Therapeutic Ritual

Ritual has been practised by people in every generation and culture marking events throughout individual and community life cycle. Some common examples are birthday celebration, coming of age ceremony, wedding or funeral. Ritual often involves the use of symbols and ceremony - for example lighting candles, exchanging of rings, eating special food or wearing special clothes. This taps into the unconscious mind aiding with transformation and healing.

Sometimes a life transitional process becomes stuck due to unresolved inner conflicts. For example a young person wants to move out of home but is unable to do so, perhaps due to guilt feelings towards a parent. Sometimes a person is haunted by a tragic loss or trauma and is unable to move on.

Therapeutic Ritual is a process where the therapist and client(s) in collaboration, develop a ritual to facilitate growth, healing and transformation. The actual ritual may be performed privately or be witnessed by family and friends. It may be very short and simple, or may involve a lengthy ceremony outside the therapy room like on the beach.

The ritual process may aid with moving to a new stage of development or facilitate a process of inner restoration. Therapeutic Ritual may be helpful with relationships, trauma or abuse, loss and grief, and life stages or transitions.