Dr Dian Abdurachman

A conversation with Dian Abdurachman

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

  -My own soul-searching has led to long life exploration of inner and outer life.
  -I am fascinated by the vastness of the psyche.
  -Psychotherapy is the skill I have to share my contribution to the humanity. My hope is to provide a space so that others could feel save in finding what is needed in themselves.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  Rather than mentioning well defined terms, I will describe in my own words:
  
  -The therapist is not the person 'who knows it all' and not the person who decides what is good for their clients (apart from basic ethical principles such as 'do not steal' etc).
  We give a space so that clients can connect to the higher part within in finding their own ways.
  
  -The psyche is an abstract construct, hence we need to respect the unknown aspect of human beings.
  
  -The most important modality are therapeutic relationship and the self of the therapist.
  
  -Therapists are not immune to blind spots and errors. Hence we are responsible for ongoing personal and professional development.
  
  -To be able the hold the 'opposites' that seems to be contradicting generally serve one better rather than splitting one of them.
  Complexity is harder, but one grows in the process of holding complexity.

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

  1. The rite of passage in entering adulthood (20's or earlier/later in some people depending on their journey).
  
  2. Loss, death, grief.
  In traditional cultures, death is 'celebrated' in various rituals. It is as important and as respected as birth and marriage. If one misses this ritual, a big part of them seems to be not fulfilled.
  
  The point is not about going through unnecessary suffering, but it is about embracing what we encounter in life.
  
  The first point (youth/entering adulthood) is a rite of passage towards a new chapter that involves 'death and rebirth'.
  The second point (death and loss) is also a rite of passage towards a new chapter that involves 'death and rebirth'.
  
  Birth vs death are two sides of the same coin.

• What methods do you use?

  Psychodynamic psychotherapy
  Jungian dream analysis
  Creative arts therapy
  Common sense

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

  Different clients feel this at different times, needless to say.
  
  They often feel that progress is being made when:
  
  -They could trust the therapist and feel comfortable with the therapeutic space
  
  -They are able to embrace different type of feelings (from sadness to anger to happy) without feeling guilty or embarrassed.
  
  -They are able to make decision and lead life according to their own way (in the context of earthly reality within the society we live in).

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  I need to continually make an effort to connect to myself (body and soul) as much as I can.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  It is a profession that requires us to be meditative
  
  

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Of course.

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

  We are disconnected with Nature (the Nature outside, and the Nature inside).

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

  The song Good Riddance (by Greenday)
  
  Part of the lyrics:
  
  So make the best of this test
  And don't ask why
  It's not a question
  But a lesson learned in time
  It's something unpredictable
  But in the end it's right
  I hope you had the time of your life