Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jules Andersen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jules, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My purpose found me with my life experiences that unfolded from the time that I was born – from my mom giving birth to me in 1963 on a picnic table brought into our home from the backyard for my delivery, to my first near death experience when they found me face down in the pool and brought me back to life. My life events have brought me to be a demonstration of overcoming obstacles that would take most people out. I now call it my “trauma timeline” of events that have led me to live my purpose of psychotherapist and shamanic practitioner. There are so many personal and professional experiences that I have had in my 60+ years that, even though painful, have made me into a caring, empathetic and compassionate support for others that are going through rough patches on their life journey. I also left a 35 year marriage 8+ years ago which was more painful than death. Already working as a marriage and family therapist, it was a very tough decision since I had many years of assisting couples stay together and work through the tough parts. I was concerned others would find me a failure since I couldn’t make my own marriage work. I found out firsthand it takes two people to create win win scenarios to keep a relationship together. It has been such a beautiful journey of empowering myself, although deeply painful, to emerge an even better support for those going through covertly abusive relationships. I can resonate with all who walk through my door. I am so grateful I get to live my purpose on a daily basis and be a support for others.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I have blended psychology with indigenous wisdom and my deeply intuitive gifts to provide a truly unique approach to my coaching practice. My therapy background was limited because it’s based on a sickness model that pushes me to pathologize each person with a mental illness that starts to define them. The therapy realm then provides coping skills to manage their diagnosis as something each person has to endure in their life. Shamanism and Tantra have a holistic approach and works in a wellness model. It sees each person as perfect, whole and complete only experiencing a spiritual disruption that has caused a person to become disconnected from their source which is love. So many symptoms that show up in humans are a result of grief and loss. Anxiety, low motivation, low energy, sadness, sleep disturbance, appetite disturbance, difficulty focusing or concentratimg, thoughts of wanting to end one’s life are considered typical reactions to unprocessed grief and loss in the shamanic realm. It is not seen as broken parts needing repair – rather parts that are feeling pain that need time and space to feel the pain , process and integrate into joy again. Through my book Map 2 Consciousness, I support people to feel what they feel – because when humans medicate or push down unpleasant or uncomfortable feelings, they tend to mask with outside substances, behaviors and activities to avoid the discomfort which leads to substance and process addictions. Addiction has been my specialty because we get to what’s underlying the need to mask. It’s very exciting and rewarding to connect people back to their true essence and integrate all the different parts of themselves that may feel shame and guilt to get to acceptance and compassion.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The biggest gift I was given was “to be willing” to follow directions from others who had gone before me and were mentors, role models and teachers. To get rid of my stubbornness – and seeing that being stubborn is a quality that holds people back from being open to new experiences. The second gift I was given was allowing myself to feel uncomfortable and not mask it with substances and processes that kept me busy and distracted from pain.As a shamanic practitioner, we actually intentionally place ourselves in discomfort in order to grow and evolve as humans.
The third skill is listening to understand each person – rather than to judge, criticize, or put down someone’s belief system. I seek understanding rather than agreement.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is someone who is willing to be brave and experience a shamanic guidance counseling session. To enter a realm where they allow themselves to be honest and vulnerable along with allowing their ability to connect with a higher version of themselves that they may have lost. Anxiety, depression, and addiction are signs that grief and loss have been unresolved and a client that is willing to feel the pain of events from their past will come through a shamanic guidance counseling session with a sense of feeling seen and understood – and supported.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soulvisionhealingcenter.com
- Instagram: soulvisionhealingcenter
- Facebook: Jules Andersen and Soul Vision Healing Center
- Linkedin: Jules Andersen
