Live Oak Chicago About - Andrea Gundersen

Live Oak Chicago Therapists, Psychologists, Counseling, Psychotherapists, Social Workers

Consultation/Supervision

Upcoming Training

Training By Request Menu

Internships/Fellowships


		Body-Centered Psychotherapy.... ....safely explore what lies within you, beyond the divisions of "body" and "mind." Values and Philosophy When our bodies, minds and spirits are in harmony and balance, we can fully own life's joyousness. Our work and our relationships become an expression of the vitality and creativity that are our birthright. The pain of anxiety, depression, loneliness or addiction can also impact our entire beings, binding our vitality, disrupting the balance we seek until our well-being at every level, physical, emotional and spiritual, feels unattainable. If you struggle with long-standing pain that has not resolved with traditional medical, psychological, or addiction treatment, there is another way. I was astonished by our initial sessions. It had seemed to me that issues I'd been dealing with for 14 years with a psychotherapist.....how I was shamed as a child and a spouse.....had resolved. But my sensation during our work showed me that the shame and hurt extended right down through the fibers in my back. Wow! That's where the shame is residing, and has been stored... I offer my clients a gentle exploration of the interface between the verbal and non verbal, physical and intellectual realms of experience. It is in that interface that the truth often lies. Our work gives me well-being because it involves my whole being. Training and Experience I have a Masters Degree in dance/movement therapy and counseling, a certification in massage therapy, and extensive training in body-mind integration from the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute in Boulder, Colorado. I have created Body-Centered Psychotherapy to integrate knowledge from brain research, movement therapy, trauma therapy, meditation, yoga and massage therapy. Range of Focus Relationship Issues Trauma and PSD Spirituality Depression Anxiety or Fears Addictions or Substance Abuse Chronic Pain or Illness Divorce Domestic Abuse or Violence Affirmative Practice with LGBT Individuals/Families Loss or Grief Individual Body-Centered Psychotherapy You will be invited to begin our work by learning new tools for self-exploration, including mindfulness, the capacity to safely notice your emotions, sensations and thoughts, in the present moment. Being present to yourself in this way will lead you toward new and profoundly core information about who you are and how you got here. Then, working at your comfort level, I offer hundreds of physical, emotional and cognitive interventions individually tailored to gently shift your body, mind and spirit toward balanced, integrated functioning. The best I've been able to do for myself when I'm upset is to numb out. When I remember our work, I can begin to turn toward that which is distressing, and become curious about it. That allows it to begin to calm down. Group Facilitation I facilitate Becoming Safely Embodied, a 12-week skills development group where participants practice and expand the capacity to stay calm and curious in the face of distress, using the skills of meditation and concentration, belongingness, separating the past from the present, identifying thoughts, feelings and body sensations, discovering an internal wise self, and carving out a new path. I had hoped that through these "Becoming Safely Embodied" skills I would learn how to recognize one safe place where I could calm myself down, and I did get that, but I got so much more. I have the skills to be safe pretty much anyplace now. Professional Consultation I offer training and consultation in the brain-mind-body interface, sharing with other therapists my years of experience in how to invite the wisdom of the body into a psychotherapy process, while respecting the unique needs of each individual client for safety, control and clear boundaries. Degrees and Certifications Master of Arts 2007 Dance/Movement Therapy Columbia College Chicago Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Arts 1977 Philosophy/Political Science Antioch College Yellow Springs Ohio Massage Therapy Certification 1989 Chicago School of Massage Therapy Chicago, Illinois Contact Information 1300 W. Belmont, Suite 400 Chicago, IL 60657 773.880.1310, ext. 77296 agundersen@liveoakchicago.com Office Hours Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm		We are a group of psychotherapists and consultants who provide counseling and educational services that enhance the emotional and psychological well being of individuals, families, organizations and communities. We bring to our work decades of experience in clinical practice. Our longevity and success derive from the inspirational courage of our clients, our deep commitment to learning, and a strength-based philosophy that fosters growth, strengthens identity, and promotes real and lasting change. The following principles inform our work: We recognize the uniqueness of each individual. We are goal-oriented. We employ a strength-based approach that begins by respecting the courage it takes to attempt change. We recognize that real and lasting change requires action. We understand, recognize, and incorporate the interrelated nature of mind, body, and brain. We are systems-oriented. We establish a partnership based on mutual accountability and trust. We recognize the harm that comes from discrimination and stigma, and therefore practice psychotherapy, consultation, and training that affirms the value of difference.

1300 W. Belmont Avenue, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60657 Phone: 773.880.1310

Home | About | Our Philosophy | Our Team | FAQ | Employment | Our Services | Consultation | Upcoming Training | Internships | Groups | Publications | Contact
Chicago Counseling | Chicago Therapists | Chicago Psychologist | Chicago Counselor | Gay Therapist | Lesbian Counseling
© 2008 Live Oak Chicago. A group of psychotherapists, psychologists, and social workers offering counseling, therapy, and education in Chicago, Illinois.
Web Design & Development by Victoria Lantz