Recently I watched a comical skit that portrayed, yet exaggerated, how people’s perceptions can be flawed.  In this skit a gentleman goes into a clothing store with his receipt, wanting to return an item of clothing he recently purchased.  He is polite and kind to the cashier.  When he tells the cashier he would like a refund she retorts, “How dare you talk to me in that abusive language!”, to which he calmly corrects her misperception.  She then calls the manager and the two of them threaten to call the police if continues being abusive.  The situation further escalates to other customers verbally attacking him as well.  This comedy skit illustrates to us that people can be off in their perception of others.

How many times have we been wrong about people and circumstances?  How many times have we jumped to conclusions based on perception rather than hard fast evidence?  How many times have we been misunderstood, misjudged, accused and condemned without having a voice?

Have you ever jumped to conclusions incorrectly?  Would you like to know why this happens and how to avoid it in the future?

We gather our information from our 5 physical senses:  hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and touching.  Senses have taught us from conception onwards.  We have learned how to perceive our environment based on internal information that we have gathered from our senses.

In The Beginning…

Without getting into all the details about biological function, it’s important to say that genes do not determine our physical or spiritual destiny.  Genes are within every one of our cells.  Genetic material is a huge library, it is a storehouse, but it is not the brains.  There is no intelligence within our genes, because our genes are the gonads of the cell.  The brain of the cell is the cellular membrane along with the interaction of proteins.[1] The cell receptors which are located within the cell membrane respond to the external environment based on the information it receives and it reacts based on its’ beliefs about it.  In other words the cell’s actions are based on its internal perceptions!

What does that mean for me? Let’s continue and you will see its relevance to the big picture.  Dr. Nigel Plummer, of Prime Nutritional Supplement Development And Manufacturing Company in the UK, states that two months prior to ovulation before conception takes place genetic information is already sequenced based on the unconscious perception of  the parents’ environment.  The mother’s ovaries sequence the DNA within the ovum to help with survival based on the mother’s own belief systems and perceptions of the environment in which she is living in.  So to the father’s testicles sequence DNA within the sperm based on his perception of the environment on a subconscious level.  The result being that the child’s traits are determined to some degree based on their parents unconscious or subconscious beliefs.

From that point on we begin learn from our environment within the womb.  We learn emotions from our mother through the nervous system and through her hormonal releases.  This creates within the child core beliefs on a spiritual and physical level.

Dr. Stephen Porges in his work, The Polyvagal Theory[2], explains how our in utero experience creates beliefs within our vagal nervous system, which is part of the Parasympathetic Nervous System.  These beliefs are based on perceptions of the environment which was in essence taught to us through our mother’s own nervous and hormonal systems.

Once we come into this world we continue learning, but not cognitively, rather we learn through our senses.  We learn from the emotional resonance of our primary caregivers, whether or not our parents are present physically and emotionally we still learn from their facial and vocal cues.

Jumping ahead, cognitive learning centers of the brain really don’t come online until around the age of 12 and then not yet fully until about 25 years of age based on average human brain development.

According to science, our perceptions are based on deep core beliefs that started as far back as 2 months prior to ovulation before we were even conceived.  From a spiritual perspective the Bible tells us that our core beliefs come from grandparents and even great grandparents.

Some of our beliefs are obviously good and have served us well, while others unknowingly undermine us and cause us some trouble.

I Spy With My Little Eye Something That Is…

I remember playing this little game as a child with my mother and sister, it was a lot of fun and since then I have played it with my own children.  This little game is based on perception of what we see and how we see it.

As we know perceptions form our beliefs and continually are reinforced on an unconscious level.  Why do some people irritate us?  Why do we react and later realize it was irrational?  Core beliefs!  In addition to the understanding that we have formed our beliefs based on our experiences and perceptions of how we related to the world around us, each of us have also experienced some form of psychological and possibly physical trauma.

I heard a story recently of two police officers that experienced a traumatizing event in their line of duty.  Both of them were shaken up, one was more resilient than the other and was back to work before long, while the other developed PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).  Why?  Because of his personal development prior to conception and onward.  Some studies indicate that resiliency is based on nurture and its consistency in childhood.

As we walk through life we need to become aware of our selves.  This is impossible to do on your own without any outside help.  People who believe they can figure it out on their own are living in an illusion of perception.

Recently, I was at an EMDR workshop and in these workshops we paired off and began working on our own past traumas.  To my ongoing amazement, I had a moment of revelation where I saw an aspect of myself that I had not seen previously.  This brought me to the very vivid realization that I, and really all of us, live in some form of false reality because our perceptions are off.  How then can we really live?  How then can we reach our true potential?  How then can we fulfill the divine destiny for our lives?  We all need help and not self help.  We need personal help from a qualified individual.  I believe in having a team that aids and mentors me in various aspects of my life.  Such aspects as: a pastor for spiritual growth and development, financial coach for financial self-development, personal trainer for physical exercise, a natural health practitioner for my wellbeing, etc.  But, the thing that really sticks out for me is that I need to clear out and transform my erroneous, self-destructive, self-sabotaging beliefs.  This I realize is done in two ways spiritually and through psychotherapy.

Often people are afraid of psychotherapy, but really it’s one of the greatest things since sliced bread.  Change your perceptions and you will change every aspect of your life for the better!

---

[1] For more information see: http://www.brucelipton.com/

[2] http://www.stephenporges.com/

In life we all face the question, ‘Why do bad things happen to good or innocent people?’ This question can be answered in a lengthy philosophical and theological explanation but generally will not provide the emotional resolution we need. After some form of loss (be it death, loss of health, loss of a job, loss of a friend, a betrayal, or the loss of an expectation) we all grieve and can be filled with deep sadness that leads to hopelessness and anger. Loss also involves a great disappointment of our expectations.

In this life we all face irresolvable issues that evoke hopelessness. Besides having the understanding of the 5 stages of grief we need to also understand how to let go of expectations that have been lost. The Serenity Prayer (modified from the original version by Reinhold Niebuhr) that is posted on the Alcoholics’ Anonymous website, gives us simple but concise insight on letting go!

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

courage to change the things I can,

and (the) wisdom to know the difference.”

Four points can be taken from this prayer that will help enable us to have a life filled with gratitude, rather than grief; then hopefully circumstances will make us better rather than bitter.

God grant me…

This prayer gives us an understanding that we need to first and foremost have a spiritual relationship with the Creator and ask for His help. Without divine help we will always wrestle with loss and its injustices.

Accepting the things that I cannot change…

Acceptance of things that we cannot change is very important for our healing process though sometimes difficult. This statement shows us that at times we feel powerless, and powerless to change things. Powerlessness is a feeling that we dislike because it leads to hopelessness and fear. Only through trusting in the Creator is there any consolation of hope, even concerning things of the afterlife. One key statement helped me in my own healing process was this, “Let go of all hope for a better past.” In our grief of loss we are hoping for a better past, which is futile if you really think of it, but it is an inner decision that we need to make in order to heal. Also, it is just as important to be at peace, trusting in the Creator in the journey of life.

Courage to change…

Within our grasp are things that we can change but too often, because we are afraid, we feel powerless and helpless to make the necessary changes. We fear failure in our efforts and therefore we shutdown and avoid doing what is necessary.

I remember a time when I was approached with an opportunity to host a spiritual conference. I made excuses as to why I couldn’t do it. This became a huge challenge for me. Instead of pursuing it I became busy doing a lot of other things in order to avoid the very thing I needed to do. I needed courage. Thank God for my wife who confronted me with my avoidance and who encouraged me to do what I needed to do. The outcome was rewarding but the journey wasn’t easy. So are many things in life that we need to do but often we avoid them because we are afraid. Mark Twain once said, “Courage is not the absence of fear. It is acting in spite of it.”

Wisdom to know…

…the wisdom to know the difference. This statement shows us that we need sound understanding and discernment to know what we can and what we cannot do in life. Wisdom goes beyond knowledge because knowledge gives us information but wisdom gives us understanding, insight, discernment, and the ‘how-to’. Wisdom gives us choices. One of the greatest gifts we have given by the Creator is the power of choice.

People are often not aware that they have the power to choose and this is usually because of their past experiences in life. This can be because as children they were neglected or abused by their primary care givers. When children experience neglect or abuse they develop beliefs that they don’t have choices or they believe they are weak, powerless, or helpless. This is then carried into adulthood and often debilitates them on some level, and when faced with loss they often fare the worst.

The Serenity Prayer teaches us some very important things on how to handle our life’s experiences and expectations, and by doing so we will then be empowered through the gift of choice.

In my years as a counselor and as an ordained minister I have performed marriages for couples and I have counseled still many more.  I have seen many of the same challenges for couples over and over again.

Institution of Marriage

The institution of marriage has been around as long as the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve have been.

In the beginning… there was marriage.  What is marriage versus simply living together?  Marriage and cohabitation aren’t the same, even by definition.  Cohabiting with someone does not involve commitment, loyalty, and faithfulness for life.  Animals cohabit for the sake of reproduction and rearing of a family.

Marriage isn’t marriage unless the following happens:  there is a presiding legal authority (preferably one also of spiritual authority), at least two witnesses, an exchange of words consisting of promises in front of those mentioned and….once that is complete, then the presiding authority legalizes the marriage.  There is now a covenant bond between the two.

Covenant is more of an ancient term, which is stronger in its implications than a contract between two parties.  The word covenant, at its root, means ‘to cut’.  This signifies that blood is involved.  To understand more about covenants it would be advisable to read some of Dr. Livingston’s stories of his missionary travels in Africa.[1]

Unfortunately, in western civilization, marriages (and in particular happy marriages) are becoming less and less popular.   When children are raised in a secure home where both parents love each other and are evenly tempered we see happy and secure children and a happy and secure marriage.  At the writing of this article I am celebrating with my wife our 28^th wedding anniversary.  I am glad to be married and am glad to be married to the woman I love and who is my best friend.

John Gottman, Ph.D. has said that he can usually tell within a few minutes of seeing a couple if they are going to stay together or not, based on how they fight.[2]  All couples fight.  Yes, there are disputes and disagreements, but it is how you fight that makes all the difference.  This is dependent on each person’s emotional maturity or EQ (Emotional Quotient).

Steps to emotional maturity as a couple requires each person to begin taking steps toward getting qualified help to increase their EQ or emotional maturity.  Without having both persons involvement usually means a failure of the relationship.  In our society that has a lack of proper boundaries almost everything is ok to believe or to do.  The motto of the day is ‘if it feels good do it!’.  As a result of this prevailing thought, couples need to be better equipped through education and counselling to help make their marriage an oasis in a troubled world.  Marriage should be a taste of heaven on earth.

First, you should realize that you are an equal partner of the marriage and therefore have equal responsibilities.  Second, fighting is ok when you do it properly. Third, understand what love is.  Fourth, understand and meet your spouse’s needs.  Fifth, consider what bad habits you have that are counteracting all the loving efforts you are doing, then work on ridding yourself of them.  Sixth, get your priorities right.  Seventh, be sure to get regular qualified help through counseling, workshops, etc.  Eighth, agree on the 5 basic essentials of life, and Ninth, get your spiritual life in order.

Doing the above 9 things will insure continued passionate love in your marriage.

In this month’s blog I will begin with the first essential element to making marriage work.

Equality

Equality isn’t just ‘human rights’, it’s for insuring passionate enduring love in your marriage.  Let’s start by talking about what equality should look like in marriage.  Equality needs to be objectively understood.  Many times it takes a qualified person to help you to understand what it should look like in your relationship.  For now let’s just say it primarily involves justice.  This takes a couple sitting down and discussing as two mature adults what their beliefs are, their likes and dislikes and what they are willing to do or not to do.  These desires and requests should be respectfully considered by each party and discussed again until mutual understanding and willingness is reached.

Equality in love has to do with needs being met, support being equivalent, and respect of each other being primary.  Equality needs to be understood as full disclosure and mature discussion along with resolution of issues and of the person themselves.  There should be no skeletons in the closet!

Equality never holds the belief ‘I am just as good as you are’ rather the belief that ‘I will honour you and defer to you putting you above myself’.  It goes without saying that this should be reciprocal.  Sometimes it will take a qualified outsider to help sort things out.  There is a scripture that I believe says it best, Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor…[3].  Equality in marriage isn’t necessarily that each partner needs to do the same thing as the other but rather equally carry the load of responsibility.

Let’s look at personal responsibility in light of equality.  Each person in the relationship needs to take equal responsibility for the function or dysfunction of their relationship whether or not they feel responsible.  In my years of counselling I have observed that where a marriage is in trouble the fault seems to lie somewhere in the middle.  In other words, marital difficulty tends to be 50/50…sometimes it has other proportions, one being more guilty of sabotaging the marriage than the other, but it is never 100% one person’s fault.  It’s vitally important in order for a marriage to work that each individual stop blaming the other for how they feel.   This is very difficult because we usually feel hurt and other various feelings as a result of what another person has said or done to us.  However, it is important to realize you have a choice how you think and perceive situations.  My pain is my pain.  Yes, it may have come from a hurt, a lack of meeting expectations, or a betrayal but you still have choices.  When I feel the pain it’s not my partner it’s me.  I am experiencing the pain.  All too often I see the blame game going on of past pains that have occurred, and all too often the pain is also associated with some childhood abandonment issue, abuse, neglect, etc.  Taking responsibility for your feelings is a sign of emotional maturity.  Don’t blame – regain your life by accepting the pain as yours and get help to move forward.  This in turn will liberate and empower your life.

Where there is equality there is responsibility, and where there is responsibility there is humility, and where there is humility there is true love.

---

[1] Trumbull, Henry Clay.  The Blood Covenant; A Primitive Rite and Its Bearing on Scripture (original 1885),(Paperback – Oct 2010)

[2] Gottman Ph.D., John.  The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert  (Paperback - May 16 2000).

[3] New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif.

In my last article I discussed in brief about perceptions, where they come from, recognizing them, and how to change them.  How to change them… Hmmm?

My wife and I went to visit some friends and shortly after arriving our hostess began to tell me all about the self-help books she had been reading and how she now understood her problems and how to solve them.  She was very proud and defensive of her new discoveries, possibly because she knew of my doctorate in psychology and perceived that she needed to defend herself.  As we talked I could see that she was quite afraid of delving into her own issues with someone else.  All too often people are their own therapist.  I think it’s great that people are trying to improve themselves and make headway in their own lives, but one very important piece of information is missing!  We cannot see the forest for the trees no matter how brilliant we are!  Being our own therapist is about as good as being your own coach in figure skating while trying to qualify for the Olympics.

I think of how often when I see couples in my office that one of them will tell me that they don’t need any help, it’s just their partner, because they say, “I’ve already worked on my own stuff.”  This is a flag signaling their own defensiveness and believe they don’t need anymore help, simply because of fear.  I haven’t yet met a person that doesn’t need help!

I’m Not Crazy!

At times when clients first come to see me they experience shame and the fear that they are crazy.  The fact that they are so concerned tells me deep down they know something is wrong with them, and this becomes painful because it means to them that they are flawed.

This is what I say… “When you go to the local grocery store do people stop and stare because they see you are crazy?”  They tell me, “No”.  Then I ask them,  “When you are at the store do others let you know they have problems that they need to work on”?  And again they answer “No.”  I then proceed to ask them, “Who and what is normal?  Is this world normal? Only God is normal and the rest of us hopefully are working on getting there.”  Remember, normal is a setting on your washing machine and that is about it.  What we perceive to be normal is based on our past consistent experiences.

Most people understand the slang, crazy to mean one who has gone into a psychotic state where they are either hearing things, seeing things, or have gone into some delusional or catatonic state.  People who have gone into a psychotic state are those who have lost the differentiation of the sense of self and the real world.

Not being perfect is human and for some of us that’s hard to swallow.  Humility involves honesty, being honest with ourselves can be painful but it is well worth the reward.  If we can accept the fact that we are imperfect and are in need of both qualified human help and divine aid then we are on the road to wholeness.

Fear of ourselves

Often people’s fears show up in different ways, some exaggerate who they are, others quietly put their heads in a hole, others will defend themselves, others rationalize, there are many ways in which people express the fear they have of themselves.  Anna Freud’s Defense Mechanisms help define how we hide ourselves for fear of finding out how much help we really need.

Defense mechanisms all share two common themes:

1. They are unconscious reactions
2. They distort, transform, and/or falsify reality

This distortion of reality, which takes place in us, is due to our core beliefs that create perceptions which lessen our anxiety, and in turn reduces our tension level.

Anna Freud’s Defense Mechanisms:

• Denial: claiming and/or believing that which is true to be false.
• Displacement: redirecting emotions to a substitute target.
• Intellectualization: taking an objective viewpoint.
• Projection: attributing uncomfortable feelings to others.
• Rationalization: creating false but credible justifications.
• Reaction Formation: overacting in the opposite way to the fear.
• Regression: going back to acting as a child.
• Repression: pushing uncomfortable thoughts into the unconscious mind; forgetting.
• Sublimation: redirecting ‘wrong’ urges into socially acceptable actions.

We all have a fear of ourselves and that is why we exhibit defense mechanisms.  To accept that we are flawed as humans is a struggle for us.

This is much like the biblical concept of sin; we have all fallen short of the glory of God[1].  We struggle with our selves because of the deep inborn shame that we possess.  But, if we are able to face our true selves then we can have hope.  True hope is not based on denial but rather on the understanding that there is hope for every one of us no matter the past or the present.  A very important key to personal progress is understanding the process:

1. Realizing you need help from someone other than yourself
2. Realizing you are flawed
3. Believing that there is hope for you
4. God loves and believes in you even if you don’t
5. Transformation from who you were to who you were meant to be
6. Keep on in your journey of transformation

Psychotherapy

Don’t quite understand the meaning of this word?  In short, psychotherapy is the use of various modalities of mental and emotional processes that brings healing to the mind.  This word comes from the Greek psycho for mind and therapy for healing.

There are hundreds of modalities of psychotherapy.  Some of the ones that I utilize are EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Ego State Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic, and dream interpretation and analysis.

Psychotherapy is the best therapy in my opinion not just because I do it, but because the mind controls so many aspects of our lives.  The unconscious and conscious mind affects our body, our choices, our relationships, our money, and our overall health.  Through the use of psychotherapy I have seen people’s bodies begin to function normally again, relationships restored, monetary arenas in life transformed, just to mention a few results.  The benefit of psychological treatment often outweighs purely physical forms of treatment.  The reason?  Because the mind is the boss, the mainframe computer, the processor, our main command center.  Our beliefs determine our health and much of our world we live in.

The benefits of psychotherapy outweighs the cost.  There was a time in my life where I thought psychology was a royal waste, but through divine guidance I have been proven wrong.  The personal benefits that I have gained from psychotherapy are difficult to list because it has been so vast for me. My desire is to encourage you to make the investment in yourself, it will ultimately pay you dividends in all areas of your life.  If you say, I can’t afford it! you may want to reframe that statement to, How can I afford this?  The wise seek wisdom and pursue it.

---

[1] Romans 3:23, The Bible

In the dead of winter about 10 years ago I went through a number of emotionally trying situations all taking place within a relatively short period of time.  My wife tried unsuccessfully to console me.  It was a difficult time.  We just had a number of things happen in our church that were emotionally painful.  Even though logically I could analyze what had happened yet emotions tend to override all logic.  These incidents resulted in about two months of illness including high fever, swollen tonsils, sinusitis, and abdominal issues culminating into Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

The spirit, mind, body connection is so evident to me as I live my life but it was not so evident back in those days.  When we face emotional stress such as dealing with a difficult person, being fired, losing a job, or an environment of constant conflict this eventually results in different forms of illnesses.  Some of these illnesses are acute and some are chronic, possibly not showing up until months or years later.

Is there a solution?  Is there hope?  Absolutely yes!  I remember one time talking with my holistic health care provider and asking him if there was hope for me.  He smiled reassuringly and told me that I was going to be healthy and not to concern myself over it.  There is hope for you!

Immune System

The immune system is quite complex and to fully explain it here would be impossible.  However, I will attempt to give you some key components so that you can understand some of its basics.

The immune system works from the bone marrow all the way to the outer layer of the skin.  Even though the following organs and tissues have other purposes, yet the immune system is supported and operates from these:

Thymus

The Thymus is located under the breastbone and is at its peak during adolescence.

Bone Marrow

Produces lymphocytes—T-cells and B-cells and sends them through the lymphatic system to secondary organs.

Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system runs throughout the entire body and consists of nodes.  Many of these are in the chest, neck and head.  They are connected to our organs, in particular the spleen, tonsils and thymus.

Intestines

Here is where many white blood cells reside and are tagged for “specific service”.  When our intestines do not function well our immune system loses its potency. Intestines are particularly vulnerable to disturbing emotions.

Spleen

The spleen is found in the left upper quadrant of our abdomen. Its function primarily is to remove old red blood cells and to hold a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock. The spleen also synthesizes antibodies and removes certain kinds of bacteria through blood and lymph node circulation.

Tonsils

We have two tonsils, one located on each side of the back of the throat.  Tonsils are part of the Lymphatic system and are said to tag white blood cells for certain tasks.  Tonsils are the first line of defense.

Liver

The liver is located mostly on the right side of the body and primarily sits under the ribs though it does extrudes beyond that.  The liver a multi-functioned organ which directly and indirectly effects our immune system.  The liver is a mediator of systemic and local innate immune regulation.

Appendix

What was once considered a useless appendage in our body now is showing its value in helping to maintain a healthy immune system.  Some new research indicates that the appendix harbors and protects bacteria (probiotics) that are beneficial in the function of the colon.

Emotional Stress and Illness

Unfortunately mainline medicine (allopathy) treats primarily the symptoms that arise in our bodies.  But, there are many physicians who are now asserting that between 80-95% of all ailments reported by patients are the result of unresolved emotional issues, grudges, and emotional stressors.  Natural health care practitioners are trained to treat the cause rather than the symptom.

In an earlier blog I wrote about how the spirit affects the mind and body, the mind effects the spirit and the body.  In the end the body is affected and will eventually “kick back”!  According to biblical teaching all physical illness is the result of spiritual ailment(s).  When we are spiritually, mentally, emotionally ill we eventually become physically ill.  In acute cases we may suddenly get a virus, or some infection due to an emotional shock or overload of some kind.  In chronic disease cases this is due to long held unresolved emotional issues.

In the beginning of this article I wanted to point out that emotional stress could cause sickness in our body because our emotions either support healthy immune function or they shut it down.  If we are in a constant state of hyper vigilance (fight or flight) we will unconsciously be constantly suppressing our immune functions and after awhile this will develop into serious illness(es).

Wisdom Factors

I could give you a list of things to do, but there are hundreds of such lists on the Internet and in books.  Instead I have a few thoughts to share with you.

It is also important to consider other things such as environmental stressors on our immune system of which we need to be aware so that we can support our body’s health.  Such things as wearing suitable clothing when it’s too hot or too cold, drinking clean water, eating properly, exercising, taking proper supplements, etc.

A big mistake I used to make was that I could figure it all out myself, or I could do it all myself and save the money!  But, I have discovered that being your own mentor, coach, therapist, physician, or spiritual leader is a disaster in the making!  By relying on other qualified people’s help I have saved money, aggravation, time and as a result have gotten light years ahead in self-improvement and empowerment.  Investing in yourself should be top priority.  Besides, if you won’t nobody will do it for you!  Remember, “Love your neighbour as yourself.”  Loving and supporting yourself will put you in a healthier position to love others more appropriately.

For a quick questionnaire online to help determine your level of emotional stress go to:  http://www.carolespiersgroup.co.uk/questionnaire.html

For consultation or therapeutic help you can contact me at (905) 633-7410.

Recently I underwent a liver and gallbladder detox and flush, actually it was the second one this year and the third one I have ever done.  I found that my digestion improved, my mind became clearer, I felt calmer, and more optimistic.  I did this because of my discovery of how the liver holds the key to your mental and physical health in many ways – at least according to traditional Chinese medicine.

According to traditional Chinese medicine each particular organ in our body holds and evokes specific emotions.  Here’s a brief run down of what that looks like:

• Liver – anger, resentment, frustration, irritability, rage, bitterness
• Lungs – sadness and grief and detached
• Kidneys – fear, poor willpower, insecurity, aloof and isolated
• Spleen – worry, obsessive thinking (over thinking)
• Heart – excitement, shock

The mind affects and effects the body and the body the mind, without healthy interventions the spiral is in a downward motion and we don’t want that.  To support both body and mind is essentially important to our emotional wellbeing, which in turn fosters a life full of vitality that’s worth living.

Here’s another questions worth exploring.  How does each organ effect the brain according to traditional Chinese medicine?

Kidneys

Preservation of the brain from defects and deterioration (Alzheimer’s, etc.) is the job of the kidneys.  Therefore, deterioration and defects of the brain may be halted and possibly reversed if the kidneys are supported and go through a cleansing along with biotherapeutic drainage.

Heart

According to traditional Chinese medicine the heart is said to regulate the cognitive functions of the brain.  The heart regulates the brain’s activities, where the kidneys provide the substance.

Lungs

Lungs have to do with clarity of thought and being emotionally in the present moment, if you will, … connected to the here and now.  Without proper oxygen flow brain function can be slowed and/or impaired, amongst other things.  Oxygen is a key component to a healthy brain.

Spleen

The spleen is said to regulate blood flow and support tonality.  It plays an important role in digestion and phlegm regulation.  An unhealthy spleen will cause phlegm to be excessive and blood flow to be poor thus inhibiting the brain’s ability to function normally.

Liver

The liver is a 4 lobed organ, which performs 1,000’s of different operations and functions daily.  It aids in digestion, including bile flow, detoxification, purification, excretion of nutrients, conjugates hormones (emotional connection), amongst many other detailed operations and functions.  When the liver is burdened with toxins it will create an imbalance resulting in brain imbalance, primarily in various forms of depression.

Where should I start?

Generally speaking the liver should be addressed first, unless of course there are other pressing issues that need attention.  The reason the liver is the first place to start is because of its multifunctionality as an organ.  Detoxifying the liver will inevitably effect and affect all other organs of the body including the brain.  Detoxifying the liver and flushing the gallbladder is essential to all other organ health.  Remember the primary route of excretion out of our body is the liver via the intestines.

The liver needs detoxification not cleansing.  This process can involve months or years.  In our civilized society each person contains around 250 toxic substances in their liver, which can include heavy metals.  Detoxification takes time and patience.  We don’t want to hear this in an instant gratification, microwave, fast-food world!

Detoxifying the liver and flushing the gallbladder takes time.  It is recommended that detoxifying and flushing should be done quarterly in the first year and then in each subsequent year in the fall and spring of each year to maintain liver and gallbladder health.

Here’s the general process:

1. A diet rich in vegetables (mainly raw)
2. A rich protein diet
3. Eliminate sugars – products containing: sugar, flour, and white rice
4. Exercise regularly about 4-5 times per week to the point where you perspire
5. Sleep before midnight (where possible)
6. Regularly practice relaxation (prayer, meditation, practices of gratitude, etc)
7. Forgive and let go of resentments
8. Begin or continue eliminating toxic emotions preferably with a qualified mental health practitioner using bottom up processing methods such as EMDR, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Emotional Freedom Techniques
9. Begin biotherapeutic drainage of the liver (qualified natural health practitioner will administer this)
10. Chinese herbal medicines (for those that are able to take them)
11. After approximately 7 weeks a 3 day flush can be performed and then the procedure can be repeated 1-2 months later if needed

Through my personal journey I can assure you this is one of the key things that we can do for our own spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.  An increase in faith, peace, cognitive abilities, digestive function improvements, more energy, etc can be the result of a liver detox and gallbladder flush.

Usually one detox isn’t enough, especially if you are older than 10 years of age!  In our modernized world a child can have an overburdened toxic liver by the age of 10 or even earlier.

Below is a quick questionnaire that can help you determine how toxic your liver may be:

1. Is there any stiffness, tightness, soreness in your right shoulder?
2. Are you irritable or stressed?
3. Do you have fuzzy or foggy vision?
4. Any headaches?
5. Do you have poor concentration or focus?
6. Are your eyes itchy, irritated, red, or dry?
7. Is your sleep restless and/or have insomnia?
8. Are you irritated by people, lack patience, and/or fed up with them?
9. Do you have any hot flashes?
10. Do you drink alcohol, eat processed food, or sweets?
11. Do you have itchiness or a constant itch?
12. Mixed up, confused, unclear thinking?
13. Do you have any overwhelming moods or feelings?
14. Are you ready to explode or wound up?
15. Do you have any gallbladder pain or issues?
16. Do you regularly get congested in your chest, nose, runny nose, or sinus issues?
17. Do you have acne, boils, rashes, or other skin breakouts?
18. Do you have dry, burning, irritated, cracked, flaky, or itchy skin issues?
19. Did you feel bothered by any of these questions?

Count the number of times you answered yes to the above questions.

0-1  doing well

2-6 professional help is recommended

7-19 you have serious problems and need to see a professional

Much more can be said about this subject but this should get you started in your journey towards happiness and wholeness.

For consultation or therapeutic help you can contact me at (905) 633-7410.

In western thinking we tend to separate and segregate things into compartments.  This can be detrimental to us.  Oriental or Eastern orientations, including the Bible, focus on the synergy of a person, taking into account the connectedness between the spirit, the mind and the body.  All too often in the West we dissociate our bodies from our spirits or minds from the rest of our being.  We treat different parts of us as though it does not affect the others.  We like parts.  We like separation.  It often gives the illusion of control and/or a false feeling that we aren’t responsible for what is happening in our lives.  When we take personal responsibility, we are able to respond and this gives us the power of choice and the power for positive change.  To affect change that brings health and wholeness, we need to look at ourselves as a unity in which each part affects the other parts.

In a study conducted involving individual heart cells in a Petri dish, it was discovered that when separated these cells each had a beating rhythm out of sync with the others.  When they were brought into close proximity of each other they began to all beat together, in sync.[1] That biological example reveals to us quite clearly how important it is to understand that though we may have separate parts to our being yet each are affected by the other; first with the spirit (unconscious mind), then with the mind (soul), then the body.

Here are 12 easy steps that we can take to support each area of our being:

1. Allow God (Creator) to be in your life; giving the Creator the control so that you can rest – it’s called trust.
2. Join a fellowship of believers and become involved.
3. Meditate, read scripture and pray daily.
4. Take note of your emotions on a daily basis consciously (with mindfulness) embracing them – accepting all of you.
5. Daily do some personal work emotionally through spiritual practice and meridian point tapping like EFT.
6. Make regular visits to a psychotherapist/counsellor or Life Coach.
7. Listen to your body; don’t ignore what it is trying to tell you about your health.
8. Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes with elevated breath rate – where you can talk but not sing.
9. Get holistic nutritional guidance and therapy that is best suited for you.
10. With a qualified practitioner detoxify on a regular basis.
11. Develop healthy relationships.
12. Obtain personal financial training and skills.

Health begins from the inside out.  Taking care of yourself is the wisest thing you can do in life.  Remember if you are healthy then life will be full of rich rewards!

---

[1] Source: Servan-Schreiber, David, M.D. Ph.D., The Instinct to Heal: Curing Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Without Drugs and Without Talk Therapy. Rodale Books; First Edition, (February 21, 2004).

When it comes to men’s’ health issues, the sexes are equally apathetic.  A radical feminist joke goes like this, “Why do men die earlier than women?  Because they deserve it!”  Some of you reading this might be quietly say, “Yah, I agree!”  As odd as it may seem I too have had antagonism towards other males.  In my case I was neglected and verbally abused as a child.  My father also as a child he was neglected and physically abused.  In many similar cases the legacy of abuse continues.  The cycle just keeps going on and on.

A friend of mine who is a psychologist once told me that when you think of all the abuse, pain, tyranny, and violence in the world it is all because of men and their testosterone.  He said this, of course, out of his own pain which related to the abuse his father bestowed on him as a child.

Before I go any further it’s important for me to say that men aren’t any more evil than women or for that matter any more holy than women.  I believe that abuse is the culprit.  It skews our perception of people, things, and even our very own existence!

There are a great number of very good men.  In my life I have had, at times, surrogate fathers and mentors.  I’ve had some very loyal and good male friends throughout my life.  Often times I will ask clients why they chose to come and see me rather than a female counsellor or therapist.  On some occasions I have been told, “It’s because I wanted to know that there are good godly men out there, so that I can heal and be able to believe that not all men are abusive.”

Men suffer more and die earlier than women!  An ignorant or bitter person might say, “They caused it anyway and don’t deserve any compassion!”  This is tragic.  Men die about 7 years earlier than women on average.[1] The suicide rate for men is 4 times higher than in women.[2] A man is pressured to be a superman by society, themselves, responsibility, the need for recognition, other men, women, and other factors.  Men, in general, tend to be winning competitors as Steve Wells so eloquently puts it, “…they come out ahead in a huge number of areas (they love winning competitions!), such as cancer, heart disease, respiratory diseases, accidents generally, and motor vehicle accidents specifically, diabetes, and the list goes on.”[3]

Men don’t even seem to care about themselves.  Some of my friends who pastor churches have told me through the years that 70% of all the volunteers, givers and purchasers of spiritual help materials in churches are women and only about 30% of those are men.

All too often we men don’t take care of ourselves and sometimes even of others.  Why?  I believe that one major factor is that no one properly ever cared for us!  We as men need to be proactive in taking responsibility for the care of ourselves and that doesn’t mean going to a bar for a beer!

Generally speaking women will go for psychotherapy, naturopathy, exercise, yoga, church, massages, manicures and pedicures and probably a whole lot more!  What will guys do?  Not much…because much of what I just mentioned is perceived as feminine [especially the pedicure part (LOL)]!  When I ask men in my office about when they last went to the doctor for a physical check up, often they don’t remember or never have gone.

In the book Vital Touch, Heller says that infant boys get less physical touch than girls.[4] Infant boys in some ways need as much or more touch from parents as an infant than girls for one major reason and that is that boys already are born with a greater physical inability to be sensitive to physical touch.  Physical touch in infancy and childhood promote the following: healthy attachment, better communication, psychological health, physical and mental growth, assures smooth physiological functions in breathing, heart rate and digestion, supports a healthy self-concept, body awareness and sexual identity, as well as enhances their immune system, and externally it even enhances their ability to be graceful and stable in their movements.  Healthy physical touch determines the outcome of the child and how they will function throughout their lifetime.

Boys are at a disadvantage in our culture, before they are even nurtured and developed they are expected to be the provider, the protector, the nurturer and by the way don’t forget about superman.  We should stop and think or should I say rethink what society says we ought to be.  I have often had couples come in for marriage counselling and the woman has complained about how their husband is so insensitive.  I usually make a comment somewhere in there that we men were taught to be like John Wayne or the Marlboro man – why?  Because, these are images of strength images of courage!  But what about the images of the nurturing father, the shepherd of the sheep, the mentor?

But before that can happen we men need to rethink who we are or should I say, should be.

All too often men don’t do anything about taking care of their health until it’s almost or is too late…after their entrails are dragging on the ground they may go to their physician and ask if they have a problem.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics Mortality Atlas Australia (December 2002) shows that the death rate from the main causes of death is generally higher for men than women. The average death rate per 100,000 persons (1997-2000) includes:

Malignant (cancerous) tumours – 237.8 males compared to 146.7 females

Ischaemic heart disease – 190 males compared to 119.9 females

Cerebrovascular diseases (strokes etc) – 65.9 males compared to 65.8

females

Chronic lower respiratory diseases (lung problems)- 46.6 males compared

to 23.2 females

Accidents – 35.6 males compared to 17.7 females

Suicide – 21.9 males compared to 5.5 females

Diabetes mellitus – 18.8 males compared to 13.6 females

Influenza and pneumonia – 13.6 males compared to 11.4 females

Motor vehicle traffic accidents – 13.1 males compared to 5.5 females.[5]

This problem is not an Australian one it is a worldwide problem.  The International Society of Men’s Health (ISMH) is one of the very few organizations that are attempting to address this issue.  The theme of the Men’s Health World Congress in 2009 was, Men suffer more and die sooner. In the following words of their March 2010 journal they point out this pervasive problem particularly in the western world:

The course of many physiological and psychological diseases is more severe in the male gender. The gender differential is unfavorable to men in their experience of stress, as it is more likely to manifest in men as debilitating physical, mental, and behavioral conditions than in women. Furthermore, relatively greater exposure to violence and injury and elevated behavioral risk increase the frequency of debilitation and premature death among men.[6]

Many generations ago it used to be that men would live longer than women now we know it’s the other way around.  Why?  I have already addressed some of this but here are some thoughts attempting to answer this question:  The lack of healthy physical touch for boys in infancy, the neglect and abuse as a child prior to the age of 12, the modeling and teaching in our homes, schools, and of our society that men are supposed to be indestructible and able to solve all problems on their own, and how about,  ‘boys and men are not supposed to cry, need help, or show any weakness!’  I’ve even heard women tell their husbands that when a man cries it disgusts them.  Men are already wired for less emotional sensitivity but society promotes that even further and shames men who may show emotional sensitivity.

For the most part I believe the biggest problem is that men in our society are taught as infants to be emotionally calloused and detached.  The more emotions that are repressed the higher probability of the onset of serious illness resulting in early death.  The only emotion that appears to be socially acceptable in men is anger, this is often the only emotion men are aware of within themselves and guilt often the least.  The deception of anger is that it appears to be a primary emotion, but really anger is a result of the hidden primary emotions such as shame, guilt, fear, and sadness (resulting from hurt).  To properly heal from our deep inner pain we first need to connect ourselves to our right brain – our emotional self.  Spiritual, emotional and physical violation (sin) causes pain; this involves neglect, ignorance, and abuse.  Without self-awareness of our primary emotions we cannot begin to heal.  When enlightenment and understanding come, then pain may follow, the pain of our own condition, but this is can be a good thing.  When we take responsibility, which gives us the ability to respond, we then have hope.  With qualified help we can move towards our healing towards our own salvation.

As I have helped men get in touch with their own inner condition and helped them in their journey towards wholeness I begin to hear and see their remorse, their transformation, and then compassion surfaces.  Stephen R. Covey says, “People are very tender, very sensitive inside. I don’t believe age or experience makes much difference. Inside, even within the most toughened and calloused exteriors, are the tender feelings and emotions of the heart.”

We men don’t have to fit the mold that was past down to us, we don’t have to known as calloused and uncaring; we don’t even have to die earlier or suffer more.  Since going for help myself I have come to the revelation that I am not meant to solve all my problems or support myself alone, I am supposed to seek out qualified help; for my spirit I have a pastor, for my mind/emotions I have a therapist, for my physical wellbeing I have a physician, and a naturopathic practitioner.

There is hope for us!  All it takes is courage and willingness to ask for assistance from a qualified person.  Invest in yourself today, you are worth it!

---

[1] Source: Why Men Die Early Than Women, http://www.thehealthnews.org/news/08/06/15/men.early.die.html, THE HEALTH NEWS, 2008.

 

[2] Source: Why Men Die Earlier And Suffer More, http://www.eftdownunder.com/blog/?p=19, Energy Provocateur, 2009.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Source: Heller, Sharon, Ph.D., The Vital Touch, (Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1997).

[5] Men’s Health, http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Men’s_health, State of Victoria, 2008.

[6] Meryn, Siegfried, M.D., Young, April M.W., Ph.D. “Making the global case for Men’s Health”.  http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/1875-6867/PIIS1875686710000035.pdf, (Journal of Men’s Health, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 2–4, March 2010).

In 1890 Pavlov, a Russian physician and psychologist, accidentally discovered, through investigating the dog’s gastric function, the psychological response that he called Classical Conditioning.  Classical Conditioning can be defined as, “conditioning in which the conditioned stimulus (as the sound of a bell) is paired with and precedes the unconditioned stimulus (as the sight of food) until the conditioned stimulus alone is sufficient to illicit the response (as salivation in a dog)… “[1] In plain words classical conditioning is when something happens often enough the subject begins to elicit a response be it physiological, emotional and/or intellectual.  So if something happens to us or doesn’t happen to us often enough we develop an automatic response or should I say reaction.  We all too often react instead of respond and that is because we have been conditioned to do so.

So when someone shuts down and gets quiet or when someone starts flipping out (screaming, yelling, profanity, etc.) these are conditioned responses, they are reactions!  We are all conditioned whether or not we like the thought of it or not.  The good news is that we can alter the conditioning we have received.

To alter our conditioning is to alter body function as well.  As in my last article I discussed in some length how the spirit, mind, and body affect the body.  A simple test can be done with a conscious thought.  The next time you are lifting a weight think of a sad face and notice the strength that you have, then in turn think of a happy face and do the same thing and again notice the strength you have.  I think you will be surprised to see how thinking of a happy face can give you more physical strength.  I often use this kinesiological method to demonstrate this point more affectively.  The point being is that the conscious mind can and does affect the body’s strength, how about the unconscious mind’s ability to affect the body?  The unconscious mind’s ability is so powerful it can cause a person to faint at the sight of blood, to jump when startled, to determine the quality of sleep, the depth of breathing, raise and lower blood pressure, influence digestive processes, and much more.  If the unconscious mind is able to do this on a relatively short timeline what about days, weeks, months, years, or decades later?  Can chronic illnesses have a root cause of unresolved unconscious issues?  The answer is yes.  Both acute and chronic illnesses manifest in the body due to unresolved emotional issues often deeply buried in the unconscious mind.  I realize that pathogens can be the culprit but why do some contract the illness while others do not?  The answer lies in the deep-seated beliefs of the unconscious mind and body.

It is a sensitive matter to discuss the possibility that illness has a direct link to the way we have been conditioned to live our lives.  When discussing this connection between spirit, mind to the body either our society dismisses this as foolishness or becomes upset as though they are being blamed.  Dr. Gabor Mate, M.D.’s book, “When the Body Says No”, speaks of a fifty two year old university professor that vocalized her anger at him for writing about how the mind affects the body, she told him, “Why are you writing this book?… I got cancer because of my genes, not because of anything I did.”[2] I feel sad for those that are suffering physically and mentally, but what causes me even more sadness is when the message is misunderstood and the hope for positive change is lost.  It is unfortunate that people can misinterpret this message as being a form of blaming the victim as though their illness or death is a personal failure.  Blame and failure isn’t the issue rather the focus is on finding the cause and affect and working towards restoration of health and wellbeing.  All too often there is confusion between blame and responsibility.  Dr. Mate said, “While all of us dread being blamed, we all would wish to be more responsible – that is, to have the ability to respond with awareness to the circumstances of our lives rather than just reacting.”[3]

The first step is to become aware of the truth that the spirit, mind and body are all intricately connected and what happens in the spirit/mind affects our body. Plato quoting Socrates said, “This is the reason why the cure of so many dieseases [sic] is unknown to the physicians of Hellas; they are ignorant of the whole. For this is the great error of our day in the treatment of the human body, that physicians separate the mind from the body.”[4] Without awareness we cannot take on true responsibility facilitating the change we are truly needing.  This connection needs so desperately to be understood and embraced otherwise so many more will needlessly suffer and die.  Becoming responsible is becoming aware, having the courage to take steps towards professional help, owning your own emotional reactions, and having them processed through to the point of healing.  This process involves the healing of spirit, mind, and the body and leaving out any one of these is not wise.

If we understand that the universal order is always spirit first physical third then we can begin to embrace this ancient understanding of why our bodies are the way they are.  Here’s a biblical quote that is worth considering, “…the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible…”[5] Freedom comes when we gain understanding with hope of a better tomorrow!

---

[1] Classical Conditioning, http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/classical conditioning

[2] Gabor, Mate, M.D., When the Body Says No: the cost of hidden stress (Toronto: Vintage Canada, a division of Random House, 2003), 8.

[3] IBID, 8,9.

[4] Secrets Of Freedom From Headache, “Not tonight honey, I have a headache” http://www.singhneurology.com/headache-center.php

[5] Hebrews 11:3a, New King James Version, (Nashville, TN., Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1982).

The first time I can remember being aware of the spirit, mind, body connection was when I was 15 years of age.  My parents would be in constant conflict, my school experience was no less with being bullied by teacher and students alike.  At 15 everything came to a climax, my mother was seeking a way out of her marriage, I was entertaining suicidal thoughts and I had developed a condition in my body called oesophagitis, or also known as an inflammation of the gullet.  My family physician told me that I had developed this condition because of the stress that was in my life, so he prescribed some antacid and sent me home.  First thing in the morning the pressure in my chest was so strong that when I took a deep breath I felt like my chest was caving in and I would usually pass out momentarily.  This would be something that I carried in my body throughout the day…taking a deep breath would cause me excruciating pain.  It wasn’t until my encounter with Jesus Christ that this condition disappeared.

This life’s experience, though it had a happy ending, revealed to me the close connection that we have between spirit (unconscious), mind (conscious), and body.  Our body is a great indicator when things aren’t right in our lives.  Our body can tell us when we are off in mind or spirit, it can also tell us when we need to stop and take care of it before we develop an illness.  The body is an amazing thing and has a voice that we need to listen to.  Now saying that, it is important for me to qualify my last statement.  The body’s voice is different than what I call appetite.  Appetite is belief and emotional based, its strong voice can mislead us to believe it is the voice of our body.  When we understand that appetite activates various bodily functions then we can begin to distinguish the differences between the voice of appetite and voice of the body.

The voice of the body is most visible when we have had personal coaching in this field.  The body’s voice often involves the following (though not necessarily limited to): when you’ve worked and the day is done the body will tell you it is tired and wants you to rest, it can tell you when it is hungry, when something is toxic or something is healthy, your body can tell you when you are overworking it, when you need to give it exercise, nutritional interventions, and when it is ill.

Often the body voices what the spirit and the soul are trying to tell you.  The body is always speaking to us whether we are awake or asleep.  At times it speaks for itself, but more often than not it speaks on behalf of the soul and spirit.

When we experience neglect or abuse our body most always takes in these experiences as well as the happy healthy safe ones.  This directly affects our body and in some people it may later develop into an ailment or disease in the body.  The body is sacred and should be regarded as such.  Too often people neglect, abuse the body.  The ancient Gnostics believed the body to be inherently evil and restrictive so some would take punitive action against it while others would simply give into all of the appetites they had.[1]

Most people simply regard the body as a machine.  Atheistic thought is that the person is nothing more than a mechanical physiological function.  I for one understand the body to be a spiritual temple, a container that carries within it an eternal being.

Too often our society regards the body as an isolated entity.  That is why we even talk as though we are not responsible for our body’s illnesses, sleeplessness, or tiredness.  We not only need to own our emotions but we need to take responsibility for our body.  Don Colbert, M.D. in one of his television broadcasts once stated that about 95% of all illnesses are due to spiritual and emotional issues that have not been resolved.  There are many other physicians that make similar claims.  Too often do people say, “I just need a pill, a surgery or some other medical procedure to cure me.”  I do believe in modern medicine but not at the expense of truth.  All physical problems have their origin in the spirit which trickles through the soul and eventually lands in the body as an illness be it acute or chronic.  Medical intervention is great because it can save lives but it doesn’t fix lives!

In 1892 William Osler, a Canadian physician, stated that rheumatoid arthritis was a stress related disorder.  In spite of his published findings this information was discarded and ignored.  Noel B. Hershfield, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Calgary, stated: ‘”The new discipline of psychoneuroimmunology has now matured to the point where there is compelling evidence, advanced by scientists from many fields, that an intimate relationship exists between the brain and the immune system… An individual’s emotional makeup, and the response to continued stress, may indeed be causative in the many diseases that medicine treats but whose [origin] is not yet known – diseases such as scleroderma, and the vast majority of rheumatic disorders, the inflammatory bowel disorders, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and legions of other conditions which are represented in each medical subspecialty…”’[2] Psychoneuroimmunology is the science of relating to the interactions of the mind and body.

The connection of the threesome is what makes us who we are and this interconnectivity is really quite mind boggling, but that’s ok because to try and figure out the synergy, intricacies of our very composition probably will take all eternity.  Suffice it to understand this basic principle: the spirit, mind, and body is very much intertwined and each depends on each other for energy, support, protection, nutrition and a host of other necessities.  So, we need to do ourselves a favour and learn to distinguish the different voices within and in particular the voice of the body because it will tell you what you need to know.  Listen to it, what is it telling you?

In my practice I use a therapy that very quickly reveals the body’s strong voice and connectivity to the rest of our being.  This therapy is called Sensorimotor Psychotherapy which was developed by Pat Ogden, Ph.D., psychologist.  Sensorimotor Psychotherapy or SP for short is a breakthrough therapy in the field of psychology that addresses the body’s voice through the minutest of sensations uncovering and discovering the voice of the body and processing through the unresolved issues of developmental origin, neglect and trauma.  I have found this therapy to be a revelation of truly understanding oneself and therefore have begun to honour my body as the temple of God in a much deeper way.  My prayer is that you too discover the voice of your body and begin to discover yourself in a new healthy way.

---

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism

[2] Mate, Gabor M.D., When The Body Says No: the cost of hidden stress (Toronto: Random House of Canada Ltd. 2003) 5.