At Blue Sky Therapeutic Services, Dillon Welliver is a seasoned psychotherapist who possesses a natural gift for offering solace to individuals in need. With over 15 years of experience in the field, Dillon has honed the ability to navigate directly to the core of clients’ pain, providing them with a profound sense of understanding and validation. Through the therapeutic process, the aim is to bridge the gap between the client’s authentic and beautiful self and the current state of distress. At Blue Sky Therapeutic Services, Dillon is dedicated to offering unwavering support as clients embark on a transformative journey of healing and self-discovery. MysticMag learns more.
What can you tell us about your own personal journey and what led you to where you are today?
Well, answering this question is always a complex task, and it seems that my response varies each time I’m asked. From a young age, I had a deep curiosity about profound existential questions and the nature of God. While my early Christian upbringing instilled in me a love for God, I quickly let go of most of the dogma during my first year of college. Instead, I found myself drawn to philosophers, thinkers, and poets who expanded my understanding of the world.
During my college years, I also delved into psychedelics, which offered mind-expanding experiences and revealed the vastness, complexity, beauty, and benevolence of the world. I explored various Eastern philosophies such as Taoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, as well as indigenous belief systems that view the world as alive. I was also intrigued by different pagan perspectives on understanding reality. Amidst all these explorations, I discovered my own unique path. In 2011, I was introduced to what can be loosely described as the “New Age” understanding. I became involved in channeled works and groups, which fascinated me, despite their perceived strangeness to many.
As I listened to the messages, I found them to be heart-centered and uplifting, all conveying similar ideas. They emphasized reclaiming personal power, guiding individuals back to their own hearts, and ultimately asserting that there is no problem because we are all connected to the divine within us. During this time, I found my community within Mastering Alchemy, where I have been on a guided journey called “rebuilding the Light Body” for the past 12 years or so. This group and its work align with the reason I came to this planet at this particular time. It beautifully integrates everything I have learned up to this point and has allowed me to recognize my own role as an emerging master on this planet.
How do you approach therapy with individuals who may be hesitant to open up about their pain and experiences?
Through my experience, I’ve realized that patience and the ability to hold space are crucial aspects of the therapeutic process. When people come to therapy, they are usually prepared to open up and share their pain with me. I have a natural way of putting them at ease, making them feel comfortable and safe. I never push anyone to do something they are not ready for. I understand that therapy is a collaborative process, and the unfolding of that process is unique to each client and moment. By being fully present, compassionate, and even humorous, I find that people quickly feel disarmed in my presence. I’ve learned that no matter how much wisdom I share, it will only be valuable if the person has the capacity to receive it. Once they have created that container within themselves, they naturally seek guidance and insights.
Do you integrate evidence-based therapeutic techniques and interventions in your practice, and if so, how?
Certainly, I embrace evidence-based practices in my therapy approach. I utilize various therapeutic modalities such as Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), somatic approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and I am currently expanding my knowledge in psychedelic integration therapy. What I have found is that I seamlessly navigate between the transpersonal, spiritual, and existential realms and the personal, humanistic, and interpersonal aspects of therapy. I have developed a deep trust in my intuitive guidance system, allowing it to guide me in my work. Sometimes this guidance leads me to rely on established therapeutic techniques, while other times it takes us on a journey into more ethereal realms. This integrated approach has been effective for me thus far in supporting my clients.
How do you help clients identify and challenge negative self-talk and messaging?
There are several intervention approaches I utilize to address a client’s messaging systems, depending on their current state and needs. These include narrative therapy, schema therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and other relevant methods. One key aspect I often emphasize is understanding that we inherit messages and programming from various sources in our childhood, such as parents, teachers, cultural influences, and ancestral baggage. While these messages may not align with our own truth, as children, we lack the ability to question or challenge them effectively. These beliefs and experiences seamlessly integrate into our filters through which we perceive and interpret the world.
Personally, I don’t heavily rely on intervening at the level of conscious thought, as in traditional cognitive behavioral therapy. Instead, I advocate for mindful wordplay as a practice. This involves holding our attention in the experience of the words and sensations we desire in our lives, such as happiness, inner peace, confidence, joy, and so on. By consciously practicing these positive experiences, the programming from our past that does not serve us begins to dissolve naturally.
Occasionally, it may be necessary to explore the origins of certain programming with gentle and loving attention to dislodge deeply ingrained belief states. However, I don’t engage in prolonged arguments with the programming itself. Rather, I teach clients to disengage from the programming and offer love and compassion to the parts of themselves that hold pain. A beneficial mantra that guides my approach is “love what arises” or “what arises, love that.” When pain emerges in a client’s presence, I direct loving attention towards the part of them that carries that pain, without overly focusing on the associated narrative or messaging.
To summarize, my aim is to guide clients in simultaneously engaging in word play with the experiences they desire while allowing unresolved hurts, fears, and frustrations from the past to find release through their present loving attention. Through this process, the old programming naturally dissolves, and clients reconnect with their true essence and potential as embodied beings.
Can you discuss how you work with clients to establish goals and track progress throughout therapy?
As a therapist, I have a more fluid and spontaneous approach to my work, and I don’t typically engage in active goal planning and objective creation. I prefer to assess and reassess each session to ensure that we are addressing what the client came to therapy for. By staying attuned to my clients’ goals and continuously checking in, I aim to align our intentions and focus on their specific needs. I’ve noticed that when our goals are in harmony, the therapeutic work tends to be more effective.
However, I recognize that this approach may not be suitable for everyone, as some clients require more concrete and specific goals in therapy. In those cases, I make an effort to be more intentional about goal setting, taking into consideration their preferences. I have found that, in the process of our work together, what needs to be addressed naturally emerges. I believe that by clearing my own agendas and being fully present, I create a space for the client’s natural healing process to unfold. I strive to tune into unspoken energetic communications and create an energy field that supports balance and healing. While I don’t consider myself the one who heals, I see my role as facilitating a process where clients can tap into their innate self-organizing and benevolent capacity for wholeness.
How do you address cultural and diversity considerations in your practice and ensure that your clients feel seen and heard?
I deeply appreciate and acknowledge the profound influence that cultural and societal systems have on shaping our beliefs, identities, and conditioning. Having lived in various continents and traveled extensively, I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in diverse cultural contexts and gain a nuanced understanding of cultural tropes. I hold immense respect for these cultural perspectives and strive to honor and work with them in my practice.
At the same time, I recognize that beneath the surface of cultural differences, there are universal human experiences that connect us all. In my approach, I create a welcoming and inclusive space for individuals from all backgrounds, meeting them where they are and respecting their unique cultural experiences.
By validating and honoring their individual journeys, we can swiftly navigate through cultural barriers and delve into the core of their pain, which often manifests as a deep-seated belief that something is inherently wrong with them. Regardless of cultural nuances in how this programming is expressed, at the heart of human neurosis lies a common thread: a fundamental sense of not being okay. Once we bring awareness to this program, we can effectively work together to release it and rediscover the truth of who we genuinely are.
If you would like to find out more about Blue Sky Therapeutic Services, visit https://www.blueskytherapeuticservices.com/
