Susana Bustos, Ph.D. offers
• Individual sessions of Holotropic Breathwork
• Integration sessions for persons who are seeking to ground and metabolize their experiences in expanded states of consciousness
What is Holotropic Breathwork™?
Holotropic Breathwork is a powerful method for healing and self-discovery that relies upon the inherent drive for wholeness within each individual. It was developed by Dr. Stanislav Grof, M.D., one of the founders of transpersonal psychology, and his wife Christina, based on insights drawn from modern consciousness research, transpersonal psychology, anthropology, Eastern spiritual practices and mystical traditions from around the world.
This method combines hyperventilation, evocative music, and focused energy release work to experientially access the deeper dynamics of the psyche that are ready to emerge for an individual, according to his or her particular circumstances. These dynamics may correspond to biographical, perinatal, or transpersonal realms of consciousness.
Who may benefit from Holotropic Breathwork?
Holotropic Breathwork has proven to benefit people with a broad range of conditions, such as psychosomatic disorders, addiction, stress, anxiety, and depression. It is an excellent complement to psychotherapy and self-inquiry methods and practices.
The sessions
Holotropic Breathwork is offered in two modalities: group workshops and individual sessions.
• Group workshops require the attendance of an introductory talk the day before the work. The talk includes the basics of Holotropic Breathwork theory and practice as well as allowing participants to meet each other. A full day of work follows, where, in pairs, participants alternate the role of “breather” and “sitter” in two sessions of about three hours each. Mandala drawing, journaling, and group sharing after the work facilitate the metabolizing of the experiences in daily life.
• Individual sessions run for about four hours, including an initial half an hour check-in and preparation for the session, and an hour of integration work.
Contraindications to work with Holotropic Breathwork in group format are: pregnancy, cardiovascular problems, severe hypertension, glaucoma, epilepsy, acute infectious illness, recent surgery or fractures, or history of severe mental disorder or other psychiatric hospitalization. People presenting some of these conditions may work individually, after consulting with the practitioner. If you have any questions about your situation, please call.
*All the workshops and consultation hours facilitated by Susana Bustos count towards the hours required for certification the Grof Transpersonal Training.
Costs
• Group workshops of a day long cost $175
• Individual sessions are $280 on a sliding scale
Integration sessions
Integration sessions are necessary for many people who have experiences in non-ordinary states of consciousness. The access to these experiences may be spontaneous or induced by methods and techniques such as Holotropic Breathwork, drugs, meditation, or spirit quests, among others. They tend to impact the whole organism at the physycal, emotional, mental, and existential levels, requiring a safe container to be processed and metabolized in daily life, particularly when people feel open, incomplete, or still dwelling in the state after the most intense experience is over.
The techniques used for integration vary depending upon the needs of the person, including sharing, framing of the experience, bodywork, the expressive arts, and dietary advice, among others.
A session lasts about one hour and a half. Phone consultations are offered as well to people outside of the Bay Area.
For more information, please contact Susana at susana@roamingthemind.com or call (510) 689 7817.
