At Uncarved Insight, Dr. Chris Goto-Jones works with a range of approaches and modalities. His overall approach is grounded in three main fields: existential therapy, narrative therapy, and contemplative approaches. Together, these orientations can give therapy with Chris an open-minded, non-judgmental, philosophical, embodied, and compassionate foundation.
Chris is not preoccupied with diagnosis or labelling, but instead his goal is always to support the self-understanding and self-awareness of each client as a unique individual in the world, as they seek meaning, purpose, and well-being in their own terms. His approach is well-suited to assist with anxiety, depression, grief, and post-traumatic stress, as well as life-transitions, life reviews/reminiscences, and existential crises. |
Existential TherapyExistential Therapy is inspired by the work of existentialist psychologists and philosophers. It is a modern form of 'talk therapy' that focusses on the search for (and embrace) of the unique meanings of particular experiences, challenges, forms of suffering, and ultimately the meaning of each individual's life.
Rather than engaging in deep excavations of the past or the quest for the 'origins' of an issue, some Existential Therapies, such as Logotherapy, are often present-focussed and forward-looking, supporting our ability to endure hardships and suffering in the present through the search for meaning and purpose. Existential Therapy can also take the form of Existential Analysis (akin to psychoanalysis), in which case much more time is spent supporting self-understanding of personal histories and origins. `Existential Therapies are suitable for both brief therapeutic interventions and more long-term 'analysis.' Famous therapists in this tradition might include Viktor Frankl, Rollo May, Irvin Yalom. |
Narrative TherapyNarrative Therapy is a contemporary modality grounded in the idea that our lives and experiences, including our struggles and suffering, are at least partially determined by the stories that we tell about ourselves and by the roles we inhabit in the stories told by others, including by communities and societies as a whole.
The idea behind Narrative Therapy is that we all carry multiple stories with us at all times, some of which might be hurting or hindering us. Some of which have gradually been imposed upon us without us noticing - they're just the context of our lives, the water in which we swim. So, we all have stories about our abilities, work, relationships, self-esteem, race, gender, sexuality. But are those stories fair? Are they necessary? Narrative Therapy encourages us to identify, challenge, and re-script the stories that we inhabit, especially those stories that disempower us or cause us ongoing suffering. This approach is known as empowering, non-blaming and non-pathological. Famous therapists in this tradition include Michael White, David Epston, Stephen Madigan. |
Contemplative ApproachesContemplative Approaches to therapy have grown in popularity in recent years as increasing scientific evidence has shown them to be effective. Many such approaches focus on the mind-body connection, emphasizing embodied and somatic aspects of mental suffering. The histories of these approaches are much richer than the contemporary trend suggests.
Today, contemplative therapies include a range of approaches, including eco-therapy, hypnotherapy, and hypnoanalysis, as well as secular meditation protocols like Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), each of which have been evidenced to be very effective. More recently, new protocols for trauma-informed and Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness (TSM) interventions have also been developed. Many of these approaches are grounded in insights and techniques from Buddhist philosophy and psychology, which boasts a therapeutic tradition much richer than just these practices. Contemplative approaches and Buddhist psychology can stand on their own as therapies or they be integrated into other approaches in creative and effective ways. |
Uncarved Insight
The term 'Uncarved Insight' refers to two important sources of inspiration for Chris' approach to therapy. First, it refers to the idea of Pu (樸) or the 'uncarved block,' which appears in classical Daoist philosophy. Pu suggests that things are already perfect in their natural state, without artifice or complexity being imposed upon them. It celebrates simplicity and authenticity; it encourages us to find the beauty in how things are right now, without adding more and more layers of complexity. Modern life buries us under complexity and anxiety.
'Insight' is a term used in psychotherapy to describe the therapeutic value of self-understanding and self-awareness. It is also a term used in Buddhist philosophy to refer to contemplative practices that cultivate this self-understanding. We might say that insight is a method to help us see through into the uncarved block. |