Richard Bonk, M.Ed., is a seasoned therapist dedicated to guiding individuals on their journey to self-discovery and fulfillment. With a rich background in meditation, hypnosis, and astrology, Richard’s approach seamlessly integrates ancient wisdom and modern psychology to help clients unlock their true potential. In his exclusive MysticMag interview, Richard delves into his story, his therapeutic philosophy, and the transformative impact of his unique practices.
Who is Richard Bonk? What is your story and how did you get into this line of work?
I think my story is a variation on a basic human theme — wanting to be happy and seeking ways to realize and sustain that. This drive spurred a lifetime of philosophical reflection and exploration of outer and inner nature. In my quest to understand the mind, to explore and exploit potentials, and to transcend suffering, I studied various mystical traditions, including the Western esoteric and Eastern meditative, as well as transpersonal psychology and emerging neuroscience. To honor my practical side, I also engaged in academic study and received a Masters in Counseling. As a compliment to study, I immersed myself in experiential explorations, including meditation, yoga, hypnosis, creativity, dream and sleep work, mind/body, and psychotherapy. Perhaps the most profound and transformative experiences came while in a floatation tank, where I had experiences that introduced me to more fundamental realities, and in longer meditation retreats where I discovered a different, simple, and equanimous, way of being in the world.
Nurtured by these basic drives and subsequent awakenings, I seek to apply that understanding to reduce suffering, bring ease to myself, and share with others as well as in a reciprocal relationship with nature.
What is the foundation of your therapeutic coaching work?
The foundation of my therapeutic work centers around an applied understanding of the mind to alleviate suffering and support the expression of human potential. Also to cultivate compassion, gratitude, and acceptance, to welcome ALL aspects of mind to a collaborative table in the heart. And to be patient and forgiving as we learn to understand and transform problematic states of mind, to practice “changing gears” with intention and skill. From my experience, spiritual attainment needs to be complemented with psychological growth and somatic (body) work. Although one can not meditate oneself out of established personality complexes, mindfulness is an invaluable tool in the psycho somatic therapeutic process, while honoring personal individuation can be rich and fulfilling, a gift to the collective and to oneself.
What can people expect from your Astrology consultations?
My consultations are not specific to a singular modality. In my experience, it is essential to honor the unique individuality of the client as well as open to synchronicity of the moment. I view the therapeutic process as a collaboration between the client, therapist, various levels of mind, individual and collective, external (from the “outside” world) and internal. In my consultations we may use tools such as astrology and other oracle systems such as the I Ching and Tarot, to invite synchronicity to collaborate in our collaborative process. These oracles can provide another way of considering and processing information, along with the cognitive mind and therapeutic relationship, and can offer a gateway to embark on a deeper explorative journey utilizing guided meditations and hypnotherapy.
Can you walk me through an Individualized Mindful Hypnotherapy session?
When working therapeutically, it is valuable to utilize tools to engage as many aspects of mind as possible. I see mindfulness, other forms of meditation, and relaxation as powerful compliments to hypnotherapy. This process involves relaxing the body and calming the waking mind, so more effective communication can occur between therapist and client, and importantly between various aspects of mind, where the typically unconscious can present to awareness. This is a process that necessitates safety while encouraging curiosity. Probably the best way to get a sense of what this is like is to experience a sample: www.richardbonk.com/mandalart-meditations
You’re also an artist. What can you tell me about that part of your work?
Art is another way to explore the world and communicate understanding. My art is not meant to be strictly representative, but rather evocative, specific to states of consciousness, including meditative and healing states. My MandalArt creations can be abstract energy portraits, like “homeopathic” art that contain an essence of the parent, and can bypass the cognitive judge, thereby stimulating healing. In my current explorations I try to insert myself into natural processes, and in a collaborative fashion, capture the elemental ephemeral.
Is there anything else about your work that you’d like to share that we haven’t covered?
I have been working with dream and sleep yoga for decades and have serendipitously created a technique — the Alternate Waking States Induction Method (AWSIM!) that can stimulate these states with a high regularity. I am currently collaborating with colleagues on a pilot study to test the effectiveness on a broader population. We feel there is great promise in utilizing this technique to access these unique states and add to our understanding of the mind.
I am at a new and transformational stage of my life, moving into elder-hood. With this comes novel experience as my body ages and my mind grapples to understand and adjust. My hope is to harvest my life experiences in an offering to nature and society, in a manner that is reciprocal, helpful to others, to the environment, and meaningful to me.
To learn more about Richard and his work, you can visit www.richardbonk.com
