RIK ISENSEE, LCSWProfessional Background
Image courtesy of Go There Guide
Rik Isensee, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker License # LCS 10773 (1984), and has worked in a variety of mental health clinics and settings over the last thirty years. His private practice is in San Francisco, where he offers: * Shift Your Mood Therapy He enjoys working with a variety of issues and populations: both women and men, of various ethnic, class, and cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations. Education Rik has a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Hawaii, 1979. He has a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz. The creative process is an ongoing interest, which led Rik to get a second Master's degree (in Creative Writing) from San Francisco State. Mental Health Clinics Rik has worked in a number of mental health settings, including his internship at Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, where he worked in the outpatient mental health clinic; Homebuilders, in Seattle, working with families of youth at risk for out-of-home placement; the Richmond Maxi-Center, in San Francisco, where he worked with individuals, groups, and families in a multi-cultural clinic; the Center for Special Problems, where he developed the group program for male survivors of childhood abuse; and Psychological Services at City College of San Francisco. Rik taught a class on Mindfulness and Mood through Psychological Services at City College, and has also offered seminars at Esalen, a retreat center perched on the cliffs overlooking the ocean at Big Sur. Training and Professional Influences Rik has also been trained in a form of psychotherapy called Hakomi, a form of somatic therapy. He has assisted with the eight-month Professional Skills Training for psychotherapists with the San Francisco Hakomi Institute, including Re-Creation of the Self with Jon Eisman. This approach encourages a physical, emotional, and cognitive awareness of core beliefs, which enables the client to question early conditioning, and grow beyond previous limitations. He received coaching training from the GROW Training Institute, as well as Mentor Coach, both of which specialize in coaching skills for licensed psychotherapists. Mindfulness Rik practices a form of mindfulness called Insight Meditation (or Vipassana). He was in a practice seminar with Joseph Goldstein during the summer of 1974, with the opening of the Naropa Institute, in Boulder, Colorado. Since then, he has attended mindfulness retreats at Spirit Rock, Mt. Madonna, Green Gulch, Tassajara, and elsewhere. He’s also been influenced by "calm abiding" (or Shamatha) practice with Alan Wallace, and other “direct path” teachers from Advaita, Mahamudra, and Dzogchen traditions, which help us bring our attention to awareness itself. What Rik has appreciated about these teachers, beyond any particular technique, is the emphasis on a heart-felt sense of loving presence that exemplifies his approach to psychotherapy, coaching, and healing. Over the years, Rik has been integrating mindfulness into his psychotherapy practice. Mindfulness does not require any specific religious beliefs—people of any spiritual background (or none at all) are welcome! Anyone can benefit from the present-moment awareness developed through mindfulness. Mindfulness not only enables us to be more present, it’s also becoming increasingly clear from various studies (such as mindfulness-based stress reduction) that moment-to-moment awareness can relieve stress, calm anxiety, and soothe inner turmoil. With Shift Your Mood, Rik’s goal is to help readers, clients, and workshop participants integrate the soothing aspects of mindfulness with a direct experience of emotional well-being. Office Rik practices psychotherapy in a brightly-lit and comfortable office on Fillmore Street in San Francisco, conveniently located on two bus lines a few blocks from the Hayes Valley shopping district, and just one block from the "Seven Sisters," a row of Victorian homes on the edge of Alamo Square, which are frequently depicted on post cards of the city. (Image courtesy of Go There Guide.) The Hayes Street bus, and the 22 Fillmore go right by his office. Rik is the author of the forthcoming book: Shift Your Mood: Unleash Your Life! Your Pathway to Inner Happiness Sign up for Rik's Ezine! to get your free special report. Just fill in this form, and please tell me about your biggest challenge! You'll get announcements of upcoming workshops, releases, and other resources you might be interested in.
* You can also reach him directly at 415 821-7665 in San Francisco during normal (Pacific time) business hours.
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