Uri Bookman

A conversation with Uri Bookman

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

  In the 1990s, I worked in the healing space. However, after some years, I ended up establishing an IT business instead of pursuing my passion. Although I was good at it, I didn't find IT work fulfilling. Eventually, I decided to listen to my calling and underwent intensive multidisciplinary and multi-year training. This helped me grow both personally and professionally, and I returned to working with and serving people and the planet.
  
  Nowadays, I train coaches, counsellors, and therapists to become more skilled at supporting people in healing from unnecessary pain and living a more wholesome life.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  I am deeply influenced by earth-centred indigenous cultures, the Tao, and Buddhist psychology. Growing up in a rural area, taking care of our mother earth has been one of my top priorities. I feel fortunate to have spent my entire life close to nature, and I have always been inspired by the custodianship of some of our indigenous cultures.
  
  The Tao teaches me to accept what is happening instead of resisting it, and I am discovering that all the suffering comes from resisting. Buddhism has been a part of my life for more than 30 years, and I have learned a lot from self-enquiry and meditation practices.

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

  A holistic approach to well-being involves three aspects: looking back and healing from the past, looking forward to creating the desired future, and being present in the moment.
  
  Physical health is the starting point of this approach, which includes healthy eating, drinking, exercise, and sleep.
  
  Emotional health is essential as well, where we must work on healing past wounds, building emotional intelligence, and developing resilience.
  
  Mental health is also crucial, and we must overcome our limiting beliefs, such as the inner critic, procrastination, and self-worth issues.
  
  Finally, spiritual health is necessary, which involves aligning with our purpose, living a meaningful life, and leveraging the power of ceremony.

• What methods do you use?

  I am informed by Process-Oriented Psychology (Process Work), Jungian Archetypes, Shadow Work, Nonviolent Communication, Nature-based Healing, trauma-informed practices, Psychodrama, Buddhist Psychology, Mindfulness Inquiry, and Gestalt.
  
  I also incorporate Therapeutic Coaching techniques to support sustainable integration and forward movement towards your desired goals.
  
  I may offer an intervention from any of the above modalities when working with you.

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

  The fact that you're seeking support is a significant step towards progress. If you decide to work with me, the pace of your progress will depend entirely on you.
  
  I strongly believe that trust is the foundation of any relationship, especially in therapeutic relationships. Therefore, my primary responsibility is to create a safe space and earn your trust. Once we establish trust, we can make progress.
  
  I always prefer to under-promise and over-deliver. However, some of my clients have been able to transform their relationships in less than three months, even while working only with one partner. In some cases, clients have been able to overcome lifelong obstacles in their very first session. Of course, every client is different, and some may require a few weeks to make progress.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  I have been in therapy for several years and I continue to explore and grow through supervision and other continuous learning opportunities. During this time, I have healed past trauma, gained a better understanding of myself, overcome fears and limitations, and changed some core beliefs and patterns that were weighing me down.
  
  However, I haven't resolved everything. There is still work to be done, but I now have a greater awareness of those parts of myself and have cultivated a softer, more gentle approach towards myself and my surroundings.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  There is something truly special about fostering a deep connection and being able to witness the exquisite process of healing unfold, much like the delicate and graceful blossoming of a flower.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Like everyone, I have days that don't go well. Sometimes, I wake up feeling sad, frightened or lost. In the past, I would try to push those feelings away, hoping that I would just feel happy again. However, as time goes on, I realise that the only way for me to deal with those emotions is to face them head-on. When I take a few moments to be honest with myself about what I am feeling and allow myself to experience those emotions fully, they eventually start to shift. As someone once said, "resistance is futile".

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

  I believe that the biggest issue we are facing is the emotional turmoil that people are experiencing, which is causing them to treat others with less kindness, hurt them intentionally or unintentionally, act out of greed and fear, and harm plants, animals and our planet.
  
  To move forward, we first need to take personal responsibility for our actions and for our healing and then make an effort to spread kindness, empower and educate the younger generation, so that they can grow up with less emotional pain and greater self-worth and live with respect for all living beings.

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

  The book that has been a source of inspiration for my many years of travelling and seeking is Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.
  
  One of the books that has influenced me greatly is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. It is a simple yet powerful book that I have read 3-4 times so far. It taught me a lot about the power of my thoughts, words and actions.
  
  I loved the first Matrix movie for its take on reality and the choices we can each make.