Karin Watling RN

I'd rather be whole than good.- C.G.Jung

Have you ever had the experience of working resolutely at the career you spent significant effort to earn, when it dawns on you that something is wrong? Upon reflection you notice that outside you are managing or even excelling at your responsibilities; but internally you feel thwarted, stuck, frustrated and disappointed with who you are in your role.

In a recent keynote address the poet David Whyte remarked:

"There is no journey of sincerity that a human being can take in life without having their heart broken - no love affair you can follow, no marriage no matter how happy it is, that won't leave you wanting and helpless at times. Not only that, but there is no work you can follow without having your heart broken, if your vocation is sincere. You will get to thresholds where you will not know how to proceed and where you will forget yourself; and where you will imprison yourself with what was first a doorway to freedom."

Laughing heartily he added: "If you have never been disappointed with yourself, you're not trying."

In my own case, I did not find what I thought was my vocation until my mid-twenties. Studying and working first as a Neonatal and then an Emergency Room Nurse seemed to 'fit the bill' nicely. However, this change in environment facilitated a movement from a once open and caring stance to one in which I felt I needed to surround myself with a harsh wall - protection from the inherent drama and trauma. It was a shock to me to notice one day that I did not like myself very much in my chosen role.

That insight was what launched me on my road to finding out who and how I wanted to be in my life. Unpleasant as this realization was, it was a wonderful gift and catalyst for years of exploring new philosophies and therefore an ever-adjusting new 'working theory' for myself.

Ultimately all the searching seemed a frustration too; until a broad spectrum of teachings became the backdrop for a clearer understanding. My life's task is to live from my heart and intuition. It is a great joy for me in my practice to witness another's story and accompany them in connecting to their own wisdom and intuition.

My training in psychotherapy from 2008 at the Transformational Arts College (TAC) of Spiritual and Holistic Training propelled me through an emotional rollercoaster of new information, personal therapy, and experiential learning. An important truth I fully experienced was: even if learning something about myself was grievous, this demonstrated to me the support of the universe in the healing process. While there, I gathered knowledge and multiple techniques to experience myself and to employ with clients, such as family dynamics, role playing, Gestalt techniques, dream work, spirituality, dark nights of the soul, inner child and sub-personality work. I continually update education process with reading, seminars, workshops, and client work with my supervisor.

I view all our relationships and interactions as mirrors of our own - often disowned - selves. Working with these mirrors offers us the opportunity to live life from our wholeness rather than from our reactive woundedness. I personally consider this a life-task that is rich in its resonances, ripple-effect and rewards. Well worth the work then of noticing and taking responsibility of our behaviour, our projections and our Shadow so that we may know ourselves and our impact on those around us.

Feelings are important, and your subjective feelings represent the truths you now hold about yourself. Empathetic listening to such feelings, and a response that comes from feelings, are the pathways to a continuing process of emotional healing in which both you and I will work as allies and collaborators, at your own pace.

Generally, I offer one-hour sessions with the frequency and the pace based on how often you wish to work. Some people find they use sessions to have a sounding-board, a practice ground, a place to vent, to gain insights and reality checks or to untangle a confusing situation. Everything in your personal world is material for therapy, whether it is talk therapy, dynamic drawing, guided imagery, role-playing, two-chair work or dreamwork.

My only agenda is to create a safe, respectful and honouring environment for you to find your own wisdom.

I work from my office off Rural Route 3 in Orillia (click here for a map), also convenient to other locations such as Barrie, Collingwood and East Gwillimbury in Simcoe County as well as Muskoka. Please feel free to contact me for a free consultation.