Overcomer Rachael- Revisited

Overcomer

Jul 28

updated to add business and philosophy changes. updated May 2025 for SEO and formatting

Rachael is a Certified Hakomi Practitioner in Grand Rapids, MI, formerly known as Making Space Hakomi. I spoke with Rachael about her practice, how she found it, and about her life in relation to the therapeutic technique which she has become so passionate about.

Since her original interview, Rachael has reached a new purpose which has led to both the transformation of her business name and philosophy.

The following is a snippet from Rachael’s blog article, "I love the Hakomi Method too Much to Keep Using the Name 'Hakomi'" (August 13, 2019). Full reference at the end of this post for further reading. This post introduces you to Rachael on a much deeper and more complex level—her full blog article also expresses why she has changed her business name to A Midwife For Collective Liberation.

My name is Rachael Koeson. I am a white cisgender woman writing from land that has been stolen from the Anishinaabe people and is now called Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am committed to a life of working toward anti-racism and addressing systemic oppression in myself, with my clients, and in my community. I am still learning and have more questions than answers, and I also know that even as I fumble, it is important for me to speak on these complex issues.

The interview below demonstrates Rachael’s initial contact with Hakomi and how this alternative method helped her overcome her experience with depression prior to making her most recent transition.

Read below to find what made Rachael an Overcomer.

Q) What is Hakomi?
A) The word itself comes from a Hopi Native American word meaning "Who am I?" The practice was developed throughout the 1970s and established in the United States by Ron Kurtz. Kurtz had been experimenting with different methods of therapy when he came across a woman who, during their session, stumbled upon an uncomfortable topic and showed physical expressions of discomfort and defensiveness. Rather than discourage these expressions, Kurtz supported the woman's defense, even helping her engage in them physically. It was a positive experience for the woman and this helped Kurtz develop the idea of supporting a person's defenses during therapy.

Q) How were you introduced to Hakomi...what was going on in your life to make you want to try something with such a name?
A) I was living with my husband in Oregon when we had our first child. It was a major change for me, and during the transition, I became overwhelmed and began experiencing depression, which I’ve experienced before during transformative periods in my life. After having our child, we made the decision to move to Grand Rapids, Michigan. This decision led to even more change to cope with. On top of this, my family started a farm, for which we were not fully prepared. It was a feasible idea in Oregon, but less practical in the City of Grand Rapids.

The intensity of the circumstances caused me to fall back into habitual patterns of behavior in dealing with problems, and they were not helping our situation.

A good friend of mine, who was the only person I had ever met who would take the time to just stop and see how I was feeling about something, became someone I wanted to learn from. I then asked him about what he did. As I continued to struggle with the changes in my life, I started working with him by phone, which was proving effective. It was the first time that I had insights that were settling and helped me later on. It produced something more identifiable and workable that came from outside of me—not just my thinking and interpretation of what was going on. The sessions were also helpful in my marriage. Eventually, I discovered the practice called Hakomi, and I wanted to learn more.

Rachael's journey highlights how healing takes patience, a willingness to explore one's defenses, and sometimes, the support of resources outside ourselves. If you’re on a similar journey and looking for tools to nourish both your body and mind, consider our Mood Boosting Food e-Cookbook to energize you. Or, for deeper self-reflection and growth, our journal prompts are a great way to start your inner work.
Start Your Healing Journey Here
And if you're looking for personalized guidance, I invite you to book a therapy session where we can work together on achieving the transformation you’re seeking.

Q) What have you learned about yourself during your experience with Hakomi?
A) With Hakomi, we realize that there are people we want to be open and vulnerable with, and sometimes we hit a barrier where something inside us won’t let us do it. One thing we do in Hakomi is hang out at those barriers, where it’s hard, and we don’t try to fix it. We just sit with it and understand it more.

Q) What kind of areas do you think Hakomi works best with when it comes to mental health—what kind of people do you think it helps the most?
A) With a lot of people, there is an educational piece. Some people can just sit down, and it works. They know how to pay attention to their body and slow down. It’s my job to help with that, so it’s not totally on the client. But for some, it’s super hard and foreign, and it takes some learning. But they CAN learn it.

I think all mental health diagnoses are rooted in developmental trauma, but some are much more extreme than others. Hakomi works well for those who are curious, mindful, and want to understand how they show up in the world more.

Q) When deciding to make this change, what was the easiest to carry out and the most difficult to accomplish…why?
A) When I decided to pursue Hakomi, there was an ease in my motivation. I had such a love and appreciation for the method and excitement for learning it. The harder parts were working with myself during the Hakomi training and certification period. It was a process where I encountered more of my own internal barriers and limiting beliefs as we practiced and learned. Sometimes I wanted to shut down or call it quits, but I also knew in a basic, body-informed way that this was important for me to experience. Being present to my pain and discomfort in a safe container allowed me to grow and develop a more compassionate relationship with myself—and it did.

Q) What would you share with someone who has wanted to explore Hakomi but may be hesitant?
A) I would reassure them that Hakomi is a very gentle process founded on the principle of non-violence. This means that I don’t even impose my agenda on a client! Also, Hakomi is very particular to each client and where they are when they show up at any particular session. I never push clients into anything they don’t want to explore. We take our time and make sure safety is established in our relationship before heading into challenging territory. And even then, we support and explore the defenses—rather than trying to break them down. It is extremely respectful of the client.

Rachael is an Overcomer, and here's why...
Despite the challenges she and her husband experienced, she took this opportunity as a time of empowerment. She established a practice to assist others in facing their defenses. It wasn't convenient. It wasn’t comfortable. It was, however, what she needed to grow into the practitioner she is today and continues to become. I believe we can take a bit of this perspective ourselves and utilize it in our own lives, just like Rachael—be an Overcomer.

For further reading, check out Rachael’s full article here.

Interested in Rachael’s business venture? Click A Midwife for Collective Liberation.

If you're looking for holistic therapy to explore your inner world, start your journey with a therapeutic session today. My practice supports you in processing trauma, deepening your self-awareness, and finding healing with a personalized approach.

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A Midwife of Collective Liberation

Formerly known as Making Space Hakomi

making spaceGrand Rapids MichiganMaking Space HakomiRachael KoesonOVercomerHakomi MethodHolistic Therapy for HealingPersonal Growth and Transformation

Reynelda Jones, LMSW, ADS

Reynelda is the founder of A Solution B. She utilizes traditional talk therapy with proven holistic based techniques to improve women and their families’ dynamic functioning.

http://www.ASolutionB.Com

Overcomer Rachael- Revisited

Read below to find what made Rachael an Overcomer.

Incorporate Healing into Your Daily Life:

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A Midwife of Collective Liberation

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