Liminal is a name I have worked under creatively since 2002, Until 2019, I ran a design studio called Liminal Design and it felt like a natural choice when I started my therapy space, Liminal Therapy, last year. Its meaning is a clear reflection of the process clients go through in counselling as they move through the stages of therapy towards realising their goals. In simple terms, Liminal means the threshold between two places, Liminality refers to the state of transition and the internal responses we experience throughout the journey. Most clients arrive in a state of tension and the therapeutic journey seeks to facilitate this rite of passage.
Transition and Transformation
Liminality often surfaces during pivotal life events, such as bereavement, career changes, or shifts in identity. These bring about intense emotional responses that can leave us stuck or feeling trapped. Often we move towards maladaptive coping strategies to dull the pain until we are ready to confront them. This is often the moment when people seek therapy.
Disorientation and Uncertainty
Clients in therapy may experience confusion, self-doubt, and emotional distress as they shed the ideas and values of their previous selves in search of their intrinsic values. Old coping strategies may become ineffective, while new approaches to tension are developed. This process of liminality is to challenge the core ideas of yourself and seek to become more aligned with your true self.
Opportunity for Growth
While liminality can be challenging, it offers a chance for profound self-reflection and personal development. The therapy space
looks to facilitate safety and support so you can work towards self-awareness and the life you want.
Examples in Practice
A person navigating a divorce, feeling detached from their former identity but uncertain about future possibilities.
An individual recovering from addiction is caught between harmful behaviours and healthier coping strategies.
A client exploring their gender identity, grappling with societal expectations and issues of self-acceptance.
My goal is to collaborate and accompany clients on this journey through liminality towards lasting change, either from a place of emotional tension or simply a desire to become more self-aware, improve boundaries and live a more fulfilling life. If you are looking to make changes, get in touch for a free exploration to see if therapy might be an option.