"Where and who? Jim Kragtwyk, M. Ed., RCC, ICADC . . . Through a combination of 5Rhythms movement, Gestalt Awareness Practice and Integrative Body Psychotherapy, Jim Kragtwyk, offers Medicine Moves, a form of movement psychotherapy and counselling.  As a form of counselling, movement psychotherapy can assist with anxiety and depression, career and life transitions, grief and loss, substance misuse and addiction and spiritual development; there is a huge potential for personal growth by creating a healthy connection to your body through the use of movement, breath work and body awareness/sensation.  The body is very expressive, even when silent, and by feeling your body and allowing free, uninhibited movement, we can discover our deepest inner truths . . . Working on the idea of integration of our physical, mental and emotional selves, Medicine Moves encourages us to return to wholeness and stop splitting our attention among things that may go against our ideas, values or beliefs; movement allows us to really notice and feel what our body is communicating.  And Jim is an amazing facilitator, as well as a very centered and encouraging guide; he creates a space in which you can feel comfortable communing with yourself and exploring the deepest levels of your psyche.  I'd like to try it again and allow myself to go even further out of my mind and into my body in order to experience a more sensorial embrace by the movement . . .

Rachel Greene - Livin Green - Monday Magazine, Feb 11, 2010

I recently had the opportunity to experience Movement Therapy with Jim Kragtwyk. As a mental health practitioner myself, I was curious about what differences this type of therapy might bring about. I was both impressed and pleasantly surprised by the power of movement to access a different experience of a familiar, longstanding issue, and to generate unique insights. Jim is skilled, sensitive, and very adept at building client trust and safety; moving at the client's pace; challenging appropriately; and integrating awareness and insights. I never felt like I was 'on stage' or put on the spot, but rather that my process was in the care of a skilled and respectful practitioner.  

Jo-Anne Stoltz, PhD, RCC

I have appreciated and truly benefited from your movement therapy sessions. The Medicine Moves sessions have been an exceptional tool for increasing my self-awareness and assisting me in expanding my potential. I absolutely believe in the power of mindful movement yet had not worked one-on-one using it as a tool for self-exploration. I was curious as to the benefit of this type of therapeutic intervention. When we began working together I was blown away by the impact of the sessions. I experienced profound benefits after the first session. You have a gift and skill for this work and it influenced my learning. I felt comfortable and safe in our sessions and so was able to push into my edges and show my vulnerability. Your facilitation style is compassionate, present, aware and grounded and you gently challenged me to expand my range of movement and possibility. These have been powerful and transformational sessions. Bypassing the traditional thinking and talking therapy has had an impact in changing me on a cellular level, this movement has been medicine.

Thank you for offering this work in our community and I highly recommend your Medicine Moves sessions for anyone seeking lasting personal change and growth.

Anne Marie Hogya (entrepreneur, facilitator, consultant- Victoria, BC)

Our bodies are talking to us all the time, but we often don’t listen because we are conditioned to live in a society that values the mind and its reason. Even for someone who considers themselves fairly in tune with their body, like myself, I can be intimidated by the thought or the experience of actually listening and getting into my body; hearing the messages that are there. Working with my body in therapy can be profound because that is where I experience my emotions; as such it can be a direct route to my deepest issues. It’s amazing to have a guide in that process, and Jim is someone I trust to go there with me. In my experiences with Jim I have found him to be a peaceful and grounding presence who is able to mirror, support and contain whatever I bring to a session and do so without judgment. What I appreciate most about the space he creates is that there is room for exploration in the moment. I can speak or move in ways that my mind may find odd or strange, but that my body needs to express and he witnesses, acknowledges and supports whatever shows up with deep empathy. Jim seems to both think and sense his way through the sessions and even in moments where he challenged me he did so gently and as a continued piece of exploration. As a client, I don’t think I could ask for anything more.

Christine Selder M. Ed. Counsellor, Teacher

I was a client of Jim's for four sessions in the Fall of 2008. At the time, I found Jim open to working in different ways with different issues I brought, yet able to then focus on a goal and deepen into successful exercises. What worked for me was being able to speak, respond to questions, and move into dance where Jim reflected the feelings that each of these inspired. He's a good listener and seems to mobilize skills obtained from years of therapeutic, martial arts, and other practice. I never felt rushed or misdirected. In summary, if need be I would request his service again, and I recommend it for help with physical-emotional healing and fulfillment.

Billy Adam Gottlieb, Shiatsu massage therapist and teacher

I also wanted to let you know how much i enjoyed working with you.  Your sweet offer to "practice" on/with me came at a very interesting time in my life - and helped alot.  I found your place very welcoming, warm, and inviting - easy to relax in.  The temperature was perfect, and even just to sit and chat, move a little on the couch, and drop deeper inside myself was easy with you.  You're able to establish an energy that is open, and you inspired me (as i'm sure you will/have with others) to open my personal energy space as well.

I have to admit, i had not experienced anything quite like our sessions, and you were able to take me to a place to push through my 'shy' or 'quiet' sides ...... open up my body, and listen to my inner instincts.  Especially on the last day, where we moved together, again establishing the energy movement and playing with that feeling inside myself -  IT HELPED A LOT.  Thank-you. 

Tracey Noseworthy, Yoga Instructor

”our bodies are more intelligent than our heads”. . . then I say something like “I learned about my extremeness, how to expand and contract, how it pulls myself in and out and feel the body senses and rewrite my body language”.

At our first session I learned about my “muck” and the “chain around my ankle” pulling me . . . and was my comfort 'place' was at a body level.

At our second session I leaned about my boundaries, body sense, of where I am comfortable when people enter my energy space and how close I will go before I start to feel my protection walls and that I can be as open or closed as I feel, at a body level, safe.  The huge rewriting of the cellular language was I can flow in and out and stop where ever I want. 

At our third session I learned about my going from 0 to 200 mph in 30 seconds or less or not doing anything.  I learned that this is how I do life and perhaps there was a gentler way of being.  Again at a body level I learned that even small movements are powerful and that perhaps playing with small and medium movements were more interesting/fascinating than moving from 0 to 200 in a shirt time.  We explored movement on an exercise ball and I am still very aware of the rocking, bouncing movements.

At our last session as we co-created our completion we spoke of being open to opportunity and possibilities and perhaps allowing things to come to me instead of me going to them . . .  And to ask for what I want and to live in faith.

Jim, I am full of gratitude for your generous spirit.  As I walk in my path looking for the next employment opportunity I notice me checking in with me and often pulling pieces from our sessions together.  When I bring the “muck” session up I can feel my body sense when I was walking closer to the “muck” and when I was 'ok' where I was and gave myself permission to stop to check in before I proceeded farther.  When I go to any networking meetings I take our “flow” sessions from the studio with me and I am aware of my body senses as I open and contract in a flow, this is a huge shift from my previous extremeness.

My job coach has recommended I take a 'Sher' day once a week, not including Saturday and Sunday.  This has been a great practice for my 0 to 200 in 30 seconds or less.  Taking the time to move, or not to move, consciously!

As we wrapped up our sessions I became aware that my 'life' issue or what is under most things I do, how I do “me” with all my frustration and angst is my extremeness; the big bang or it has no value!  I have noticed since our sessions I am more aware while being extreme and occasionally I find myself moving slower.

Jim, I like the energy in your office.  For me, you have created a space of exploration. 

Your studio is yummmy!  Whenever I walk in the first sense that comes alive in my sense of smell, then touch as I walk on the floor... Then everything just starts firing because the energy is open, inviting, respectful and full of possibilities. 

Jim, you are a gentle soul and are able to drop into your body wisdom in the session.  My experience of you is that you will not take over my process, you gently guide me and offer possibilities.

If I were to use one word to describe you in your practice . . . it would be a mixture of. . . curiosity/heart/possibilities/respect .... 

Thank you Jim for being with me as I walk with my process.

See you soon....

Hugs, 
sher

My sessions with Jim were a wonderful addition to my own mindfulness practice.  It was very powerful to be witnessed, experience the luxury of being “seen” and be guided to go deeper than I can on my own, into my own felt-sense and into deeper understandings of whatever I was bringing to the session.  I experienced useful “a-ha” moments and healing images that continue to resonate for me. Jim provided a safe space for healing and was open to input and feedback.  The fact that he is committed to his own journey of learning and healing adds a depth to what he offers.  I highly recommend his sessions. 

Tamara Mortimer, M. Ed, RCC, CCC

After spending an hour with Jim Kragtwyk and taking advantage of his 20 years of counselling skills, I can honestly say I discovered something new; that movement (which helps to stay in the moment) can sidestep the denial of my mind, which in turn created a greater sense of wholeness, playfulness and, most importantly, made me feel less anxious.