Dr David Indermaur

A conversation with David Indermaur

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  A deep interest in how the mind works and why people do what they do. My first concern was to understand why some people hurt other people. The deeper my explorations went I found that the way we think limits our horizons. Understanding this I am always interested in challenging assumptions, beliefs and judgments and opening up new possibilities. It is a continuous and continuing challenge, mystery and adventure which is deeply rewarding.
  
  I like being of assistance to people and my motivation for being a therapist is that I like to help. Because I'm also very interested in the mind and also our whole experience of life I like to help through psychotherapy. I enjoy doing therapy and am continually fascinated by peoples lives, their stories and often their bravery. I also find that the deeper I go in therapy the greater the appreciation and understanding goes. From that place wiser decisions are possible.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  Rejecting the dogmas, prescriptions and proscriptions that came with my up bringing in the catholic church at an early age I found the approach of Buddhism the most useful as it asked us to "question everything" and rely on one's own experience rather than given rules and second hand knowledge. Buddhist approaches continue to be a dominant theme for me although I reject any dogmatic approach.
  
  From Buddhism my next major influence was Jungian psychology or what might be called a transpersonal approach. Eclectic, wide and open to mystery and wonder. That then conjoins easily with what may be described as an existential approach the inquiry into the nature of meaning, how we construct meaning and ultimately what sense we make of our life and our death.
  
  I read and explore continually, many are philosophical orientated works many are Dharma (Buddhist) works. Of course these divisions are quite arbitrary. There are wonderful connections and interconnections and expressions occurring all the time and for me therapy work is the most wonderful grounding as I work with the client through the difficulties challenges and dilemmas in the here and now.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  The question of purpose, death and meaning. We are all challenged to construct a meaningful life story or narrative and I'm fascinated by how we do this. I'm also fascinated by the endless dimensions of the mind and what is possible in terms of turning away from the negative and towards the positive. How we generate positive sentiment, virtues, and occasion (if we are lucky ) “forget” the self.

• What methods do you use?

  Generally guided by my philosophy I want to create a positive space for the individual to explore and understand what they need to. I am first and foremost respectful that this is the life and choice of the client. To the extent that I use “techniques” these are designed to simply assist in the natural growth of the person. So in session there may well be questions (sometime “Socratic questions”), invitations to explore, silence, metaphor, exercizes and discussion.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  This is hard to answer. I know from the research evidence that the answer is either just before or after they decide to make an appointment. Often therapy catalyses or reinforces change already underway.
  
  Some clients get what they need or want in one session, some in six and some in fifteen. I trust that the patient believes there is sufficient benefit going on to rebook another session, I often discuss this with the client.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  By being more honest with myself. It is interesting just how self deceptive (some might say “deluded”) we can be in the confines of our own mind. In therapy (the right therapy) we are challenged to confront our demons, make our narrative explicit and take responsibility for our choices and our lives.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  That I have to be honest. That I'm asked to go into a deep and often dark place often. I sometimes think of therapy as the mental equivalent of speleology (the study of caves). I find the deepest and darkest places fascinating and I enjoy going to these spaces and adjusting my sight for the exploration. It is risky, challenging and forces us to be present in the here and now.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Yes but they are hard to predict - sometimes everything should be right but its not and vice versa. Becoming too sure of oneself and too confident is actually probably more of a problem than feeling unsure. I often think of therapy as unique in that vulnerability and woundedness often puts one in a much better position to be present with the client.
  
  Having said all of the above it would be rare that I would proceed to therapy without having meditated first and generally meditation provides the essential preparation for therapy as it primes one for being fully present, which is the ultimate and necessary requirement for therapy.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  Greed. The environment is being damaged as a result of over population, over consumption, and desperate grasping. We are seeing at the physical level the result of the “three poisons” greed, hatred and delusion. The evolution of human consciousness toward non greed - generosity, non hatred - compassion and non delusion - awareness is more essential than ever as the health of our little planet depends on it.

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  One of the best books I have read recently is called “Stepping out of self deception" by Rodney Smith.
  My favourite song is “It's a wonderful world” which can work as a loving kindness meditation.