We had the good fortune of connecting with Hanna Chusid and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hanna, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
The level of trustworthy expertise varies tremendously not only between various credentials but also between individual levels of maturity and the degree to which that person has sincerely and seriously undertaken their own integration. Ultimately a healer, therapist or coach can only guide, support,educate or direct someone else to the depths of healing, integration and resilience that that professional has explored and integrated for themselves.You are entitled to question your therapist or prospective therapist about their training, credentials and the extent of their own therapy…and to make sure you feel a connection to them within a fairly short period  of time.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My current expression and offerings as a healer fully integrate positive psychologies, the creative expressive arts, and Jewish and Yogic Wisdom Traditions and practices. My formal education in social work, psychology, and psychotherapy has always paralleled immersions in my own therapy as well as in the expressive arts of theater, visual art, dance.  For a decade or so I also performed as a StoryTeller, rooted in Oral Traditions –multi-culturally; and developed and provided workshops using storytelling to develop metaphorical thinking -toward creativity and flexibility in the fields of therapy education and among clergy as well. Additionally I’ve immersed in Jewish wisdom and practice, and Yogic wisdom and practice. I’ve dedicated myself over decades to weave these disciplines and wisdoms. All these are now integrated aspects of how I engagte with others and the psychotherapy I offer.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Full Day: Breakfast at Follow Your Heart in Canoga Park; Morning walk in Topanga St Park in the Santa Monica Mountains (did you know that of California’s five mountain ranges, this is the only one that runs east-west?); lunch ON the Beach at Back to The Beach Cafe; then on to one of The Getty museums for the art and even more for the View; evening /sunset at Samual Oschin Planetarium for the Show Centered in The Universe; Dinner at Govinda’s in Culver City followed by the 40 minute walk through of the one-of -a kind Bhagavad Gita Museum..a must for any yogi, meditator or spiritual seeker.

I love taking visitors to The Griffith Park Samual Ochin Plantarium to see their show “Centered in The Universe”. I’ve seen it 5 or 6 times and each time it still leaves me in Wonder and Awe. One is given an expansive vista of La form the Plantarium hill top and an expansive view of the Cosmos from the show. I also love sharing both of the Getty patios …for the views of the city or the ocean and the beauty of the architecture and gardens. no trip to LA seems complete without an ocean /beach visit; even with limited time or minimal interest in getting sand between your toes, it is easy to enjoy the beach at Back on The Beach Cafe adjacent to The Annenberg Beachhouse. If my visitor is into nature at all, even short hikes in the Santa Monica Mts. reveals one of the gifts of LA is having real nature so close to urban amenities; I have my favorite parts of The Backbone trail and secret side paths to caves I like to share. I’m a vegetarian for half my life now and like to share LA’s oldest vegetarian restaurant (and store) Follow Your Heart , in Canoga Park. Last but not least, an off-the-beaten-path outing to The Museum of The Bhagavad Gita in /Culver City (3764 Watseka/ (310) 845-9333 / reservations sometimes needed) offers a unique well paced 40 min walk through diorama style exhibition introducing basic yogic philosophy in a storytelling, engaging way.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been in the helping professions, arts, and yoga world since the 1970s. My significant mentors and influences are many. There is a Wisdom Teaching from Jewish psychology ,my roots Tradition that has always inspired me: “Much have I learned from my Masters , and more from my Colleagues than my Masters, and form my Students have I learned the most.” Holding expertise from a place of open minded and open-hearted humility, genuine interest in and curiosity towards the Mystery of the student/client or patient, is a delicate balance and is the basis for respect and creating the safe context essential for healing ,growth and integration- for individual unfolding. If I absolutely was pressed to narrow down the credit I’d honor both my parents who were each unique pioneers in the Human Potential Movement of the 60s and 70s. My father pioneered in holistic career counseling and was an innovator in pairing seasoned psychologists with seasoned manager “coaches” to provide career and live coaching to high achievers. My mother pioneered in the full range of somatic-based therapies. Both of them exemplified the principles of what we now call Positive Psychology and I had a front row seat, open window and hands on exposure to these evolving fields.

Website: www.drhannachusid.com

Instagram: hannachusid

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drhannachusid/

Twitter: deleted my sitvimeo

Other: https://vimeo.com/drhanna

Image Credits
i have the rights one of them was photographed by Robert Sturman..the one with my hands in prayer pose….i have the rights all the rest are my own photography or a freind

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