Doing my best to contribute to the Critical Mass.  Holistic  Counseling is an approach to wellness that incorporates the mind, body and the spirit.   One of my favorite scholars Joseph Campbell said, "Follow your bliss."  When I meet someone I am always trying to know what that person is passionate about in life.  People in their passion, following their bliss are people who don't sweat the small stuff.  People following their bliss are happy people who wish to flower and share themselves with the greater community.   Following that bliss, I believe, is the way to find your genius.  It is the way to in-spiration and all problems seem to vanish as one moves forward into that experience of bliss.  Truly could this bliss be the solution to world peace and harmony, the Aquarian age we have all been anticipating?!!  I believe that world peace begins within each person, not within external force or control, one who is peaceful and happy within has a tremendous energetic impact on those surrounding them through their own morphogenic energy field.

I AM here, now in heaven.  Therapeutic Alternatives is about Quantum solutions for a new paradigm!!

In my over 13 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults I found that most people could be served by changes in lifestyle and diet rather than taking medications.  I found that people who were labeled with disorders tended to focus too much on the label assuming that they had no choice, but accept that they were ill and couldn't improve.   I feel that labels put people in boxes saying that they can only hope to accomplish certain things in life.  However, in most cases, when medications were taken away and labels tossed aside, people were able to find ways to get better.  Unfortunately it appears to me an increasingly medicated and labeled society we live in.  Is it really necessary in most cases?  I don't believe so.  Is it harmful in many cases?  I believe so.  A holistic perspective looks to the wellspring within a person for answers rather than external controls. 

So many of the greatest people throughout history would probably be labeled by todays standards as diseased.  If they had been put in a box the world would not be what it is today.  Take Martin Luther King Jr. for example.  At age 16 he attempted suicide by jumping out of a 2nd story window.  If he was labeled and medicated, would he have accomplished the great acts that he is known for?  Albert Einstein was a terrible student as a child and may have been labeled by today's standards as ADD.  Van Gogh, the great artist, would have been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder.  Saints throughout history, today probably would be diagnosed as psychotic for their visions and focus on the spirit.  (However I acknowledge that there are some chemical imbalances and brain malformations that require medications.  Those people are not the people that I work with and should be seeing a Dr. or Psychiatrist.  I am also affiliated with an N.D. who does Holistic approaches available for referrals if necessary.)

A Holistic approach sees most dis-ease as due to a fundamental disconnection from spirit, self, others, the environment, and the community.  When connection is re-established to these areas people are no longer dis-eased.  My approach to wellness includes an observation and location of these disconnections and finding creative ways to reconnect.  To let that genius within flow forth into life.  The word Yoga means to yoke.  A yoke is the wooden structure that holds two oxen together.  Yoga means to yoke one to their higher power, to the divine within, to the higher self, to the genius within.  There are many ways to yoke one to this source of inspiration.  A holistic perspective seeks to yoke one everyday in every way...all of life can be seen from this perspective.  Heaven isn't in the past or in the future, it is right here right now.  In the peace and bliss of your true essence.  In India they have a greeting used..."Namaste."  Which means, that which is divine within me salutes that which is divine within you.  It is assumed that all people are manifestations of the divine.  If we were to all treat eachother as we truly are what a world we would live in!  Mother Teresa said before she died that "In the U.S. people suffer from a far greater poverty than any where else in the world, that of the spirit."  Hard to believe in our abundance that we suffer any poverty.  A holistic perspective seeks to yoke one to this spirit, which has always been here, we just haven't paid much attention to it.  If we are filled with spirit I doubt that we would seek so many unfulfilling outlets that are unhealthy.  For example overeating, overworking, cheating on lovers, overspending, using drugs, alcohol etc. 

Quantum Physics demonstrates that at a sub-atomic level everything that exists is energy vibrating  at different frequencies.  Most things that appear solid including our bodies are really mostly just space.  Quantum experimental research shows that if a sub-atomic particle is tested as a particle it shows itself as a particle.  If  the experiment tests sub-atomic particles as energy waves, they show up as energy waves.  It is a level of physical reality that slips into the metaphysical and indeed becomes mystical.  And if that isn't a new concept to digest then consider the fact that these particles have been shown to respond to our thoughts and words.  Crystallizations in water have shown that when peace, bliss, or love are projected toward water molecules a beautiful snowflake like pattern is formed.  But project hatred or abusive words and an ugly chaotic explosion is manifested.  Think of what these same ideas and words could do to your body if it is made up of 90% water.  Plants have been shown to thrive under the influence of love and care.  Yet they wither and die when they are hated and called abusive terms.  Babies that are not held or cuddled develop failure to thrive syndrome.  They stop growing, developing, or even some die.  We need to be aware of the words and thoughts we have about ourselves and others.  In essence train our minds to use words and thoughts to induce health.  Meditation is the best form of mind training.  Affirmations of our intents can be so very powerful.

Candace Pert MD has conducted studies that show that drug addicts who use visualization techniques and meditation are able to induce the state of their drug of choice without the drug.

Much research has been done that shows that through meditation and prayer, one can accomplish what would have been previously thought of as miraculous.  The crime rate was dropped 25% one summer in Washington D.C. when 200 meditators intended it together at a group meditation in the capital.  Even the police department of D.C. was convinced of it's power, although they had said that it could not be done prior to the change.   Never underestimate the power of your intent.  Intention leads to manifestation.  Just try it and you will see.  Providence moves with intention.

Research shows cancerous growths and tumors eliminated through visualization techniques.  Burned tissues have been regenerated where Doctors said it was impossible.  Injuries healed through Reiki energy work in record time.  Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity completely eliminated through lifestyle changes like massage therapy, dietary changes, and exercise.  Most signs of aging slowed or even eliminated due to lifestyle changes: for example listening to music and hearing news casts from the time of an elderly persons youth have provided measurable improvements in skin elasticity, cholesterol, blood pressure, vitality, testosterone levels, and more...  Death postponed until after certain holidays honoring the elderly.  Amazing the power of our minds.  You have heard that we only use about 10% of our mental function.  No more...we are starting to tap that other 90%.  And we are finding that we are far more powerful than had previously been thought.

Research has shown that exercise, changes in diet, massage therapy, Reiki, Yoga, breathing techniques, visualization, positive thinking, and meditation can eliminate problems with anxiety.  Depression can be eliminated with the same approaches plus sunlight therapy, re-establishment of relationships, and pets.  Children previously diagnosed with attention deficiency problems can also benefit from these approaches.  I read somewhere that ADHD actually could mean Attention Dialed to a Higher Dimension.  In that these children aren't disordered just tuned in to spirit. 

I could go on and on with more and more research and findings, as I have been passionately studying and learning how to tap these previously unexplored approaches, but I will spare you the lengthy research studies and encourage you to explore for yourself.  It is these approaches that I have found the most useful in my work.  I prefer the Quantum Physical paradigm shift occurring now that shows that indeed we do not need to succumb to previous limitations.  In reality existance is virtually limitless.  A world of infinite possibilities where our thoughts and words we choose to indulge have more to do with the life we experience than any outside influence.  For a convincing demonstration of all of the above mentioned rent "What the Bleep do We know?!!" from the video store today.

Children

For example, I was given a 10 year old girl who had been thrown out of 6 schools and several after school programs.  She had tried many therapies and therapists, none had worked.  For as long as anyone could remember she had created chaos wherever she went.  Her family was at wits end by the time I was called in to intervene.  Part of our approach was to follow her passion of art and take an art class.  During the class I was able to observe her shortcomings with her interactions with others.  She would get an internal excitement going and just start grabbing for things and demanding whatever she wanted.  She completely took over, destroying the concentration and harmony of the class.  I was able to show her how to take deep breaths when she felt that excitement building.  Once we were able to get her to calm I was able to show her simple politeness techniques like asking nicely for what she wanted.  Once the other students started to like her because of her good behaviors that became reward enough for her.  This child was able to completely turn around her previous failures and became a valuable member of all of her classes in school.  She was really gifted at leadership in the group setting, only previously she had used it for chaos, now harmony.  This also translated to a much calmer home life and a happier family all around as she began to contribute to the care of her younger siblings rather than take from them.

You see my approach is one of alchemy.  The alchemists went about trying to turn lead into gold.  My approach is finding that lead and turning it into gold, building self esteem through finding gifts.  Letting the gifts take a child into their future...finding their genius.  I believe that everyone has a gift, something or some way of doing something that is better than anyone else in the world!  What a beautiful world it will be when all people have found their passion, their gift, their genius within!!

While working at a group home with boys with behavior problems I was able, through similar approaches, to create an environment where there were unprecidented positive changes.  Co-workers said it was miraculous, that there had never been 10 days in the history of the home where a child was not grounded.  With my approaches there had been a miraculous 100 days without groundings.  The most beautiful thing I have ever seen is boys who had previously attempted stabbing a parent or setting fire to a parent's mattress...now giving to each other and sharing for the benefit of social harmony.  And seeing it as in their best interest.  I found that all of the negative behaviors were attempts to outlet frustrations over un-met needs.  When the real need was met the behaviors ceased.  When the genius within was found, the boys excelled beyond anything ever thought possible.

Indigo children/adolescents:  Indigo children are many of the current generation of children being born.  They are also referred to as Homosapien-spatialis by the Smithsonian institute.  They are metagifted individuals.  That means that they are highly intelligent, highly sensitive, multi-talented, empathically, psychically, and spiritually advanced in a lot of cases.  90% or more of the children being born today are Homosapien-spatialis.  Does your child seem to be able to read your mind, knows things that seem beyond their years, have wise old soul looking eyes, have difficulty with authority and often find unique and better ways of accomplilshing tasks?  Are you having difficulty accepting the "diagnosis" and treatment of your so called ADD child?  Indigos can be adult too, but are not as common.  I was born indigo and may be able to help in understanding and nurturing their unique gifts.  There is a way to work with these children that assists them to grow to their fullest capacity.  I understand the type of environment these children need and the approach that works best for them.  I would love to assist you in understanding and nurturing these gifted kids.  See:

 http://www.metagifted.org/topics/metagifted/indigo/ for more information about Indigos.

Adolescents:

I find working with adolescents fascinating.  The adolescent is at a stage where they are individuating.  Finding out who they are.  Trying out a different me every few months to see which one fits the best.  All while their hormones are fluctuating and societal roles of what is masculine and feminine are being assimilated.  Struggles with self esteem are often being encountered.  At this age I feel that listening with unconditional love and understanding are essential.  While encouraging healthy outlets for all of their interests.  My studies of Jungian Archetypes and dream analysis come in handy in understanding them.  Usually they are trying out one archetype or other and identifying with that archetype in some role model.  What is an archetype?  An archetype is a cluster of ideas that has developed in the course of human evolution around a certain image or association.  Often we see these in myths, dreams, or fairytales and they are an inherited structure of the psyche.  For example, we have an archetype of the grandmother, father, mystical child, christ, shadow, anima, etc.  Confused or scared because your child has recently become obsessed with some musician or new occult religious interest?!!  They are just trying out these archetypes for size, trying to figure out who and what they wish to be other than the roles previously given them by you.  My studies of world religions and philosophy really help me understand what these interests are about.  Also understanding the deeper meaning being sought by some adolescents.  Understanding what is going on is the key to acceptance and maintanance of positive relationships with them.  Relationships they will need to help them make healthy choices in this increasingly complex world of overwhelming numbers of   choices. 

While working with adolescents co-workers said that I have an unusual gift at empathizing with and understanding them.  I have always been the favorite staff of the teens as they really seem to respond to my ability to listen, understand, and "be cool."  in the healthy big sisterish kind of way.  I'm always seeking that genius within, the true gift, the bliss and passion that belongs to only them, that thing that they are better at than anyone else in the world, that thing that will carry them through sailing past all of the lesser choices available to rob them of their true selves, their soul's calling, their genius, and their bliss.                                                         

Adults:

In Asian caligraphy the same characters are used for crisis and opportunity!     I have had many opportunities to support adults through my practice during all kinds of crises.  Divorce, troubles with children, drug and alcohol use by a spouse, parents or spouses with potentially terminal or disabling illness, stress and depression due to a child having a mental illness, their own mental illness, interpersonal difficulties with loved ones or work colleagues and more.  A Holistic perspective considers most crises as opportunity to enrich, to learn about the true self, and to step forward into a more fulfilling life.  Mid-life crisis is a special interest of mine.  Mid-life is often when a person throws off the past roles deemed by society and starts to explore new avenues of expression.  Mid-lifers are much like adolescents in their desire to find new ways of satisfaction.  It is a time when people often seek a spiritual fulfillment, an exhilaration that has been lacking in the past.  The person is seeking their passion, their bliss, their genius.  The full expression of their true self, the divine genius self.  Crisis?  or Opportunity?  You decide!

A little about Aimee:

I graduated from Salve Regina University Magna Cum Laude with a BA in psychology including concentrations in Philosophy and world religious studies.  I am currently complete with my MA Holistic Counseling from Salve Regina with only an internship remaining in the Fall of 2008. I will graduate Summa Cum Laude from my MA.   I spent 5 years working in the psychology field before opening my own business in 2000.  During the 5 years I worked with children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of mental health, behavioral, emotional, and developmental challenges.  It is from my studies and my work that I have developed my passion for serving others with the knowledge I have acquired.  I look forward to many more enriching years of service in the future.  

Always involved with athletics, music, and art throughout my entire life I have developed a rich variety of skills that assist me in connecting with my clients.  Thanks for taking the time to read my musings and about me.  Namaste, Aimee.  :) 

Some of my paintings: