I write about mental health, psychosis, altered states, trauma, yoga therapy, nervous system regulation, philosophy, spirituality and the many ways people find their way back to themselves. My work lives at the meeting point of psychiatry, psychology, yoga, ancient wisdom traditions and what I call Original Medicines: the practices, relationships, rhythms and ways of knowing that reconnect us with body, community, nature and meaning. After more than 25 years working in mental health as a psychiatric nurse, therapist and yoga therapist, I’m especially interested in what becomes possible when we widen the conversation beyond diagnosis and symptom reduction — without losing discernment, safety or good clinical care. Through Terrapy, I work with individuals and groups and teach healthcare professionals, therapists and others who care. I also share reflections from my books, research, conversations, trainings and the questions I’m currently exploring.If you’re curious about a broader, more humane and integrative approach to mental health and healing, you’re very welcome!
Healing Takes Courage
I am inspired daily by what happens in Terrapy Reader — in my sessions with clients and beyond. Yesterday, working with a young woman in my practice, she drew a card from my favorite card deck by Adriana Ayales about the NETTLE. Nettle is a hardy plant known for its stinging hairs that can cause discomfort when touched, but she also has many HEALING properties. This duality symbolizes the idea that strength and resilience often come through challenges and discomfort. Healing yourself, takes COURAGE. She, the Nettle, symbolizes the journey of growth and healing through grounding oneself, setting healthy boundaries. She serves as a powerful reminder that transformation is a process that often involves discomfort too. Do things that are painful and you don’t like to do, BY CHOICE! You choosing to do something challenging, is what’s powerful. Being forced, takes ALL that power away. Setting boundaries takes COURAGE 🦅 Healing takes courage. In transformational work, Nettle teaches that enduring and learning from painful or difficult experiences can lead to personal growth and empowerment. This seem to be the theme this week. It started with another client who showed me a 1 minute video about ‘How Lobsters 🦞 Grow’ — this video teaches that Lobster must leave the safe but too small harness at some point, be vulnerable and find a safe place to grow and new, larger harnas. Both the Nettle 🌿 and the Lobster 🦞 inspired me in different ways, that growth and healing is about making your OWN choices, that aren’t always pain or worry free. I love how I can share the inspirations that in many ways found me, through YOU. I love this circular energy in my work, my conversations and rituals in Terrapy. Keys:
〰️ ❤️✨🌿 Next steps: the Terrapy Retreat Sept 30 - Oct 2, 2024 in Lochem, The Netherlands (not too far from Germany) — will you join? Newsflash, it will be in English/ Dutch (and in a very relaxed pace). Diving in Terrapy are the first steps for being a Terrapist. Going through, is the only Way — comfortable or not. Today is the LAST day you can book the August price (https://annekesips.com/terrapy-retreat/), after today it's September (already!) and the price will go UP! Your future Self might be thankful for making that decision to join today. Chantal and I finalized the program yesterday and it's going to be a rare gem, this retreat. Love, ✨ p.s there is a space, where we can discuss more, ask direct questions and build relationship: did you join already? It's free. |
Terrapy | The Original Medicines
I write about mental health, psychosis, altered states, trauma, yoga therapy, nervous system regulation, philosophy, spirituality and the many ways people find their way back to themselves. My work lives at the meeting point of psychiatry, psychology, yoga, ancient wisdom traditions and what I call Original Medicines: the practices, relationships, rhythms and ways of knowing that reconnect us with body, community, nature and meaning. After more than 25 years working in mental health as a psychiatric nurse, therapist and yoga therapist, I’m especially interested in what becomes possible when we widen the conversation beyond diagnosis and symptom reduction — without losing discernment, safety or good clinical care. Through Terrapy, I work with individuals and groups and teach healthcare professionals, therapists and others who care. I also share reflections from my books, research, conversations, trainings and the questions I’m currently exploring.If you’re curious about a broader, more humane and integrative approach to mental health and healing, you’re very welcome!
Hi Reader, In October, something I've been building quietly finally opens its doors. And it brings together a conversation I’ve wanted to have for a long time. A summit. 🎉🎉🎉 Four days, free, online. So here we go! Built around my book Wisdom of Psychosis, published on March 28 this year but never given a real celebration yet, this summit brings different worlds into conversation around altered states, consciousness, crisis and transformation. Over four days, we gather with curiosity,...
Hey there, Reader Summer is slowly starting on this side of the earth — and I'd love to connect with you. So much is brewing, and I'm very curious how you are doing (feel free to reply this email to let me know). First of all, yes, I am still a bit in my post-partum phase as author of Wisdom of Psychosis. I am so happy to share that the book has now been shipped to 12-13 countries in the world. If you're reading it, you read it, or you want to read — or even just want to show it some love — I...
email update | #250 It's winter, Reader — and I enjoy it so much! ❄️ 🛷 ☃️ But what I enjoy even more, much more, is sharing with you that today (pinch me!) after so many of you were asking, I'm officially opening pre-orders for my book: 'Wisdom of Psychosis: A compassionate, trauma-aware framework for navigating the intelligence of altered states'! But first things first: pre-order your 'Wisdom of Psychosis' here By choosing to pre-order, you're helping this book cross from manuscript into...