Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19

March 21, 2020 Valerie Beltran

Valerie Beltrán Psychotherapy, specializing in trauma therapy (EMDR), couples therapy (including kink & polyamory), and child therapy; with offices in Lafayette, CA and Danville, CA. Free consultations and sliding scale. Accepts some insurance. …

We’re all in this together

As more of us start to get tested, we’ll begin the necessary -- yet frightening -- process of tracing our possible contact with those who test positive. There will be the tendency to point fingers, especially, as we have seen, at Asian Americans.

You have the choice: will you be xenophobic? Resentful? Blaming? Will you feed into the political divide currently raging in our country?

Liberal, conservative, we’re all in this together. This virus affects all of us, regardless of our skin color or political preference. This can unite us or divide us. We all get to choose which.

Make the right choice.

An Integral Approach to COVID-19

February 1, 2020 Valerie Beltran

For several years, Ken Wilber (creator of Integral Theory), has been talking about how close to 10% of the world's population is reaching the next stage of psychological development (2nd tier consciousness for any Integralists out there), which creates a tipping point: with that much of the population at that developmental stage, that stage's values will start to be infused in our world's systems.

Anyone who studies developmental psychology knows that crises (such as this virus) act as fulcrums to launch us to the next stage of development (breakdown > breakthrough). I believe this is the exact thing our species needs to launch us to our next stage of development, which will be an unprecedented shift because it's a whole different tier of consciousness.

I Volunteered at a High-End Psychedelic Retreat in Amsterdam

January 30, 2020 Valerie Beltran

In August of last year, as part of my year-long psychedelic-assisted therapy training program at CIIS, I volunteered at a legal psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) retreat center in Amsterdam called Synthesis. Of 4 facilitators, I was the only female facilitator, and one of 2 licensed therapists. 15 participants took a high dose of psilocybin during a 3-day retreat in a beautiful renovated church in the small beach town of Zandvoort.

5 things you should know when starting therapy

June 17, 2018 Valerie Beltran

As a therapist, I'd like to remove as many obstacles to coming to therapy as possible. There are things that people don't usually think about until they're in the room. If you're anything like me, you have no idea what to expect with therapy, so I hope to bring light to some of these things, in an effort to bring more comfort and empowerment to the experience. Remember, the therapist is the guide, but you are the one in control!

7 things to consider when choosing a therapist

January 18, 2018 Valerie Beltran

When deciding to begin therapy, I always recommend that people "therapist shop" -- have an introductory session or at least a phone call with several therapists before deciding which one they want to try long-term.

Many therapists offer free consultations, and even if not, you can always ask at least a few questions over the phone before scheduling the first session. It's hard enough to make the courageous choice to see a therapist, and even harder to find one you like. To help with the process, here are 7 things to keep in mind when "shopping."