In the labyrinth of life, emotions serve as our compass, guiding us through joy, sorrow, and everything in between. Linda Baird, a seasoned therapist with certifications in Hakomi and EMDR therapies, as well as yoga instruction, stands as a beacon for those navigating the complexities of emotional pain. With a firm belief that happiness is our birthright, Linda’s mission is clear: to facilitate the journey out of suffering and into wholeness. Emotions, she asserts, are not merely fleeting sensations; they are the language of our inner selves, communicating our needs and experiences. In this article, we delve into Linda’s profound insights on the nature of suffering, the power of intuition, and the transformative potential of mindful awareness. Join Mystic Mag as we explore the art of emotional healing and rediscover the joy that awaits on the other side of pain.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career journey that led you to specialize in Hakomi therapy, EMDR therapy, and yoga instruction?
I began my healing journey when I was in my early 20’s. I quite suddenly fell into a suicidal depression, complete with panic attacks. Living without family or parental support, I went to a medical doctor who prescribed me tricyclic antidepressants (this was before SSRI’s). They only made me feel worse so I took myself off, even at that young age making a commitment to find out the root causes.
I explored a few traditional approaches to psychotherapy, including psychoanalysis, which didn’t help. Quite by happy accident I enrolled in a year-long meditation group where I met my first Hakomi therapist. Having shared my journey with depression, she suggested I come work with her to see if her approach could help. It changed my life.
At that time, by now in my mid-20’s, I chose to return to the University of Colorado in Boulder (home for me) to study biochemistry, mostly interested in neuroscience (this was 1982). I continued my personal journey with therapy and Hakomi while pursuing my career in biotechnology, which took me to Boston in 1994.
I had another deep dive into depression with this move. For several reasons I was very traumatized by my move to Boston from Boulder. I was alone, I knew no one and I was thrust into a very different culture and work environment, with a huge amount of pressure.
Desperate to find a new therapist, at that time the only therapist I found who was familiar with Hakomi had a training institute in Newton, MA, called Emotional Kinesthetic Psychotherapy (EKP). Her name is Linda Marks. She did not have room in her private practice but encouraged me to join this training. She told me I would be able to do my own healing work while engaged in the training. I signed up.
Again, it changed my life. I love learning and working. The focus was a combination of psychodrama, Gestalt and Hakomi, all experiential methods of psychotherapy. This was also the forefront of the explosion of trauma therapy, led by the likes of Bessel van der Kolk and Peter Levine.
My journey with yoga and yoga therapy also began at this time. A good friend had studied yoga at Kripalu, then an ashram and yoga center in Lenox, MA. Kripalu became my place of respite during those very difficult years. My time at Kripalu, where I did my yoga therapy certification, also changed my life and was the beginning of a deeper dive into my spiritual journey.
I completed my certification in EKP in January 1998 and promptly moved home to Boulder, CO where I immediately enrolled in training with Pat Ogden, founder of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. At that time, Pat was the lead trainer and the training was called Hakomi Integrative Somatics. I also enrolled in graduate school at Regis University in Denver, where I received my Master’s in Counseling Psychology in 2003.
I did my first EMDR therapy training in 2001 while still in graduate school.
EMDR therapy is known for its effectiveness in treating trauma. Could you describe a particularly challenging case where EMDR proved to be transformative for your client?
EMDR therapy has been part of my practice for over 20 years, so I have had many compelling cases. One in particular comes to mind.
I worked with a veteran of the war in Iraq, who had been on two tours in Fallujah. He had been seeking treatment at the VA, where he had been put on a cocktail of prescription medications to address his PTSD. He had significant sleep issues, frequent nightmares, and hypervigilance to the point of not being able to function in daily life. The treatment he was receiving at the VA was not addressing his PTSD. After five EMDR therapy sessions his symptoms had significantly decreased. He was able to sleep, his nightmares had decreased and he reported more ease in his daily functioning. Once we addressed the acute symptoms of PTSD, we were able to begin addressing issues from childhood and family of origin.
What type of services do you offer?
EMDR therapy and IFS-informed EMDR therapy, Hakomi therapy and yoga therapy. I am also trained in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, which has its foundations in Hakomi in addition to the focus on trauma.
How do you integrate the principles of Hakomi therapy into your practice, and what benefits do you believe it offers your clients?
The principles of Hakomi—mindfulness, non-violence, body-mind holism, organicity and unity—are fundamental not only to my approach to therapy but also to life. Mindfulness is foundational. I liken the development of mindfulness practice to going to the gym and building a new muscle. Developing the “observer” or “witness consciousness” is in itself very empowering, as it enables one to observe their thoughts, body sensations and emotional patterns instead of simply reacting from them.
For me as a therapist, non-violence means that I am not assuming I know what’s right for my clients. I am not giving advice. I am empowering my clients to find the answers within themselves, engaging their own inner healer. I believe we all have the wisdom and capacity to heal.
I add “spirit” to body-mind holism. “Spirit” can mean whatever resonates with the client. In IFS we call it “Self” energy, which is the healing energy or potential. I had one client refer to it as “the organizing principle.” The body and the mind are integrally connected; I’m always working across that interface to access the wisdom of the body. This is new for many people, especially in western culture. My client learns to listen to this wisdom, as well as access the healing energy that is ever-present but often clouded with trauma and developmental issues.
Organicity is a made up Hakomi word, which basically refers to therapy as an organic process. It is related to non-violence. I don’t do treatment plans. I say the treatment plan is whatever presents itself at the moment. This allows for an organic process to emerge instead of my having an agenda (which is a form of violence). Some of the most potent sessions have been when clients come in not knowing what they want to work with. We drop into mindfulness, listen to the body and inner wisdom and see what emerges in the moment. It’s a beautiful process.
Finally, the unity principle is about healing relationships. It’s about how we connect. “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts” is a saying I like to use, meaning that something miraculous and greater can emerge when we are in an attuned relationship, attuned being the important word. Also, this is the principle that tracks for and provides safety. When I am attuned to my clients, if something feels off or unsafe, we address that above any other presenting issues.
As a certified yoga instructor, how do you incorporate mindfulness and body awareness into your therapeutic approach?
This really connects back to Hakomi and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, as discussed above. No matter what I’m doing, whether it’s therapy or yoga, I am encouraging a focus on body awareness in a mindful state.
In your experience, what are some common misconceptions about Hakomi therapy, EMDR therapy, or yoga that you frequently encounter, and how do you address them with your clients?
I don’t really encounter many misconceptions about Hakomi, EMDR or IFS-informed EMDR therapy. I do encounter misconceptions about yoga, however, mostly because yoga in the west has become so much about the physical practice and not about the foundational practices of meditation and pranayama (breathing practices). The physical practice, or asana as it is referred to, is most often a gateway to the deeper practices and philosophical foundations of yoga. While I still personally enjoy the physical practices, mostly what I incorporate into my work with clients are pranayama practices to help regulate the nervous system and facilitate the ability to engage a more mindful state of awareness. It’s unfortunate that the majority of popular yoga styles and classes, in my experience, don’t incorporate pranayama and meditation.
