David Bieman
Well-being
COUNSELLING
Traditionally many cultures would have an elder or wisdom keeper available to support the community's well-being. Sadly, in western culture we are often left to feel isolated in our inner experience. I have struggled in this isolated place at various points in my life. Thankfully, I was able to receive guidance from compassionate and wise people during some of my most challenging inner experiences and from this I have grown to support others.
Drawing on the principles of somatic therapy, internal family systems, mindfulness-based therapies and traditional healing practices, I offer an approach that engages the body, mind and spirit.
I respect that co-creating our well-being requires an established sense of safety, connection and presence. When this is established, we can be supported in developing a deeper connection to our self-energy where its inherent wisdom can guide us to our embodied potential.
REIKI & ENERGY THERAPY
Reiki can be a supportive treatment to assist with the balancing and integration of energies that we carry from day to day life. It can also help us to prepare for a psychedelic medicine journey or support our systems while we navigate the changes that are experienced throughout our post medicine integration.
As a level 2 practitioner my foundation for energy work lies in Reiki and I allow spirit to guide me in my energy work, often incorporating other energy therapy techniques into sessions when I feel guided.
PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED THERAPY
With conscious intention and supported integration, the psychedelic medicine experience can be a catalyst for personal transformation.
Having earned a certification in psychedelic assisted therapy and supported participants for over a decade in traditional plant medicine ceremonies, I have learned to honour each individual's inner journey as sacred and deeply personal and I encourage agency in the direction of one's medicine experience. I offer guidance and support to individuals, couples and small groups throughout their medicine experience, from preparation and facilitation to integration.
POLYVAGAL YOGA FOR TRAUMA RECOVERY
The polyvagal theory recognizes that our nervous systems help to balance our bodies and emotions in safety and connection. They act as our internal regulator to protect us and bring us in and out of nervous system states depending on the external situations we encounter. A toned nervous system is able to flow between states as required, but when we experience trauma, sometimes our nervous systems can become overly activated or stuck in a compensating state. Through awareness and conditioning we are able to enhance our vagal tone and increase our vagal efficiency, helping us to maintain a more balanced nervous system and allowing the compensating energies to be released through a safe and gentle process.
I offer ventral vagal co-regulation through natural vagus nerve stimulation, movement and breathing practices. Although this is a trauma-informed therapy, it is not exclusive to those working with trauma and it can benefit those who are wishing to engage more with their nervous systems in order to support themselves in their well-being.
CO-CREATING YOUR WELL-BEING
ABOUT ME
In my pursuit to deepen my connection as a friend, partner, father and supporter of other's well-being, I've found myself drawn to spiritual teachings from various traditions.
The teachings that continue to resonate with me are those that foster our loving relationship to all living beings and connect us to the wisdom Mother Earth.
As a child I would often experience fearful and anxious feelings. Without my conscious awareness at the time, I sought solace in nature to regulate my nervous system and create a sense of comfort. Over time, I cultivated a relationship to plants and animals and an appreciation for traditional teachings around them. As this connection evolved, I discovered the possibility of accessing deeper self awareness through plant medicines.
Initially, my relationship with psychedelic medicines was naive, with little understanding of the impact they might have on my consciousness and how I relate with others and the world.
My experiences were sometimes overwhelming and confusing; however, I still felt a resonance with these medicines and I knew that they were benevolent.
It wasn’t until I was guided by compassionate, experienced practitioners with traditional knowledge, that I was able to make sense of my psychedelic medicine experiences and learn how to integrate them into how I live my life.
Having been a participant and co-facilitator of traditional plant medicine ceremonies since 2006, I have gratitude and respect for the challenges, growth and transformation that I've experienced and I'm humbled to have supported the journeys of hundreds of participants that have attended these ceremonies.
My training in Somatic Therapies, Internal Family Systems, Polyvagal Yoga for Trauma Recovery, Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Reiki has helped me to establish a grounded, relational approach to those seeking counselling and support on their path to well-being.
I honour the intelligence of our bodies and I encourage others to explore their inner-self with compassion and curiosity.
My intention is to approach each individual from a place of loving kindness, where I view our inner exploration as courageous, unique and valuable to our personal evolution and collective well-being.