THE METHOD
Why Movement?
Movement is life: it’s the flow of blood through our veins; it’s the rise and fall of our chests as we breathe; it’s the muscles contracting and relaxing as we walk. Movement is not only the key to physical health, but also mental health. Sadly, this is a fact that most mental health practices ignore. Clients are bound to soft couches inside small offices and their physicality goes completely ignored. In 1946, the psychiatrist J.L. Moreno said, “the body remembers what the mind forgets”, and this has never been more true than right now, and it’s why we built the M.P.G. Studio as a place to engage both the mind and the body. Something as uneventful as a 20 minute walk on the treadmill can drastically alter a person’s energy/mood/mindset, granting access and insight into places previously walled away - that is just the beginning of where this work can go.
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Why Plants?
Stanislav Grof, a giant in the field of psychology, eloquently said, "It does not seem to be an exaggeration to say that plants, used responsibly and with proper caution, would be for psychiatry what the microscope is for biology and medicine or the telescope is for astronomy.” He went on to say, “These tools make it possible to study important processes that under normal circumstances are not available for direct observation”. Basically, plants give you the ability to see what’s really going on inside yourself. They have been used for thousands of generations, and across every continent. Human existence would not be what it is today without them and their importance cannot be overstated. That said, I want to make it clear I am not some hardcore psychonaut. I’m quite square, and don’t own a single tie dye shirt. I have no interest in sending anyone to the dark side of the moon. We do our best to figure out the most effective course of action on a case by case basis.
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Humans are amazing problem solvers. After all, we’re the ones that harnessed fire, planted crops, generated electricity, and created the internet. Unfortunately, the world has gotten so complex and confusing we often put our time and energy into solving the wrong problem. This is where inner guidance comes in. All too often we only see the external problems in front of us. Maybe it’s the money we make, the partner we have, or the job we hate. These all may be problems that need to be solved, but often times they are the symptom and not the cause. By refocusing clients away from the external, we attain a deeper understanding of what forces are really driving our daily lives.