Everything You Need to Know About Hakomi Therapy
What is Hakomi Therapy?
Hakomi therapy is a mindfulness-based, experiential approach to psychotherapy. Instead of only focusing on talking through problems, Hakomi invites clients to notice what is happening in their body, emotions, and inner experience in the present moment. By slowing down and tuning into these subtle signals, people discover patterns that shape how they see themselves and others.
Developed by Ron Kurtz in the late 1970s, Hakomi blends influences from body psychotherapy, mindfulness, Eastern philosophy, and systems theory. The word Hakomi is derived from a Hopi phrase meaning “Who are you?” or “How do you stand in relation to these many realms?”—a fitting name for a therapy that helps us explore identity and belonging.
How Hakomi Works
Hakomi rests on five core principles:
Mindfulness – slowing down to notice what is happening inside, without judgment.
Nonviolence – honoring defenses rather than pushing past them.
Mind-Body Wholeness – recognizing the connection between thoughts, emotions, and bodily states.
Unity – seeing people as interconnected with others and the world around them.
Organicity – trusting that people already have the capacity to heal within themselves.
In practice, a therapist may invite a client to pause during a story and notice how their shoulders tighten or their breath changes. That bodily response can hold clues to old experiences, unmet needs, or hidden beliefs (“I’m not safe,” “I have to handle things alone,” etc.). Instead of analyzing from a distance, Hakomi encourages gentle experiments in real time—so the client can feel and explore these patterns directly.
What Makes Hakomi Different
Unlike cognitive or purely talk-based therapies, Hakomi is less about solving problems with logic and more about creating a felt sense of discovery. Some key differences:
Experiential over intellectual – insights come from what you feel in the moment.
Gentle pace – there’s no rush; safety and mindfulness are central.
Body-oriented – therapists pay attention to posture, breath, gestures, and tension.
Emotional depth – defenses are respected, then slowly softened when the person feels ready.
Clients often say Hakomi feels less like “working hard” in therapy and more like “being deeply understood” in a space where the body and emotions finally get a voice.
Who Can Benefit from Hakomi?
Hakomi therapy can be useful for a wide range of people, especially those who:
Feel stuck in repeating patterns of behavior or relationships.
Have tried talk therapy but sense something deeper isn’t being reached.
Struggle with anxiety, depression, or self-worth rooted in early experiences.
Carry trauma or attachment wounds that show up in body responses.
Want to integrate mindfulness and personal growth into therapy.
Hakomi has been used with individuals, couples, and groups. Because it is gentle, it can be a good fit for clients who are hesitant to dive into trauma too directly but still want meaningful change.
A Session in Hakomi Therapy: What to Expect
Walking into a Hakomi session may feel familiar at first—you sit with your therapist, perhaps check in about your week. But soon, the therapist may invite you to slow down:
“Can we pause right here and notice what’s happening in your chest as you say that?”
“Would you be willing to stay with that tightness in your throat for a moment?”
These small invitations help you notice hidden beliefs encoded in the body. For example, someone recalling a childhood memory might notice their shoulders curling inward, and with curiosity, discover the belief: “I’m not allowed to take up space.”
From there, the therapist may offer a healing experiment—a mindful moment that challenges the old belief. For instance:
Therapist: “What happens if I say, ‘It’s okay for you to be here fully’?”
Client: (notices tears and a release in the body) “It feels different—like I’m allowed.”
This kind of embodied shift can create lasting change in how people see themselves and relate to others.
How Hakomi Supports Healing
The power of Hakomi lies in how it connects past experiences with present-moment awareness. By gently uncovering core beliefs formed in childhood, clients can release outdated survival strategies and open to new ways of being.
For example:
A client who learned “I can’t trust anyone” may discover safety in the therapeutic relationship.
Someone who believes “I have to be perfect” may experience what it’s like to be accepted as they are.
Because these discoveries are felt in the body, not just understood intellectually, they tend to stick and ripple outward into everyday life.
Hakomi Therapy and Other Modalities
Hakomi overlaps with and complements other therapies, such as:
Somatic Experiencing – both focus on the body, but Hakomi emphasizes mindfulness and meaning-making.
IFS (Internal Family Systems) – both explore parts of the self, though Hakomi does so through body awareness.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy – Hakomi uses mindfulness not just as a coping skill but as a tool for deep exploration.
Many therapists integrate Hakomi into broader approaches, weaving it with attachment work, trauma therapy, or couples counseling.
Limitations of Hakomi
Hakomi may not be the best fit for every situation. For example:
Clients in acute crisis may need more structured, directive approaches.
People who find body awareness uncomfortable at first may need time to adjust.
Insurance coverage for Hakomi-trained therapists can be limited.
That said, for clients ready to explore at a slower, more embodied pace, Hakomi can offer a profoundly transformative path.
Common Questions About Hakomi
Is Hakomi therapy evidence-based?
While not as widely researched as CBT, Hakomi draws from established evidence around mindfulness, attachment, and somatic therapies. Many clients report significant personal change.
How many sessions does it usually take?
It depends on the person. Some notice shifts in a few sessions, while others use Hakomi for deeper, ongoing work.
Can Hakomi be done online?
Yes. Online sessions adapt mindfulness practices effectively, though in-person work may allow for fuller observation of body cues.
Who can benefit most?
Hakomi is particularly helpful for people navigating trauma, attachment wounds, low self-esteem, or repeating relationship patterns.
What training do therapists need?
Hakomi practitioners complete specialized training beyond their clinical licenses. Many are counselors, social workers, or psychologists.
Taking the Next Step with Hakomi Therapy
If you’ve been feeling like traditional talk therapy hasn’t fully reached the core of what’s troubling you, Hakomi might be the approach that helps you uncover the deeper story and build a new one rooted in connection and safety.
