Dr. Sallie Norquist, PhD, SEP, FOT,
LFYP, is a NJ licensed psychologist (NJ #2371) with over 25 years of clinical experience.
A graduate of the Clinical Psychology doctoral program at Michigan State University, Dr.
Norquist is founder and director of Chaitanya Counseling Services, a stress management
center in Hoboken. She has written a weekly column for the past 14 years called
"Enlivening Ourselves" for The Hudson Reporter, which publishes 9 local weekly
newspapers. Dr Norquist views health as something achieved through active involvement
on the part of each individual in acknowledging, accepting and taking responsibility for
their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs. Her experience is that there is an
inner, organic growth process that, once accessed, can lead each individual in their own
healing journey. A nonjudgmental, accepting, mindful attitude is key to this process. Her
focus is on assisting clients in accessing and listening to the wisdom of this emerging
inner growth process. Body awareness is an essential aspect of this healing journey. The
goal is a greater ability to navigate life's difficulties (including fear, anxiety,
depression and trauma), a deeper, more enlivened life, the capacity for richer, more
meaningful relationships with self and others, and the ability to access and to trust the
flow of one's own life journey. Dr. Norquist has extensive training in somatic
(body-oriented) psychotherapy, including the following modalities:
A. Somatic Experiencing (SE)
Dr. Norquist is a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). Somatic Experiencing
is a body-oriented approach for treating trauma that was developed by Dr. Peter Levine (www.traumahealing.com). It is a gentle process
that allows for the discharge of unresolved trauma and helps to restore self regulation
and a sense of aliveness and wholeness. This technique is also helpful for managing
stress, anxiety, anger and panic.
B. Focusing Oriented Therapy (FOT)
Dr. Norquist recently completed a two-year training program to become a Certified Focusing
Oriented Psychotherapist, and has had extensive Focusing Oriented Trauma Resolution (FOTR)
training with Shirley Turcotte, a renowned Canadian trauma treatment authority. Focusing
Oriented Therapy is an experiential, client-centered, bodily felt-sense approach to
therapy. Eugene Gendlin, PhD, defines Focusing as a means to providing "direct access
to bodily knowing." It is a method for entering that place where the therapeutic
change process occurs, and as such, is an extremely powerful agent for effecting deep
change (www.focusing.org). It is especially useful
for trauma, depression, anxiety, stuck places, and when you feel estranged from yourself,
your body, or others. Often unique inner shifts occur, along with the emergence of new
solutions for existing issues, including a physical change in the way the issue lives in
the body.
C. Life Force Yoga Practitioner (LFYP)
As a certified Life Force Yoga Practitioner, Dr. Norquist has received training in various
yogic techniques that are helpful in managing depression and anxiety (see Amy Weintraub www.yogafordepression.com). This includes
asana, pranayama, mudra and meditaion. Additionally, she received training in Ayurvedic
nutrition through the New York Open Center.
D. Bodynamics'
Currently, Dr. Norquist is studying Bodynamic somatic developmental psychotherapy,
learning the psychological function of muscles related to the seven developmental stages
(see www.bodynamicUSA.com)
Dr Norquist utilizes an eclectic treatment approach (body-oriented, cognitive
behavioral, psychodynamic, attachment-focused, or spiritually-focused) based on the needs
and desires of each individual client.
She works with adults of all ages including young adults, college students, first-time
mothers, adults at various crossroads in life, and senior citizens.
Typical symptoms and issues that Dr. Norquist treats include:
