‘Therapy Bytes’ Fall/Winter 2016 Ezine

‘Therapy Bytes’ Quarterly

~ for the Therapy Savvy + Therapy Curious Reader

In This Issue


Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: Is It For You?

6e850a4d-3ac8-48dc-8691-84bd87b4e1ef“Really? Therapy with drugs? You’ve got to be kidding!” This was my reaction when I first heard about psychedelic-assisted therapy, otherwise known as “medicine work,” about 30 years ago. Since then I’ve developed an ever increasing respect for this fast emerging field. While many people have heard about the use of medical marijuana for help with anxiety, depression, insomnia and pain management, many don’t know about the use of MDMA for helping severe trauma victims or Ibogaine therapy for working with drug addiction. Research is slowed down by the fact that these substances are labeled illegal. Despite this obstacle the research continues because both clinical and non-clinical trials are proving the power of psychedelics to heal, sometimes much faster than traditional routes. In this article I will talk about some of the most popular “medicines” used in psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Click here to read more…


If you’re looking for an excellent sex and intimacy coach I highly recommend my colleague Eileen Chao, M.A.

020b4bff-8a25-4a5d-ae15-d6dd3844c6c6Eileen is a sex and intimacy coach specializing in experiential body based learning. She provides all the sex education that we should have gotten but didn’t, as well as a safe space to practice giving and receiving touch in order to gain comfort and confidence with physical intimacy. There’s a lot of unhelpful messages out there about sex and relationships, and she loves working with individuals on figuring out their desires and authenticity.

She specializes in working with individuals who have anxiety, sexual difficulties and lack of experience. She brings openness, nonjudgment, compassion, warmth and a fun, lighthearted energy to sessions. Her approach is refreshingly straightforward and casual, which puts people at ease and allows them to feel safe in opening up. She is trained in several modalities of somatic sex coaching as well as an IPSA certified surrogate partner. She is LGBTQ+ and sex work aware and affirming. You can read more about what she offers on her website: www.somaticsexuality.com.

Click here to read what Eileen has to say about “The 3 Steps to Good Sex and Becoming a Better Lover”.


Astrology Eye

Screen Shot 2015-10-20 at 10.22.44 AMHere is a preview of the rest of October from another of my favorite astrology sites called ‘Pandora’s Astrology.’ Here is her “Blessedly Brief Monthly Newsletter”.
10/18/2016 Venus enters Sagittarius (till 11/11): Party time! Gather friends together to better your social connections-or just plain have fun.
10/19/2016 Mars conjuncts Pluto: You have the power to move mountains-or destroy everything in your path. Use the force wisely.
10/20/2016 Mercury opposes Uranus: Your rational mind may be pulling you away from some of your zanier ideas. Integrate criticism with innovation.
10/22/2016 Sun enters Scorpio: It’s the killing season, the butchering part of harvest-time. In your herd of projects, what needs culling?
10/24/2016 Mercury enters Scorpio (till 11/12): Despite a plethora of insights into your own soul, avoid oversharing-do they really need to know that?
10/25/2016 Venus square Neptune: Are you giving too much of yourself to others? You may be acting out of compassion, but don’t compromise self-care.
10/26/2016 Venus sextiles Jupiter: Your ‘chosen’ family is different than your biological one. Beliefs and perspectives link you. 10/27/2016 Sun conjuncts Mercury: Epiphany Day is here! Mental clarity reaches a 4-month peak. How will you use this day?
10/27/2016 Mars sextile Chiron: Everyone needs to work on some part of themselves. Get motivated to tackle something about you that needs improvement!
10/28/2016 Mars squares Uranus: People may be acting impulsively today. Watch out for road rage, or be careful not to cut yourself while making dinner!
10/29/2016 Venus conjuncts Saturn: Don’t question your self worth so much. Lately you may be looking to others for relief from excess self-judgment.
10/30/2016 Mercury trines Neptune: Halloween is tomorrow, and you’re excited by the fantasy of this holiday. Have fun with a scary book or movie.
10/30/2016 Life to death; death to life. The line between them is gray. During this New Moon in Scorpio you may feel caught between the worlds.

If this Forecast is interesting to you, sign up for the Pandora Astrology Blessedly Brief Monthly Newsletter, so you’ll always be in touch with the stars!

~ ~ ~ Enjoy the rain!!! ~ ~ ~

Ondina Nandine Hatvany, MFT

72Ondina assists traditional, alternative and queer couples with an approach that combines the latest discoveries in neuroscience with powerful and effective developments in couples research. She uses an approach called Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help her couples get past blame and shame to a place of more understanding, trust and intimacy.

As former Director of the Eating Disorders program at the Community Institute of Psychotherapy Ondina advocates a Health at Every Size (HAES) approach that empowers women to befriend their bodies.
Ondina works with trauma/ abuse survivors using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing,) hypnosis and somatic (body mindfulness) psychotherapy techniques with a high effectiveness rating.

Finally as a somatically trained psychotherapist and former yoga teacher, one of the ways she can assist you to make lasting changes is to foster body mindfulness. She uses somatic psychotherapies such as Hakomi and Somatic Experiencing to facilitate transitions and shifts that last.

Feel Free to call for a free initial phone consultation on Ondina’s confidential office line (415) 381-1065 or e-mail: Ondinah@gmail.com


Comment on ‘Therapy Bytes’ Fall/Winter 2016 Ezine

Leave a Reply