What is Hakomi?
Hakomi is a body-centered psychotherapy approach that combines mindfulness, experiential techniques, and a focus on present-moment experience to support personal growth and healing. The word “Hakomi” comes from a Hopi Indian word that means “Who are you?” or “How do you stand in relation to the many realms?”.
Developed by Ron Kurtz in the 1970s, Hakomi is based on the idea that our beliefs, memories, and experiences are stored in our bodies as well as our minds. The approach emphasizes the importance of accessing and working with these embodied experiences in order to gain insight into our patterns of behavior and emotional reactions.
In Hakomi therapy, the therapist and client work together to create a safe and compassionate space for exploration and discovery. Mindfulness is used to help the client become more aware of their present-moment experience, including their bodily sensations, emotions, and thoughts. Experiential techniques, such as guided imagery, role-playing, and somatic (body) awareness exercises, are used to explore and process past experiences and current issues.
Hakomi is a non-invasive, non-judgmental approach that aims to help clients understand their own experience more deeply, make conscious choices, and develop new and more effective ways of relating to themselves and others.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 