According to public surveys, the number of Americans who used at least one form of alternative therapy during the year doubled between 1990 and 1997 studies. The proliferation of ads and websites with "guarantees", "miracle cures" and new modalities following the rise in holistic trends is enough to confuse, if not discourage, even the most knowledgeable consumers. While this article generally focuses on energy healing therapy, I hope the information will be helpful for anyone attempting to negotiate the growing maze of holistic care.
Overview of Energy Healing Modalities
Energy related modalities include a diverse array of techniques ranging from the more widely researched acupuncture and therapeutic touch to many newer and lesser known therapies.
An effective way to proceed is to look at some commonalties and then evaluate therapeutic choices from a set of personal parameters.
All energy related modalities work from a fundamental concept that the body contains and is surrounded by electromagnetic fields and energy centers which make up an individual’s "energy body". Although this energy body is no more visible to many of us than the wind is visible to our eyes, science and medical research are beginning to document that it is an integral part of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being.
A second commonality is the principle that our health and well being at all levels can be positively affected by working with various aspects of the body’s energy system. Because elements of our energy body correspond directly to the physical body’s systems and organs, body chemistry and physiology can be altered to improve or dispel physical, mental or emotional disturbances at their root causes.
Another commonality, (perhaps as frustrating as it may be reassuring for the consumer), is that energy therapies, as well as other holistic medical systems, bodywork, mind-body interventions, etc. DO work for thousands of people of all walks of life. So a question is "Why didn’t a specific therapy work for me when it changed my best friend’s life?" Unfortunately, this question is no easier to answer than "Why did I have no success, or worse yet, have adverse effects, with a particular traditional medical treatment when others seemed pleased with their results?" The basic answer that we are all unique individuals does little to resolve the dilemma. The following, however, may provide some practical guidelines and help to stimulate each individual’s inherent inner wisdom.
Choosing An Energy Modality
The first things to examine in choosing any holistic care are your personal goals, expectations and the nature of your belief system. As individual expressions of a greater whole, we each contribute to the world with our own unique purposes and pathways. For some, this includes exploring and expanding subtle aspects of their energy bodies and spirituality and for others maintaining physical health, relaxation and harmonious relationships. Therefore, a beneficial approach is to clarify our intents and choose a focus that matches our goals in the moment.
Begin by objectively looking at your life and identify where any imbalances are showing up. Are these primarily manifested as recurring or persistent ailments, chronic disease or physical or emotional stress? How are your relationships with your family, co-workers and friends? Do you have a longing to slow down and connect more with your spiritual self? Do you enjoy exploring your psychological self, mind-body connections, non-mainstream or "new age" concepts, or would you rather just feel better and not know right now what makes you tick? Are you intuitive and sensitive to energies, knowing without a doubt that the energy body is real, or do you believe that health is attained through working only with the physical body? Answers to these types of questions are good starting points in choosing an appropriate approach for your immediate needs.
When you have determined where imbalance is manifesting, set a priority and then establish an intent to correct this imbalance with ease in the manner that is best for you now. At this point, don’t worry how this will be accomplished, and keep your expectations open. My personal life and observation of clients and friends have demonstrated that there definitely is an energy that follows clearly defined intent whether we are aware of it or not. Through the simple act of consciously choosing and stating our heart’s desire, a way is shown. We need only to stay open to recognizing the many way in which this can occur.
Although it may be difficult at first, trust in the synchronicity or "coincidences" that appear in your life. Pay attention to any vague feelings of unease, resistance, persistent thoughts, or of being drawn to a particular person or place. And again, keep your expectations open. Major improvements in my life very often have occurred when investigation of one avenue led unexpectedly to another that I hadn’t considered. If something repeatedly comes to your awareness, if you feel strongly drawn to a person or modality, or if you inexplicably keep putting something off for no apparent reason, these are strong indicators of the universal energies assisting with your intents.
Most importantly, look to your knowing through the feelings within yourself and don’t be misled by vague ads that play on our mental and emotional desires for guaranteed miracle cures or the "perfect" body with no effort. While miracles DO occur every day, change requires readiness, timing and commitment on our part.
Choosing Practitioners
It is not unusual for the appropriate therapist to appear at the same time we are drawn to a particular modality. If this doesn’t happen, the following are some considerations for evaluating potential practitioners:
Compatibility
Client-practitioner compatibility is key to our success with any modality. Regardless of a therapist’s training or competence, results will be hindered if you are not comfortable both in their presence and with their philosophies. I have come to believe strongly that all energy modalities, as well as many therapeutic approaches not typically classified as "energy work", can accomplish the same outcomes. The major distinguishing factors between them are the terminology and processes used. With energy work, these will range from relaxing healing touch or a bodywork focus to a variety of interactive mind-body explorations using a diverse set of terminologies and techniques . Be candid with a potential therapist and ask if techniques used in their modalities can be applied in a way that is compatible with your belief systems and goals.
Professionalism
Most well trained practitioners will have a high degree of professionalism and integrity, maintain confidentiality, candidly answer your questions, work with your identified goals, and provide follow-up support. If you happen to encounter someone who seems defensive or impatient with your questions, seems too pushy or over-enthusiastic about "guaranteed" results, or insists that an exorbitant pre-determined number of visits are required for success, it is best to be wary. This, however, is rare and I encourage you to not judge an entire modality on the basis of a questionable experience with one therapist.
Training
The diversity of modalities and training procedures that exist today make it impossible to adequately evaluate an energy therapist by traditional standards. Acupuncture and modalities using physical body manipulation techniques require degreed or extensive certification programs and may be regulated through state licensure.
Many effective modalities, however, are legitimately passed on through energy "attunements" and studies with individual instructors or "master teachers". Depending upon the techniques involved, training may range from a single day workshop to several levels of study. If you feel drawn to a modality and wish to investigate training, the best approach is to ask about the standard for that modality as well as the breadth of the practitioners other training and evaluate within this framework.
Also, it is important to consider that energy modalities, especially those involving therapeutic touch (Healing Touch, Reiki, Divine Intervention, etc.) require that the therapist work from a heart-centered space without judgment, ego and pre-conceived expectation. Development of this ability is an ongoing process and requires that the therapist do extensive personal work outside of official training. In many instances, a powerful indicator of integrity and ability is the degree to which a therapist maintains their personal work and regularly examines their own issues and balances.
Ultimately, you must ask: How comfortable do you feel with this person? Are they willing to work with your goals and your personal levels of comfort and receptiveness? Are they honest with you to the best of their ability? And do they strive to empower you to develop your own personal knowing and self-healing abilities? If the answers to these questions are "yes", you probably have a compatible working relationship.
A Question of Time
The increasing pace of our lives, ever faster technology and the symptom masking approach of much of the medical system all encourage us to impatiently demand instant gratification. Because holistic approaches address the root cause of disturbances and boost the body’s performance of its own inherent healing abilities, we must accept that these can at times take longer than masking symptoms.
While energy or bodywork can provide rapid relief of stress and other conditions, it is important to realize that these conditions may recur as long as the layers of underlying factors and triggers causing them continue to exist or recur. Chronic illness and lifelong patterns did not develop overnight. While immediate benefits can be noticed, deeper resolution to serious, chronic and recurring conditions can take some time.
Another important factor to consider is that energy and bodywork is cumulative. An initial period of regular sessions build on each other and can help us quickly reach a point where our bodies and energy fields can more easily maintain a balanced state for longer periods of time.
Your goals and the nature of your conditions are important factors in determining the selection, extent and success of any therapy.
About the Author
Carrie Laymon is the owner of PathFinder, a holistic care practice that uses multiple energy healing techniques and individualized approaches to achieve health, balance and abundance for people and pets. Techniques include Healing Touch, Reiki, Access Energy Transformation, Magnified Healing, flower essences, and higher dimensional lightbody work. She also provides guidance, educational resources and holistic care consultation to facilitate personal empowerment and self-healing.
