Shantini Center Services

Shantini (pronounced shAHn ti knee) is a Sanskrit word that is the feminine derivative of the word shanti, which means peace. It is my desire to contribute to building a world where people can learn and grow, living in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. One of the main ways I work towards that goal is by offering individual and group psychotherapy services.

Individual Psychotherapy

Many clients come to therapy in crisis. The early part of therapy is spent helping them deal with the current situation. Once that situation is resolved, some clients choose to leave therapy until some future life event brings them back.

Other clients, however, begin therapy when they see they have developed patterns they don’t like in their relationships, their work, or their personal life. They may be feeling overwhelming sadness, anger or fear. They may notice that their feelings are bigger than what seems reasonable for the current situation. These clients usually want to go much deeper than simply resolving the current situation. They want to find out why they think, feel and act the way they do and do the work necessary to change the entrenched patterns.

Individual therapy will be most effective if clients make weekly appointments. Each session will be 50 minutes in length.

Group psychotherapy

While some clients prefer to continue their therapy in an individual setting, others choose to start group therapy at some point. All clients will do individual appointments with me for at least three weeks prior to starting group. It is not unusual for clients to stay in individual for several months before they feel ready to move to the group setting.

There are many advantages to doing group therapy. In individual, the session is limited to the material that the client or therapist brings to the session. In a group setting, clients witness or are involved in many different pieces of therapy on a given night. Since we have many of the same core issues, one person's work may trigger memories and feelings for others. Clients are also able to learn from each other. Ideally a client will get something for themselves from every piece of therapy done in group.

Participating in a group provides an automatic support system of people who know each other at an ever deeper level. The group also provides an opportunity for clients to try out new behaviors with people who have a commitment to stay and work through problems rather than leave when someone makes a mistake. In my experience, therapy proceeds at a faster pace and goes deeper when it is in group rather than individual.

My groups are ongoing, meaning there is no beginning or end. The groups have been running for 18-21 years. People start and leave when they are ready. Group members vary in age, gender and in the issues with which they are dealing.

The groups meet weekly. The groups are 2 1/2 hours in length if 6-9 clients are present and 2 hours if there are 5 or less clients.

My groups:

1) Therapists: Karuna Poole ARNP, MN and Kathleen Lawrence MA

3409 167th Ave SE
Bellevue, WA 98008
Tuesdays 6:00-8:30 p.m.

2) Therapists: Karuna Poole ARNP, MN and Vince Horan, MA, D.Min

3212 25th Avenue S
Seattle, WA 98144
Wednesdays 6:00-8:30 p.m.

3) Therapists: Karuna Poole ARNP, MN and Kathleen Lawrence MA

3212 25th Avenue S
Seattle, WA 98144
Thursdays 6:00-8:30 p.m.