There is a new and surprising supporter of complementary and alternative medicine − the United States military.
Working with soldiers can be challenging – especially since we are often not familiar with their environment.
After getting countless emails we realized this video has touched many people, and so we wanted to repost it.
And actually, to our surprise – it’s been viewed by some pretty “high-ups” in the military.
In it, Belleruth Naparstek, LISW, shares a story about how she worked with 1st Sergeant Dave Rauls to create a guided imagery introduction that military personnel really get. I think you’ll be surprised by the ending.
If you have a soldier in your practice, or in your life, you think would benefit from this video, you can share it by sending them this link:
We’ll talk a whole lot more about guided imagery and the mind-body medicine approach to trauma in our Rethinking Trauma Webinar Series.
We had a great discussion around this video the first time we released it. Now we want to hear from you. Please share your thoughts with a comment below.
That was great.. there have been a few veterans that I wish i had this to work with .. Is there a video that goes with the imagery.. i use Bellruths cd’s often and this by far has been the best
Excellent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just too great. I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it smart. I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is really a wonderful site.
Great tool where can you get the information that would work for someone who has not had a military back ground?
I have been married to a ex-Marine for many years. He was in the Vietnam war and the effects of that time influence our lives together. I think Dave’s introduction would be very useful. It would definitely be something he would relate to. The initial connection has to be made for the individual to decide if he will engage with the information or not. How do I get a copy of this CD?
Thank you for taking the time and being willing to change the CD so it would reach more soldiers. I have found your CD’s personaly very useful.
Ruth, thanks for mentioning that you have a late partner – warm thoughts.
This is so exceptional. I am hoping that you will keep this web site available for a long time. I would like to share it with clients and colleagues working with the military. There is nothing I’ve seen that is as poignant for learning about the military culture as well as learning how to do Guided Imagery!. Thank you very much. Linda
ps Please let me know if the web site will be avaiilable in July 2012. I will be giving a presentation in Michigan for the Institute of Trauma and Loss in Children and they are developing a military curriculum for their online courses. I would like to introduce this web site and your organization in my presentation, if possible.
We will leave this blog post and video up, Linda. Go ahead and use it in your presentation.
Ruth
Wish i could have known that the husband of my friend , who has been strugging for years with his Viet Nam experiences that left him in a wheel chair, , could have used this Guided Imagery. He recently killed himself. Leaving a very sad and mystified wife and very senior mother behind. Sincerely;, Elizabeth
It essentially boils down to Milton Erickson’s “yes-set”. Start where the patient is, instead of expecting the patient to catch up with the therapist!
So this is another testament that no matter how “good” therapists we are, the peer group is the most powerful for many people. It is also notable how calm and soothing his voice becomes at the end, He had to work through his angst! Thank you for sharing this.
Awesome! Dave was exactly right-you need to start where there are. For a “civilian” that’s hard to even realize where these people are.
Thank you!
This is so necessary. I would like to use this with the military people I am working with. Currently I am teaching Yoga Nidra proceeded by sensory based yoga. Please see my website Soldiers-Hope.org more info on the program here in NY. This guided imagery would be a welcome addition to the Soldiers Hope, Inc. toolbox. Please contact me so we can discuss how this can be accomplished. Thank you.
As MSW student and veteran, I believe I will greatly benefit from this web site as I continue my career in the field of Social Work to help veterans who return from war and suffer from PTSD. This web site appears to be loaded with information that is most beneficial for both soldiers as well as professionals seeking additional tools for treating PTSD. Thank you! Evie
This is a wonderfully tailored introduction that speaks to the hearts and minds and spirits of those military personnel who are struggling internally!!! I can think of several people I’d recommend get this resource.
I work at a Vet Center with Combat Vets and would like to use this in my OIF/OEF Group. Can I down load it? I have several of Belleruth’s Relaxation CD’s to use with it. Thanks.
Telling service-members how it is in a language they resonate with is the gateway to healing. When we use too much “woo-woo” language, soldiers/veterans feel its too sensitive. Remeber, the military doesn’t issue emotions, therefore, we don’t have them….except, we do. When we feel that we are not suppose to have emotions/feelings, they come out sideways in unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drugs, alcohol, violence and suicide. Providing healthy tools to manage PTSD is the key to empower us to manage symptoms and gives hope. Doing so, helps us reconnect to ourselves, our family/friends and our community.
I urge all providers/practitioners to understand military culture if you work with or are inspire to work with veterans. I assure you it makes a real difference. Based on my experience, meeting veterans where we are will make healing modalities accessible. Too much “touchy feeling” is a turn off. Just enough will open the door to our wellness. We all want to tools to help ourselves. Doing so is engrained in us through our military training.
Well done, 1st Rauls!
I think this is a good example of what has been my lodestar through out the years. When you work with traumatized persons you’ve got the expert just i front of you.
I’m impressed with the openness of the military to use complementary medicine approaches especially for stress and PTSD. They are also using acupuncture! They are way ahead of our mainstream medicine!
Finally what many have been banging on about for years – the research shows it is true – we can assist reality with guided imagery – thank you Belleruth xx
WOW!!!!! AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To Belleruth and Dave… a sincere ‘THANK YOU’!!!!!!!!!!
Ruth: I find your blog very interesting and it is one my favorites. I do not comment very often. For the listeners, I am a post- Vietnam Marine Veteran. A short time ago I was in a graduate program for Community Counseling. I had two A’s, two B’s and an F in counseling. The F was not for doing the work but because I was not thought of being a good Rogerian. Maybe it was because I was a little older then most of the candidates or there was a prejudice of me being a Marine Veteran or that I made it known I am a Thought Field Therapy Therapist. Cannot prove it but felt it.
In regards to this guided imagery, it is an example of why most therapist who do not practice Thought Field Therapy (TFT) or Emotional Field Therapy (EFT) or have not been in the military find so interesting. It is a good example why most non energy therapies do not work or cause more harm by the stress of bringing up the past like CBT, EMDR, etc. One might think that this will bring the therapist, who cares, closer to the client/patient. It may be premature on my part but I do not think so. The many therapist’s who try to help the Veteran find out the Veteran will not let them in. It is unfortunate but the Veteran’s do not trust the white coats. I hear this time and time again from Veterans who I work with. Maybe some day this will change. I certainly hope so because there are so many Veterans and their families who need assistance.
Dr. Baker, I am not sure if you were implying TFT or EFT are woo therapies. You have a great woo therapy discovered Down Under called the Bowen Technique. I would suggest you read a recent paper written by Dr Feinastein -‘Acuppoint Stimulation in Treating Psychological Disorders:Evidence of Efficacy’. Dr. Feinstein is recent convert to EFT, in the last five years or so. Although it is an on line Abstract, I cannot wait to read the whole report.
All of my work is probono have to go to work now and pay for it.
Be Well,Semper Fi,
Michael
Your point is well taken. Dr Chas Hogue’s big survey of thousands of Soldiers found that the biggest barrier to tx wasn’t stigma but distrust of mental health professionals, for the kinds of reasons you state.
Tapping and other energy therapies are an excellent, user-friendly, efficacious and rapid way of improving symptoms and sometimes getting rid of them altogether. There’s no one silver bullet – we need lots of tools in the toolkit.
Thiiknng like that is really amazing
Dear Karen, I’m praying as I type and will cntnioue to pray throughout your journey for your health, healing and highest good, and for the betterment of all beings. You are an inspiration to all of us! Your images and approaches to the health care system will serve you well. If I can ever be of any help to you, please know that I worked in hospitals for 17+ years and can attest that they are filled with scores of very dedicated, kind, compassionate and talented healers. Good for you for forming your requests of them. It takes courage to enter into that foreign country , and bolstering your mind, body and spirit before your travels is so wise. Thank you for sharing your inner and outer journey, it is so kind and generous of you.Be well, my friend!Love,Mary
Although I have not gone to war like this soldier, I can relate to what he said. I am certified in InterActive Guided Imagery by Dr. Martin Rossman MD… and when I went through the years of custody battle and legal abuse, Guided Imagery drove me NUTS. My doctor said that I have a breach between body and mind. I was in so much pain when the court gave my kids to the father who abused them and who had raped other children. Nothing seemed to reach me at that time. When I listened to imagery, I would relax… then all of sudden find myself doing the dishes. It took many years of work to get back to “normal.”
It’s sometimes easy for therapists who have not gone through such trauma to say, “Just do this or that…” It’s a whole new ball game when you are deep in the trenches, whether physically and emotionally.
It eventually helped me be a much better practitioner/doctor.
Excellent. I work in hospice and we are working with the VA to honor vets and families. Having something like this to use for patients and families could be the difference between healing and connection needed to allow for a peaceful passing and a peaceful legacy for those left behind and unnecessary suffering. Thank you
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I loved this different approach, kind of tailor made to suit the temperaments of soldiers. Perhaps something could be tailor made to suit other groups ie. so called rebellious teens.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I was deeply moved by the compassion that comes through that Drill Sargent Dave!
I also appreciate that his voice gradually moved toward the pacing and softer tone of guided relaxation exercises. I like his suggestiont to meet the person (soldier) where they are rather than expecting them to jump so far to la la land.
As much as I do appreciate this video, I need to express two objections. The first is that the title on this you tube video includes the words PTSD. Many soldiers and others object to that final “d,” and prefer to refer to what they have as PTS. As Dave said how the brain and body have responded are completely normal reactions to the extreme stress and trauma that our soldiers have experienced.
The only issue I take with what Dave said is telling soldiers that they “may HAVE TO take medications for the rest of their life.” Increasingly for 30 years our country has acted on the misinformation given to us by Big Pharma designed to increase their profits. Despite what “experts” have been saying all this time the evidence does not bare out the results. I am all in favor of choice, and if medication is working for you, God bless. But the idea that people “have to” take medication is not true. Neither is the underlying assumption true that those who accept and comply with such advise, are better off. There are better alternatives and there will be a whole lot more helpful choices once people stop being told that medication is what they “have to” do.
Good point about the medication.
It is good to note that Dave does go on to say that he himself ‘threw out the old pillbox” and that he’s sure his liver is grateful for it.
I agree – the D in PTSD should have been lobbed off years ago, In this, the DoD is way ahead of the VA. There’s a big debate going on about this very thing, even as we speak. Hats off to Gen (Ret) Chiarelli for making that recommendation to change the name to PTSI or posttraumatic stress injury, and to Frank Ochberg for setting up this website.
A New World Order is unfolding, and America is the military center of that New World Order. The America you and I knew and loved is vanishing. This may not be nice – or pleasant. But it IS our future, and it IS a world in which healing skills are needed more than ever. Thank you Ruth for simply and unquestioningly supporting the doing of what needs to be done. Thanks to NICABM for building a unique and very trustworthy bridge that can convey us, if we wish, from our liberal preferences, to a life of service in a world that did not turn out as we wished and expected.
Pardon my old-fashioned expression: God Bless you!
Great approach to a difficult client group. I’m from a military family and understand that lifestyle. My work also takes me into contact with ex soldiers and I’m looking forward to approaching them differently.
A point of interest from my cohort (65+ males/females) is that accumulated personal trauma exacerbated by natural trauma (I work in Far North Queensland, lots of cyclones and floods here) requires a broader range of CBT tools: we have a Trauma Focus bolted onto the CBT suite and are currently evaluating their efficasy – guided imagery is one, mindfulness, EMDR, Graded exposure, Safety in the Transference and clinical understanding of counter-transference are some that we use.
As a clinician I’d appreciate further information on any future developments; I’ll pass this clip onto our team!
Joan, Kelly, and Bonnie,Thank you for your get-well wishes and iunfghtisl comments. I am continuing along in my healing, and if you’d like to see the emotional part of my blog, its available at I agree with you, Joan, that its very important that we recognize how important our defense mechanisms are. They’re there because at least at one point in our lives, they were very functional. Often, when they no longer work well, we recognize them and work to change them. And as our teacher Ilana so often reminded us, Awareness is the first step to change. Until we catch ourselves in the act (with or without the support of friends, family or therapist) we can’t change.Happy summer to you all,StephanieStephanie Smythe recently posted..
This video was absolutely amazing. This is multicultural trauma treatment at its best. I appreciate the idea of speaking to people using their language and culture. And what better way to engage someone then to have a representative from that culture speak for the power of therapy. Well done!
Dear KarenYou have been in my thoughts a lot rentlecy. My pregnancy ended up being an ectopic that had to be removed with surgery. I am so grateful for all my friends and family. It sounds as if you are in the midst of wonderful friends and family as well that will help speed you through recovery and support you during your journey. For that we are all grateful. You will remain in my thoughts and prayers.a0Regarding comedies; although not a classic my husband and I think the tv series Arrested Development is hysterical. If you are interested I can lend you our copy. One caveat, while belly laughing may be good for the soul, I have found a0it is quite painful after abdominal surgery. Just putting that out there.a0Much love to you and your familyJill, Jed and Adelaide
Great work on finding this method that works for PTSD. I understand that EFT (Tapping) has been endorsed by the psychological community & being used in some VA hospitals for PTSD. It is another mind-body treatment but not mentioned above as one of them. Any comment on the acceptance of this method by Ruth, Belleruth, or other professionals involved in treating vets for PTSD or other persons in the general population.
I too have found EFT and other tapping techniques to be very well suited to remediate PTS symptoms, and hope to see it used more, in spite of some longtime resistance in the V.A. to using anything that isn’t prolonged exposure or acceptance and commitment therapy. Fortunately, the top leadership in the V.A. is encouraging innovation and the fast-tracking of new interventions, and is working its way around a fairly obdurate middle management research hegemony that’s been resistant up til now. Thank you, Secretary Shinseki and keep up the good work, I say!
p.s.
There have been very promising findings with combining Healing Touch with guided imagery for PTS symptoms, and Chaplain Terry Sparks at the Oklahoma City VA is now spearheading a new program using those techniques together.
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I was very impressed by this video and I am gratefull for the new insights it gave me. Kind Regards, Myrna trost
I know from my own experience listening to various Guided Imagery that the person’s voice can make a big difference to me staying with it. I have used Guided Imagery every now and then as a different way to relax, not because of trauma. Interestingly, I could listen to the soldier’s voice and noticed toward the end of the introduction, his voice softens and, I guess, is the transition into the relaxing imagery. I find though for myself that I do get irritated by some voices, so it is interesting.
Well done to the soldier that did the introduction and I am sure his voice will assist many people.
Thank you.
I did a search on Belleruth Naparstek…found her site, but did not find a specific offering that had this military introduction to it. How is she presenting this to the military clients? Does one show this video first, then play the PTSD CD?
Thanks for your speedy response.
Cynthia,
The intro is audio (Ruth put together this brilliant video, adding the visuals for the purposes of this public info piece). The audio track appears on our Mind-Body Exercises for Self-Mastery and you can find it here.
Additionally, you can find Dave’s intro by itself on iTunes under his name: Dave Rauls.
Dave’s intro can be used in front of any guided imagery intervention – (…except maybe the one for sleep! It’s not very soporific!! 🙂 ). Often we start listeners out with the Self-Mastery, Healthful Sleep or Relaxation & Wellness. Ease Grief is also a fairly well used program, as is Anger & Forgiveness. We don’t usually start out with Healing Trauma (PTS) because it’s so intense and evocative, and generally it’s better for people to work up to it. It’s our most powerful imagery but will sometimes trigger people if introduced too early, before self-regulation skills are in place.
But as Ruth is also quick to say, we did not offer this material to promote sales, but to promote ideas and conversation on this urgent topic of how to best help our service members and veterans at this critical time; and of course any group whose subculture is somewhat different from our own. Thanks for your interest!
Belleruth
I waited over a month berofe I had my masectomy and I was nervous at first, but had the same assurances, and it did give me a chance to calm down my nervousness about it and get into awesome physical shape. I looked at it more as an athletic conquest running a marathon for example, so I did the elliptical, drank green drinks, etc. to get ready.I also love your ideas about the hospital to this day I cringe and get upset when I have to go I’m going to try that!! Luck, love, laughter and longevity! Lori
My son returned, after 2 tours to Iraq, with PTS (I purposefully left off the D) and, after being raised by me (and having been hypnotized many times) was unable to understand why his friends couldn’t deal with the PTSD and were being put out of the military on a medical discharge. He has gotten out of the Air Force to go back to school, majoring in Psychology, minoring in Military Science.
I was, also, raised in a military environment and married a military man, where I lived the married military life for over 12 years…so I’m very familiar with the members of this culture.
I LOVE this video and have forwarded a copy to my son, and asked him to send a copy on to his friends. I know he will LOVE it…and I completely understand why the soldiers will embrace it. Wonderful.
Very useful! As a participating therapist for the Soldier’s Project I appreciate knowing this.
Is it possible to get a copy as a CD or MP3?
It’s called Mind-Body Exercises for Self-Mastery and you can find it here.
Additionally, you can find Dave’s intro by itself on iTunes under his name: Dave Rauls.
But as Ruth is also quick to say, we did not offer this material to promote sales, but to promote ideas and conversation on this urgent topic of how to best help our service members and veterans at this critical time; and of course any group whose subculture is somewhat different from our own. Thanks for your interest!
Belleruth
Thank you , God for helping us to be open everyday. Thank you for My father shot in the Phillippines, for my mom’s bravery, for Belleruth and all my mentors who can show love thru strength and tenderness and tenacity. Thank yo to all my survivors I have treated and learned from. Thank you God and bless my husband the most patient and loving soldier who walks with me. Bless the internet and this awesome way to share and learn and heal. Kitty
Karen,thanks for that lovely uatpde. Sept. 14 is an auspicious day in our family as it is my husband’s birthday so it is special and I know it will be for you. Know that I will be thinking of you and sending healing energy. When I was going through chemo one of the things that I did was visualize the drugs working and I was encouraged to come up with an image that was vibrant for me. As a theatre person I know you will appreciate this I visualized the Nutcracker (in the person of Mikhail Baryshnikov of course) doing battle with the Mouse King. Elegant, choreographed battle, that was what I needed. That was nearly 21 years ago so it must have worked. I know your imagery will help you sustain and we are all there for you. much love and light pat
As the daughter of a marine who fought on Iwo Jima and then shared his PTSD with his children, I was brought to tears with thoughts of how this might have helped my father and his family.
The marine narrator would not have been good for me, but as a female with a receiving body and brain, I have second order effects of war – best language I can come up with. I can’t begin to describe the viruses that were installed in my female brain as a very young child with no language or folks to talk with about how it was to live with a war veteran.
As an aside – The best thing for me has been BrainState Conditioning developed by Lee Gerdes. It balances brain waves, so the brain can release trapped subconscious beliefs adopted from previous traumas in a person’s life. Lee says that the way female brains are made shows that females are more at risk for developing PTSD – females should be barred from combat and let us remember they bear children’s developing brains if they become pregnant after going through combat – even more important to keep females out of the service. Sorry about getting a little off track here.
I use and have used several of Belleruth’s CDs, including the original PTSD, Depression, Grief, Stress Hardiness, Anxiety and have recommended her CDs to many others. I find them so VERY helpful as I take time to center. I use them as resource to get back to a state of relaxation for an hour most afternoons.
Many thanks to Belleruth for her development of guided imagery CDs! And to Ruth for putting on these telecalls to educate more people about the effects of trauma on a person’s life!
As an acupressurist, I have learned that using mind-body therapy works much better than just talk therapy at releasing trauma and overcoming or lessening the effects of PTSD. I am very interested in hearing more about what you are doing. During the acupressure treatments, I sometimes use guided imagery as well.
Culturalize interventions, embed it (even not in battle camp) is a hard-headed empathy. I’m sure it takes a hard-heart to because it demands from us to feel the feeling… real compassion. Just for brave ones! A mutual intervention, really! Thanks for the share!
As a writer in spirituality and science I am writing about the connectedness of all of us and the complexity of who we are and what we need to know to deal with the sorts of problems that come our way. This sort of thing (starting where they are) is so important and so not accepted by the medical staff that I have to deal with. New science is proposing that the universe is much different that we were taught. Some of the New Spirituality is also breaking down the chains of thought in most religious groups and assuming some of the same things as the new science (our original, founding assumptions were too simplistic). Because of my career, where I helped move new science into new practice I was always dealing with those who saw the world, and the assumptions that we use, in new ways, then trying to get those who were present experts in their fields to accept that they would have to look at things differently. This was and is a very difficult challenge because experts do not like to see themselves as anywhere except at the front.
The problem with knowing it all yesterday is that, if you are given the chance to learn something new today you have to turn it down. To learn something new would mean that you did not know it all yesterday and such a concept is too emotionally devastating to even consider.
I think that your soldier was a brave man indeed!
How do we get a copy of this guided imagery CD?
Perri, It’s called Mind-Body Exercises for Self-Mastery and you can find it here.
Additionally, you can find Dave’s intro by itself on iTunes under his name: Dave Rauls.
But as Ruth is also quick to say, we did not offer this material to promote sales, but to promote ideas and conversation on this urgent topic of how to best help our service members and veterans at this critical time; and of course any group whose subculture is somewhat different from our own. Thanks for your interest!
Belleruth
This is an answer to a question that has haunted me for over 20 years. I did an internship in an outpatient counseling center on a military base and found exactly what Dave said to be true. Our techniques that are useful with so many others do not work with this population. I was laughed out of the group room by a group of soldiers when I suggested they talk about their feelings to a CO (such painful memories but very comical in looking back at how naive and green I was). It is gratifying to find what does work after so many years of recognizing what didn’t but feeling helpless to change it. Thanks for sharing your expertise and for bringing Dave into our lives.
This is just brilliant – so enlightening and so hopeful. I am searching around to find my ‘niche’ and finding this really difficult as the people I really want to work with are people who suffer from low self worth – Suicide prevention is what I would love to put my energy into.
Hearing this has brought me back to my desire a few years ago bring healing to military stress and the build up of confused identity that surfaces especially when they leave. I grew up in a military background and it was always stress filled. Then one of brothers ( he had been in the army and the UN and served in Bosnia) sadly took his own life.
This has helped we reconnect with that desire – it would give me great joy to work in this way as Belleruth so caringly does.
The story of the breakthrough was sad and funny. I always shied away from the possibly of being able to bring anything worthwhile to help relief the stress and trauma for soldiers and their families. Its so touching to hear of the amazing synergy that brought about this effective use and the marriage of macho ism and gentleness – I am now more hopeful thanks.
Love & Blessing and Gratitude for your great work.
Mary
Thank you for sharing this. It confirms an approach I have been using with my PTSD clients and others with co-occurring disorders. The meditations I use come from the book Caregiving which was originally written for use with hospice patients (I don’t have the author’s name right this minute, sorry). In speaking with my PTSD clients it is sometimes necessary to be very direct with them taking a hard edge to get their attention as provided in this wonderful introduction. In short order they listen up, follow directions and easily engage in mindful meditation. Observing their affect changes, hearing the edge fade from their communication and experiencing the profound tension reduction they go through is an honor and a privilege to witness.
Thank you for sharing this and God Bless,
Marianne Horne, MSP, EdD ABD, LPC
Wow!!! This was amazing, brought tears to my eyes thinking of how this might have helped my father, a marine on Iwo Jima, who saw horrible, horrible things in WW II.
However, as the child of a man with PTSD and who received, as females do, the energy of his PTSD, Belleruth’s older PTSD has worked beautifully for me. What has worked even better is BrainState Conditioning, developed by Lee Gerdes. It works by balancing a person’s brain waves so a brain can do what it does best, reveal that person’s essence more fully. They are now working on my lower frequencies, to help my brain release subconscious malware, thoughts, energy that has been trapped in me for 64 years, since I was an infant as my father struggled with the affects with PTSD.
I am so thankful for all of Belleruth’s CDs!! I use the CD for grief, and have used others, like depression, stress hardiness, self-confidence and have recommended them to others.
My heart goes out to Dave for all he has been through. My heart goes out to all people who have been hurting enough to want to commit suicide, as well as to the family and friends left behind after such a tragic end.
Thank you both for sharing the importance of meeting a person where he or she is, such that the gap can be bridged.
May all beings be at peace. May all beings be happy.
Earlier you had posted this and I was unable to listen to the new intro suggested by the military man! Instinctively, I knew that what was needed was just what he recorded. I live near San Antonio which has a huge hospital for wounded warriors! I think this will work and hope it gets to Texas asap! Thanks Ladies for your wonderdul work!
Ruth, I’ve already commented on this last week.
However, I just want to say that I don’t like the descriptor that you sent, ‘I was surprised to hear that they were supporting complementary and alternative medicine’, as this term conjures up for me nonscientific notions, whereas matching language and beginning where the person is at, is good psychology, based on research.
I’m a card carrying psychologist, who doesn’t like ‘woo’, or supporting things like homeopathy, and I think we sell ourselves short when we mix psychology with them even by associated connotation, if not denotation.
Belleruth/Ruth……I’m forwarding this on to my patient, a Combat Veteran in recovery. He will
probably send it on to Combat Stress, the UK organization that assists Veterans in their recovery-
it can only help and add to the tool box, I’m sure.
Thank you for preparing this.
I think it is time “alternative’ was dropped. We can understand why interventions like these work on a physio-psycho-social level. The science is sound: the effect clear. Interventions like this are now just treatment that work.
Agreed. The term “integrative medicine’ is replacing ‘CAM’ or ‘alternative’ at a rapid rate!
wow!
that is amazing and what a great concept!
Karen, this is beautiful. Your cirecls are such an integral part of the web of life, without which all life would collapse. The band of allies is such a strong thread and concept, as is the idea of its depth of generations. What a grand foundation upon which to create a bubbling out of healing, like a rainbow of colors and healing sound. Listen too for the pauses because that is where the wisdom is waiting.
Brilliantly done!