feelings about themselves often coincide with a buried treasure which is hidden alongside these uncomfortable feelings. Unearthing these memories, feelings, and blocked energy in creative ways always leads to a renewed sense of opportunity and life-affirmation.
For example, some clients end relationships that have been holding them back, while others take up healthy new ones; some clients start playing musical instruments, begin painting classes, or renew their passion for dancing; others start new businesses and projects they never had the energy to pursue before.
So, while I still emphasize the importance of working-out past issues and feelings, it's exciting to also help clients manifest their dreams, talents and aspirations. Through symbolic visualization, written exercises, and other creative techniques, I help my clients go through and beyond the healing stage into the realm of their higher potential. It is not enough to simply help clients 'resolve' their issues and then send them back to their same old lives; people need to be encouraged to test their wings. People need support to really trust their creativity, their uniqueness and their aspirations. This is what I believe being a modern therapist is really all about-- helping people go beyond the mundane, helping them to be proud of their uniqueness, and encouraging them to express their full potential.
Community Projects
One of the longest running projects (nine consecutive years) that I developed was an on-site Creative-Counselling Program in a school for inner-city teens. By fusing the art room together with my counselling 'office,' these kids were given the opportunity to express their hopes and fears in a highly creative way.
As they explored their private issues and emotions--they developed their artistic talents; as they honed their creative style--they worked out family and social issues; as they found comfort and safety in their own uniqueness--their tolerance and compassion for themselves and others blossomed. It was a beautiful example of how creativity and healing can happen simultaneously if given the right space and opportunity to do so.
Corporate Communication Projects
I also enjoy working within organizations and businesses, it's very interesting to get inside the 'psyche' of a group and help find fresh ways to develop team-spirit, clarify in-house issues, and de-stress through creative projects.
For example, through simple pen and paper exercises, I provided a much needed "inner-vacation" for employees at the head office of a bank; at an annual conference for a high profile union, I had participants drawing symbolic pictures of what it felt like to be on the verge of a strike; at a hip Yaletown restaurant, I brought management, floor, and kitchen staff together to share their varying perspectives of their workplace through upbeat, metaphoric drawing, writing and talking.
I have worked with the following organizations:
Vancity Credit Union
The BC Hospital Employees Union
St. Paul’s Hospital VISTA Program (Eating Disorder Program)
The Alliance for Arts & Culture
The Sequoia Restaurant Group (Cardero’s/ Sequoia Grill/ Sandbar/ Season’s)
Sweat Co Studios
Phoenix Program
Caribou Hill Secondary School
Christina Lake & Green Seed Foundation
Vancouver Children’s Centre
The Vancouver Art Gallery
Subeez Restaurant
Deep Cove Parent Participation Preschool
Granville Park Lodge
The Vancouver Art Therapy Institute
Ministry of Children and Families
YWCA
BCATA
CATA
Make Contact
Again, if you are looking for new inspiration and support on a personal, business, or community level, I would love to help. Remember, I offer a free phone session. Please direct your queries to BarbaraBernath@telus.net and I will contact you shortly.
I truly look forward to hearing from you.
posted by barbara bernath at 10:38
