
Kate Siner Francis, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, writer, and educator who has been practicing integrative psychot herapy and holistic success coaching in the Providence area since 2005 through her private practice — now called The Therapy Collaborative. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology and a certification in Expressive Arts from San Francisco’s Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center in 2008 — under the mentorship of Eugene Taylor, Ph.D. — after nearly 15 years of self-learning and practice of alternative approaches to growth and development. These methods include massage, energy work, shamanic techniques, EMDR techniques, and hypnosis. Dr. Siner has worked in addictions treatment and hospice care as well as received advanced training in domestic violence, grief, and trauma. For the past three years, she has been director and co-facilitator of Priestess Path — a women’s empowerment program founded by Alisa Starkweather — and studying Core Energetics under Karyne Wilner, Psy.D. More recently she has founded Larger Visions, a non-profit dedicated to educating emergent women leaders dedicated to social change and providing safe-house programming to victims of gender-based violence.
People frequently ask me, "How will I know if this is really what I want to
do?" or say, "I have some skills for what it is that I want to do but other
parts of it I can't stand. Am I on the right track?' Even when someone is
certain about the direction they want their life to take there are moments
of dissillusionment and apathy. In the complex experience of life, it is
difficult sometimes to feel confident in anything. In this section, I talk
about some common statements I hear from my clients when we start to discuss
their larger visions and offer some ideas on how to get past each block.
"I have no idea where to start. Or, I do not have a deep sense of purpose
in my life.":
A way to get started is to do more of what you love. If you are still
unclear, make a list of all the things that you like to do. One by one, find
time to do them. If you want to assess whether you are headed in the right
direction, notice if you are engaged and excited with what you are doing on
a regular basis. If you are most of the time then chances are you are going
the right way.
Figuring ourt what we really want to do is not always as simple as just
doing what we love because sometimes our habits prevent us from enjoying
ourselves or even knowing what we might enjoy. To get a sense of how to
begin to work with some of your limiting habits go to that section of this
newsletter.
"I thought I loved this but all the joy is gone.":
This statement sometimes means that the vision itself needs adjustment but
frequently this statement indicates that part of the process needs to be
adjusted. Making this change may require getting to know yourself better. We
get so used to living by outside expectation that sometimes we forget that
there are other ways to get things done that might be better for us. Take
some time to consider other possibilities. You might even enlist a friend to
help come up with other ways of looking at things or other ways to do
things.
Perhaps it is fear that is getting in your way. People have many responses
to fear and one is to go numb. To help understand your fear ask yourself
what is at risk if you attain you ideal vision for your life.
"I think I know what I want to do but I don't think that I have the
skills necessary.":
Ask your self whether this statement is actually, objectively true? List the
skills that are necessary for what you want to do. Check those that you
possess. Are those that you don't learnable?
What if the gap between your skills and those necessary seems all too real?
For example, you want to be a major league pitcher but can't throw a ball a
yard even after years of practice. Ask yourself why you are focused on a
vision for your life that is not aligned with your real abilities. Chances
are this is a self-defeating belief pattern where you are setting yourself
up to fail.
Or perhaps the answer is that you don't need to do it all yourself.
Especially when it comes to starting a business, sometimes the best solution
is doing what you do well and then hiring someone who can do with ease what
you can't.
<b>Kate Siner Francis Ph.D:</b> My coaching and therapy practice, <em>Larger Visions</em> is the key to effectively creating change. It's time for you to do what you DREAM of doing with an ally who understands you and can offer you essential support and tools. To receive your free consultation visit: <a href="http://www.largervisions.com">www.largervisions.com</a>
Kate Siner Francis
Life Fulfillment Expert and Educator
295 Angell St Suite 1A
Providence, RI 02906
(401)654.4618