IT'S TIME TO MEET

I am a traveller, a pilgrim of space and time. When I journey with you, sometimes I act as your guide, but more often I am a seasoned companion: I walk with you through sunlit meadows and shadowy woods, I sit with you by the sea or at the bottom of a well; I listen, I converse, and I am present with you in the silence. I believe that harm occurs within a relational space, and thus healing must take place through reconnecting with others.

As I work with the subconscious symbols and metaphors are my language. When you browse through my page it's not just the words communicating with you but the deep meaning of the beautiful photography.

I am Keira Lee-Botos, integrative hypnotherapist, psychodrama director, spiritual counsellor, and restorative relationship-building practitioner. I work with individuals and groups, conduct travelling retreats, and facilitate conflict-resolution meetings (circles). My practice is a reflection of my complex journey of healing, meditation, and learning.

Besides my private practice, I work in the youth criminal justice system where I support victims of crime and mediate between the harmer and those who are harmed. I sit on the Restorative Justice Council’s board of trustees.

I am registered with the Restorative Justice Council as an advanced restorative practitioner, with the UKCP as a trainee psychotherapist, with the British Psychodrama Association as a psychodrama practitioner in transition, with the National College of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy and the General Hypnotherapy Register as a hypnotherapist.

My first master's degree was in the humanities – Literature, Linguistics, and Teaching, providing me with a broad cultural and philosophical perspective. I taught in secondary education but in an alternative setting – a school for young people who had dropped out of state education for various reasons. I learnt that societal expectations offer a very narrow path for students (and indeed, for any members of our modern societies), and thus, in many cases, success requires that we abandon our unique personalities very early on. As a Restorative Justice practitioner, my primary role was to support students and staff in preventing and managing conflict better, ensuring that everyone could have a voice, responsibility, and authority to own their stories and experiences. My training was provided by the International Institute of Restorative Practices. (Later I was also trained by various training organisations registered with the Restorative Justice Council, UK.)

By this time, I was already co-running contemplative (meditation) and healing retreats, with a focus on inner subconscious work. We realised the importance of providing a balanced approach where spirituality and psychology could embrace each other and address the issues that needed attention first.

I received further training and subsequently used the scripts of The Journey by Brandon Bays as a regressive, hypnotic tool to address past scars and broken relationships. I also trained in the Jesuit Ignatian contemplative programme and taught and led meditation sessions. I acquired another master’s degree on the go: in Theology. Although I have a strong base and a good understanding of Christian spirituality, I have a much broader existential view now and many other segments have been built into my approach. I work with religious trauma and attend to the deep scars religion can leave on an individual.

I continued my studies with integrative hypnotherapy, psychodrama and integrative group therapy as I wanted to understand "the science behind" my practices. I also wanted to ensure that I was cognitively aware of safe practice (not just intuitively) and that my work was evidence-based. Looking back, it is wonderful how both one-to-one and group work followed me through, and I was studying these two modalities side by side. I completed training with the Integrative Psychotherapy Association, the National College for Hypnosis and Psychotherapy and the Hungarian Psychodrama Association.

I also trained as a yoga therapist (Himalayan Yoga) and studied yoga philosophy, although I did not complete the three-year course.

My spiritual roots lie in Christian mysticism and yoga philosophy, but if I could choose my tradition, I would wish to travel back in time and learn the ancient Egyptian way. Sadly, little remains for us to explore, but what still exists fascinates and interests me deeply.

When I describe my therapeutic work as integrative, what I mean is that I use various approaches and techniques during my sessions. For more information on this, you can find more content on my website.

As a result, one of my specialities is viewing an individual as a whole, where the scars of the personality need a psychotherapeutic approach while blocks or challenges in the spiritual realm are addressed more existentially – connecting to your source, the Source, to find your unique answers.

MY JOURNEY

THE SYNERGY CIRCLE

Synergy is an interaction or cooperation giving rise to a whole that is greater than the simple sum of its parts. The term "synergy" originates from the Greek word "synergia" (συνεργία) derived from "synergos" (συνεργός), meaning "working together."

I believe in connection. I believe that through repairing relationships, being together, and fostering connection, the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. In my book, this rings true when you and I walk together through your healing or spiritual journey. It holds true when people reconcile, reconnect after a conflict or relationship breakdown, and build something greater. It's evident when we engage in parts work and assist you in connecting with your various aspects, becoming a more balanced and integrated person. As a matter of fact, I also perceive the world around us as a collection of various parts dividing and merging; connection (or the lack thereof) permeates everything.

A circle is a continuous curved line which is always the same distance from the centre. It is a simple yet perfect shape with various symbolic meanings across different cultures.

Throughout the world, the circle symbolizes infinity, unity, the life cycle, wholeness, completion, and divinity. It represents the Self, totality, eternity, timelessness, and all cyclic movement. It embodies God: "God is a circle whose centre is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere" (Hermes Trismegistus). The circle conveys the idea of movement and symbolizes the cycle of time, the perpetual motion of everything, including the planets' orbit around the sun (the zodiac circle), and the grand rhythm of the universe. Additionally, the circle is zero in our numerical system, symbolizing potential or the embryo. It holds magical value as a protective agent and signifies the culmination of the individuation process, striving towards psychic wholeness and self-realization.

Moreover, the circle is a beautiful and practical concept for community building. Restorative circles trace their origins to indigenous societies worldwide. They tap into our innate communal nature and our yearning for positive relationships with others. In a circle, each individual is valued for their knowledge and unique contributions, ensuring that no one is regarded as expendable. The practice of circling preserves the wholeness and reciprocity of communities. Furthermore, circles encourage responsibility and accountability among individuals and the broader community, while also providing a space for healing, forgiveness, and attentive listening.

The Synergy Circle is my special space for you for listening, gathering, healing, repairing and recognising the value of inner parts just as we recognise the value of each member of our community.