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Once we developed a
background regarding the wide range of practices our group
comprised, we were eager to begin working together to help our
patients. We began this formidable challenge by experimenting on
ourselves. At our workshop meetings we split up into groups of 8-10
practitioners, and one person agreed to be the patient.
Representatives from each group would describe what happened in each
healing circle. We were particularly interested in how the patients
felt about what unfolded. |
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We learned that there
are many ways to analyze and treat our patients. While the languages
of each discipline were often difficult to comprehend, it was
remarkable at how we usually came to the same conclusions regarding
what problems our patients suffered from. It was equally fascinating
that the treatments varied from discipline to discipline and yet,
our patients improved. |
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| No single
discipline has been able to solve all the health issues we face. In
fact, according to recent medical journal articles approximately 50%
of all Americans suffer from a chronic disease. There are obviously
enough diseases to go around, but there are clearly not enough
solutions to manage them. The idea of working together to see if we
could do better by collaborating appealed to all of us. Eventually, we
began practicing on willing patients who welcomed this integrative,
Healing Circle approach. We learned a lot—so did our patients. The
highlights of what we learned included: |
- Information
exchanged in the presence of many different styles of
practitioners leads to an exchange of a wide range of possible
treatment strategies with less authoritative stances.
- There is a
willingness of practitioners to listen very attentively, and to
participate only when information from their field of knowledge
is appropriate to contribute. Sometimes silence if more powerful
than active participation.
- Most Healing
Circles transform from information exchange to connection. The
group and patient merge into a single entity that has the intent
of healing. An intense desire to support the physical,
emotional, mental, and spiritual needs of each patient ensues.
- Patients feel
deeply listened to and supported by the group. A powerful sense
of community emerges. Yet, periods of silence often provide time
for deepened understanding and the awakening of new ideas. “Not
knowing” is okay.
- Patients
become inspired that even if they cannot be cured of their
symptoms, it is nearly always possible to heal—using illness as
a process for personal transformation. This leads to personal
empowerment.
To date, we have
completed more than 100 Healing Circles. We have learned to ask our
patients two questions prior to participating in these circles and
an autobiography:
- Why are you
participating in a Healing Circle?
- What do you
hope you’ll gain from the experience?
- We require an
autobiography of each patient’s life from the physical,
emotional, and spiritual perspectives.
We’re impressed at
the ability of a circle of healers to inspire patients to look at
illness as more than physical disability and psychological challenge
and use illness as an opportunity to return to wholeness.
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