Robert Beridha Ph.D.
Arizona Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Depth Psychotherapy in Flagstaff, Arizona
Humans are complex, multidimensional and relational beings reflecting both our embodied personal experience and whatever evolving historical, geographic, and cultural context we inhabit. Even within our diverse communities we also have much in common that connects us as families and individuals to the web of life.
I offer psychotherapy services that support the natural inclinations of therapy participants toward growth and healing. Using mindfulness based and post Jungian based theory, I provide an affirming, nonjudgmental, and relational space within which to expand personal awareness, develop relationship skills, and learn new ways of adapting to the world.
Through mutual thoughtful, empathetic dialog the therapy relationship supports learning new ways of thinking, conceptualizing experience, and directing personal energy efficiently, meaningfully, and for relational well being.
I am a licensed psychologist with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with emphasis in depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. I am certified in Dream Tending.
Depth Psychotherapy
Boundaries:Tuning in Tuning out
The tradition of depth psychology began much earlier than the 19th century with Freud. Its earliest roots in Western culture can be traced back to Heraclitus who expressed that one cannot step into the same river twice and the bounds of soul cannot be measured superficially. The method and techniques of depth psychotherapy may even be understood as evolving from ancient, indigenous healing practices. Practitioners look deeply with inner and outer senses tuned to the flow of image and living symbols. They ask what symptoms reveal about soul.
Dream Tending
Empathy and Attunement
Active Imagination
Guided Relaxation and Grounding
Psychoeducation
Creative Expression
Movement
I have been an adult member of the LGBT+ community for 47 years. Using the tools of stress reduction, narrative enrichment, and depth psychology, I offer a uniquely informed and experienced perspective regarding issues related to transgender, non binary, and gender fluid transition, trauma recovery, and authenticity.
The language of gender identity changes rapidly with the understanding and lived experience of individuals who inhabit and adapt to the world outside the male/female binary or who otherwise do not identify with the gender on their birth certificate. Words such as transgender, gender queer, gender neutral, non binary, and gender fluid do not define the whole person who comes to therapy. I offer trauma informed individual and group counseling and depth psychotherapy to support the exploration and journey to wholeness for gender variant people who are on a path of authentic self expression, including people who are in mental health recovery.
Gender roles historically evolve as social and economic conditions change. Since the 1950's in the U.S. and some other parts of the world, a number of stark progressive social changes and conservative reactions to them have helped shape gender as a cultural phenomenon. Today, people whose gender identity is somewhere outside the male/female gender binary in some way have more of a voice and more choices regarding gender expression than in the past. But they continue to have to face bigotry and transphobia in certain areas. Violence against transgender people, including suicide remains high in some places. Gender repression, internalized transphobia, and the higher rates of associated anxiety, depression, and other mental illness remained in these areas even as they began to drop to near normal levels in the U.S. as a whole. There has been a recent rise of anti-transgender rhetoric among some political groups, leaving many folks feeling uncertain and afraid to take steps toward authentic self expression.
At this point in history it may be easier than in the past for a gender variant person to find a place in the world but it is still somewhat of a frontier. If you grew up in the 20th century or in traditional, religious, or rural communities you may have experienced considerably more transphobia along with lack of access to information. Trauma informed psychotherapy can help mend the divide between the imagined self and authentic embodiment of gender.