The Seven Main Energy Centers | Chakras

Our bodies are a living matrix of energy. And the chakra system can help us identify blockages and opportunities for growth.

Many ancient models of wellbeing include the concept of a vital force or energy. Examples include: qi (chi) in Chinese medicine, ki in Japanese medicine, and prana in Ayurveda. There are also similar terms and concepts within indigenous communities. More recently, Sigmund Freud used the word libido to describe his concept of a life energy force. And, psychologist, Wilhelm Reich, called it orgone energy and saw it as a healing force that can become trapped by behavior patterns, under the body’s armor.

Chakras (Sanskrit for wheels) were originally associated with gods, symbols, and mantras. When we look at ancient text, we see as few as four chakras and as many as 49 chakras. The concept of chakra system was introduced to American culture by the Theosophical Society in the 1870s. What was a complex meditation aid for advanced yogis was reimagined to include metaphysical considerations regarding the nature of consciousness and its interaction with mental, emotional, and physical systems (Jain et al, 2015). Over time, the chakra system evolved to represent the fusion of multiple schools of thought - including the work of psychologists Carl Jung and Abraham Maslow, mythologist Joseph Campbell, Western scholars of Indology, the Esalen Institute, energy healers, and a group of esotericists associated with the Theosophical Society. Over the last century, the seven charka system, with its rainbow of colors, has become much more accessible for regular folks; however, it is less connected to its roots.

The seven chakras are positioned throughout the our bodies - from the base of our spine to the crown of our head. Each chakra has its own vibrational frequency, color, and governs specific functions.

Crown | Sahasrara - spiritual connection, wisdom, bliss

Third Eye | Ajna - intuition, purpose, vision

Throat | Vishuddha - authentic communication, truth, self-expression

Heart | Anahata - connection, love, empath, compassion

Solar Plexus | Manipura - confidence, self-esteem, personal power

Sacral | Swadhisthana - emotions, sexuality, creativity, joy, pleasure

Root | Muladhara - safety, security, trust, stability

Psychotherapy (Informed by the Seven Chakras)

The seven chakras have practical applications in psychotherapy. Using this framework increases understanding of the multiple dimensions of human experience. For example, if you have difficulty with authentic communication (throat chakra), we may also look at how this interacts with other chakras (i.e. safety in the root chakra or self-esteem in the solar plexus). From there, we can come up with a plan for addressing all three chakras. Our focus, in therapy, would be to create a sense of safety and improve self-esteem with the overall goal of increasing authentic communication.

Our work together will be guided by premise that balance is restored by identifying and releasing psychological blocks associated with energy centers. Depending on your personal preferences, restoring balance may include any of the following:

~ personalized psychotherapy (any combination of talk therapy, EMDR, cognitive-behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, parts work, attachment-focused therapy, brainspotting, and more).

~ explorative activities and exercises to enhance insight

~ meditations

~ coping strategies (grounding, visualizations, somatic techniques, mindfulness, etc.)

~ journaling

~ dream exploration

~ your personal self-care practices (aromatherapy, massage, nutrition, yoga, sound healing, crystals, etc.)