John Elder,
MA
Pagan Psychotherapist
Redondo Beach, California
(310) 322-8061
What is a "Pagan psychotherapist"?
A Pagan psychotherapist is a psychotherapist who also happens to be a Pagan. My Pagan world-view shapes my use of traditional psychological knowledge and techniques. I believe that paganism reinforces modern psychology in many ways.So you practice Pagan psychotherapy?
No. Pagan psychotherapy would be an attempt to heal the psyche based on Pagan philosophy and spiritual practice. Think of it as Pagan "pastoral counseling". This would be analogous to a Christian counselor helping a person with Biblical teachings, prayer, and exhortation. I do not practice Pagan psychotherapy. I practice modern psychology as a Pagan individual.What difference does a Pagan therapist make to clients?
When I have Pagan clients, they feel that they have much less to explain to me about their belief system and experience of the world. Psychology becomes less threatening to them. Therapists who know little about Paganism frequently assign pathological labels to common Pagan experiences. The practice of magic, contact with the Gods, and even aspects of ritual have been pathologized by "modern" psychology. I've had clients who "heard voices" and were terrified of seeing a therapist. They didn't want to be labeled as crazy. As a Pagan, I do not automatically assume that ghosts, voices, and visions are symptoms of illness. I help my clients understand and manage their unusual experiences.My experience with ritual and magic allows me to design psychological exercises that can be quite beneficial, even for non-Pagans. I encourage my clients to use concrete objects (candles, dolls, mirrors, etc) to express inner symbols. By changing the arrangement, form, or some other attribute of the objects, my clients rehearse the process of change—and that rehearsal empowers change in their lives.
What kinds of therapy do you practice?
I try to use the most effective techniques that will help each individual. My "generic" therapeutic approach is humanistic psychology. I seek to honor my clients' experiences and to help them find empowerment to change. Sometimes this means empathetic acceptance, other times this means challenging a client, pushing them to examine what they are doing.
I also look for archetypal issues in clients' lives. I point these out as I see them emerging. Frequently, I urge clients to honor emerging or unbalanced archetypes in their lives, using art, ritual, journaling, or active imagination. At times I find it appropriate to help clients examine their lives as "scripts" or story lines, and invite them to discover the parts they have written and the parts that have been written for them. This process of story revision can be quite helpful. I use hypnosis, visualization, and trance when they seem to be appropriate tools. Many of my clients have found hypnosis to be a powerful adjunct to more traditional therapy, especially when dealing with psychosomatic problems. I also use these techniques for stress management and preparing for difficult events. I coach individuals in stress management and have also used hypnosis to help clients prepare for surgery.What about people who were abused as children?
Childhood abuse is traumatic enough! I do everything possible to avoid more trauma during therapy. I do not rush my clients into reliving childhood trauma. Before revisiting difficult memories, I help my clients learn to self-soothe and to calm their anxieties in the present. Once somebody has learned to self-soothe and has begun to reclaim their power, we can proceed to explore childhood trauma if needed.
A typical session begins with a relaxation and empowerment exercise, followed by a check-in. I then guide my client into a childhood memory, allowing them to experience the emotions, but helping them not to get overwhelmed. As they make contact with their inner child, I also help them awaken their inner adult. I help them imagine how they (as an adult) would care for their wounded child—and frequently guide them in a dialogue with their inner child. I use visualization to help them soothe their inner child and return to a state of equilibrium. Finally, we debrief and end the session, often with an assignment to help heal their inner child and strengthen their inner adult.
What kind of psychological training do you have?
I have a master of arts degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University. I have over a 100 hours of continuing education since then. I have had about 1500 hours of supervised clinical training. In addition, I have nearly 100 hours of supervised training in hypnosis from the Southern California Society of Clinical Hypnosis. I have interned at Richstone Family Center, Friends of the Family, and am currently an intern at Coast Counseling Center.
Are you currently licensed?
No. I am a registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern, IMF32621. My supervisor, Janice Held (MFT27232), is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is the director of Coast Counseling Center.
In order to be licensed by the state of California, an individual needs to complete an approved masters degree, gain 3000 hours of supervised clinical work, then pass both oral and written examinations. I have completed my masters degree and am about half-way through with my clinical hours.
What other education have you had?
I'm a husband and a father (that's a real education!). I am a priest in the Reclaiming tradition and a facilitator with Reweaving. I've been active in the mythopoetic men's movement. I am a 1st degree Reiki initiate. I hold undergraduate degrees in computer science, engineering, and theology. I've informally studied mythology. I'm a ham radio operator (Extra Class license) and Volunteer Examiner. My hobbies include photography, astronomy, hiking, camping, and bicycling. Since the election debacle of November, 2000, I have become increasingly politically active.I do my best to learn from all my life experiences.
How can I contact you?
My voice mail can be reached at (310) 322-8061. You can email me at john@jelder.com. Visit my "normal" home page at http://www.jelder.com
How can I find other Pagans?
There are many Pagan groups on the web, check out Witches' Voice. Here in SoCal, I refer people to Reweaving, a Reclaiming Tradition group that holds classes and open rituals. I enjoy shopping at Raven's Flight in North Hollywood and have enjoyed a few of the many Pagan gatherings held there. Each Sunday there is a Pagan 12-Step meeting at Raven's Flight from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. The Circle of Aradia is a group for Pagan women meeting in SoCal. The Healing Grove is a site dedicated to helping pagan survivors of rape and sexual abuse.
Other Resources
Here is a list of books about Paganism & Wicca.
Here is a meeting "protocol" for a Pagan "flavored" AA meeting. The Eleventh Step Sobriety Circle. Although this is an AA meeting format, it can be adopted to any other 12 Step program.
Serpentine Music is a great site dedicated to Pagan music--you can find all kinds of wonderful CDs here. Don't miss my friend and mentor, Suzanne Sterling's, CD, Bhakti, which they carry, but which I've reviewed at Amazon.
Drawing Down the Moon is a low budget movie, but it has one of the best portrayals of modern Paganism to grace the screen in recent years.
See my ebusiness card!
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