In Touch: Therapy For Mind And Body

Dr. Annette BoVee-Akyurek is a physical therapist and psychotherapist specializing in therapy for the mind and body from an integrative perspective. Annette has over 30 years experience working as a facilitator to clients in a collaborative manner to enhance physical, emotional, and psychosocial well-being with children and adults. She assists clients in drawing from their internal resources in movement towards change. Annette works as a facilitator to clients in their own natural self-corrected process, and utilizes her intuitive spiritual influence. She brings forth a unique multi-cultural and diverse perspective from her experiences of living in Germany and in Istanbul, Turkey.

Annette utilizes a variety of techniques working towards individual's goals with emphasis on increasing joy in stillness, work, and play. As a psychotherapist Annette specializes in stress related disorders, anxiety, grief, trauma, couple and family therapy, relationship issues, parapsychology (extrasensory perception), self-esteem issues, aspects of sport psychology, addiction, and preventative health care in self-awareness towards wellness. Annette utilizes a family therapy systemic and relational approach to explore all that influences an individual's present state of being. An attempt to explore needs, shift patterns, and work towards solutions collaboratively is valued from a non-diagnostic perspective. She also incorporates solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) and Ericksonian hypnotherapy approaches. Hypnotherapy is a tool to assist in facilitation of the subconscious and internal awareness that can be useful in inner exploration, aiding in automatic changes.

As a physical therapist she specializes in chronic pain issues (including neck/ back pain, fibromyalgia, TMJ issues), gastrointestinal disorders, cardiac issues, neurological issues, and pre-/post-natal care. Annette primarily utilizes craniosacral therapy in physical therapy sessions: a manipulation and mobilization technique to improve musculoskeletal dysfunction, improve brain and spinal cord function, reduce accumulated stress, and enhance wellness. She also incorporates other adjunct therapies including muscle energy, NDT (neurodevelopmental treatment), general exercises provided as a home exercise program, aspects of meditation/mindfulness, educational kinesiology (to enhance holistic learning, centering, and relaxation), and esoteric healing with use of chakras.

Annette has a Ph.D. in family therapy (MFT), is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), national certified counselor (NCC), licensed physical therapist (PT), and an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) approved supervisor. She is an advanced practitioner of craniosacral therapy (CST) and somatoemotional release (SER), she is NDT certified, and certified in hypnotherapy. Annette has instructed classes in awareness of inner healing ability, meditation, self-hypnosis, introduction to CST/chakra balance, alternatives in psychotherapy, and self-care. She is an adjunct professor and practicum supervisor for students of psychotherapy at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). She has worked as a visiting professor at University of Miami for physical therapy students, and at Istanbul Teknik University providing a course in wellness. Annette has presented at several conferences in areas of psychotherapy, and in integration of therapy for the mind and body.