Supporting Your Quest For Wholeness

Pamela J. Kowal, M.S.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Reiki Psychotherapy & Intuitive Counseling

St. Paul, MN


I offer the following services:

* Individual & couples counseling in the areas of grief & loss, depression, anxiety, and life transitions such as job loss, retirement, significant moves, and divorce. I work with people seeking to tap their creative and spiritual abilities to unleash their full potential.

* On-line personal growth courses, ‘live’ growth and support groups, mini-retreats, and personalized on-line therapeutic coaching packages.

* * 2012 Mini-Retreats!*

Reflect & Refresh on Saturday, January 21: “Orienting Your Inner Compass for 2012”

Spend time connecting to your true self and other enlightened individuals on the path of self-growth. This mini-retreat will create space for you to slow down, reflect on your intentions for the new year, and offer techniques to stay oriented to your inner map as 2012 unfolds. Coffee, tea, and treats provided.

Date: Saturday, January 21

Time: 10 a.m. to noon

Location: St. Paul/Grand Ave.

Cost: $45, payable by PayPal, check, or cash

***

Reiki stress-reduction sessions, 30 minutes: $45 …. Come for a quick tune-up to support your body, mind, and soul. You are fully clothed, resting and relaxed on a comfy massage table while you receive hands-off or hands-on Reiki energy alignment.




Theories and techniques I use:

I implement an eclectic approach based on systems theory that includes brief therapy, solution-focused therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, as well as psycho-educational and narrative therapies. I am greatly informed by the movements of personal empowerment and humanism, mindfulness/consciousness, and holistic (body-mind-spirit) philosophies. I am particularly passionate about and draw extensively from the research in body-mind medicine that has come to the forefront in the healing community the past few years. I use my 16 years of experience in the profession, as well as my intuitive abilities, sense of spirituality, and creativity to help people create change in their lives.

What to expect in a course of therapy or coaching with me:

I believe that people transform and heal when they tap into their own inner sources of intuition, spirituality, and creativity. I believe in helping people become aware of the options they have to transform, and to support them in creating a plan of action. I offer a therapeutic and collaborative environment in which people are welcome to explore and act upon connections between their inner and outer resources, their minds-bodies-spirits; and their relationships in order to transform and/or heal their lives in the ways they envision.

My clients are invited to take charge of their own change process as I companion with them for a period of time to help them get unblocked from unproductive patterns in thinking or behaving. Typically, they are open to a combination of traditional and non-traditional forms of therapy as they work toward their personal goals. We together determine the length of treatment. I encourage my clients to take breaks from their growth work to integrate what they’ve learned, and I welcome them to return when they are ready to do more. Many clients return regularly for ‘check-ups’ to stay on track with their emotional goals, just as we go to the doctor yearly to keep our bodies running well.

Professional Licensure, Interests and Expertise:

*Licensed in Minnesota & Wisconsin.
*State Board Approved Supervisor (MN).
*Master Usui Reiki training and certification completed in November 2010.

*Master Karuna Reiki training and certification completed in March 2011.

*Forgiveness/Self Mastery program with Mary Hayes Grieco, certified in 2008.

*PREPARE/ENRICH certified (couples inventory).

*Body-mind medicine.

*Using a client’s spirituality as a key support in the change process.

*Mindfulness research.

*Creativity & the arts as resources for therapeutic change.

Professional Memberships:

American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy, Clinical Member since 2000.

Member of the Minnesota Chapter of American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy.

Member of the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology.

Education:

Master of Science, University of Wisconsin-Stout,
Marriage and Family Therapy, 1998.
Bachelor of Arts, Journalism, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Journalism, 1988.

Professional Experience:

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Reiki Psychotherapy & Intuitive Counseling, private practice, St. Paul and Stillwater, Minnesota, current

Co-Founder and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist at Compass Center for Healing, Stillwater, MN, 2008-2011. I was part of a small team that created an integrative, collaborative healing center that includes a number of holistic practitioners from a wide variety of body-mind healing disciplines, a yoga & movement studio, and a local arts gallery. Offered a number of retreats, groups, and co-facilitated a retreat to Peru in Winter 2010.

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist at Hudson Counseling Services, private practice 2000-2009. I provided individual, couples, and family therapy in a clinical setting for a wide variety of mental health issues. I created the following offerings:

*Presentations on Mind-Body Integration for the Hudson Hospital.
*Began expansion of Mind-Body offerings at HCS which included creating collaborative therapy services with an energy therapist.
*Presentations on Post-partum Depression for the Hudson Hospital.
*Grief Education and Support Group.
*Chronic Pain Management & Support Group.
*Inner Source Women’s Day Retreats.
*Women’s Personal Growth & Spirituality Support Groups.

Lecturer/facilitator, UW-Stout, Marriage & Family Therapy Program, Spring Semester 2007, “Practical Applications of Marriage & Family Therapy.” I lectured, provided and graded assignments, and mentored a group of 12 students.

In-home Family Therapist, Family Based Therapy Associates, Coon Rapids, Minn., 1998 through 2001. I worked with families, couples, individuals, and groups; provided in-home family therapy to families with children at risk of placement and to multiple-issued families referred for Family Preservation services as well as correctional orders; worked collaboratively with community resources.

Volunteer, Chrysalis Center for Women, Minneapolis, facilitator for women’s support groups, 1996-99.

Marriage & Family Therapist Intern, Eau Claire Family Medicine Clinic, Eau Claire, Wis., 1997-98. I provided clinical therapy to families, couples, and individuals with major affective disorders, Axis II diagnoses, abuses, alcohol/drug addictions, etc. Worked independently in medical setting with systemic emphasis.

1988-1996 worked in Magazine editing, corporate communications, and book editing for various corporations in Wisconsin and Minnesota.