Frequently asked questions.

• What does holistic mean?  The term holistic is currently applied to any approach to human activity that seeks to address the human person as a complex, subtle unity of body, mind, and spirit.  We speak of a holistic approach to education, to healthcare, to architecture, to design, and even to marketing.  The word holistic is derived from the Greek holos, meaning “whole.”
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• What is reiki?  Reiki is an ancient Asian therapy that uses universal life energy to facilitate that the body's own healing powers.  The word “reiki” comes from two Japanese words, “rei,” describing that which is sacred and universal; and “ki,” describing life energy.  Ki corresponds to the Chinese concept of chi or qi ,to the Sanskrit prana, and to the Latin anima. Therefore, reiki means sacred, universal life energy. We use a Japanese word because this form of holistic therapy, while ancient and apparently Indian or Tibetan in origin, was rediscovered by a Japanese scholar, Dr. Mikao Usui (1865-1926). In reiki, universal life energy is transmitted through the hands of the reiki practitioner to the recipient, although touching is not necessary. The person who is receiving reiki need not undress—in fact, need not even be touched.  Although the way reiki works on the body has not been well described by Western physiology, there is convincing scientific support for the clinical efficacy of reiki. 
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• What does reiki feel like? Most recipients respond to a reiki session with a feeling of deep, comforting relaxation.  Sometimes there is a sensation of warmth or gentle pressure.  The usual comment after receiving reiki is “I feel so relaxed.”
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• How does reiki relieve symptoms? The healing energy of reiki is deeply relaxing. Tension itself causes many physical symptoms, including muscle pain, headache, and gastro-intestinal  discomfort. To be completely relaxed, in every muscle and joint, is an excellent beginning to healing. The body has wonderful recuperative abilities, but tension—with its higher blood pressure, faster heart rate, shallower breathing, etc.—interferes with the healing ability of the body. The first thing reiki does is to relax the person, release tension from the muscles, and allow deeper, more healthful breathing. Unmedicated relaxation (no drugs involved) is a therapy all by itself. Reiki is a wonderful way to achieve this.
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• What is aromatherapy?  Aromatherapy is the use of the essential oils from plants for their beneficial effects on body, mind, and spirit," writes Diane Grandstrom, certified aromatherapist.  Genuine aromatherapy, which uses pure natural essential oils, is not to be confused with the use of synthetic fragrances and perfumes.  
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• How does aromatherapy work? The highly volatile molecules of the essential oils enter the body easily, through the respiratory system or by absorption through the skin.  These powerful molecules quickly affect the body/mind; in particular, they influence on the limbic system in the brain, which is that structure that lets us feel emotions.  In fact, the brain responds almost immediately to the molecules of the essential oil as they land on the olfactory epithelium (that’s a nickel-sized membrane located within the skull, sort of at the top of the nose, between the eyes).  The brain’s reaction to these potent little molecules is the release of neurotransmitters.  Which neurotransmitters are released depends on the specific chemical makeup of the essential oil. While Western science is only beginning to understand how aromatherapy works, it has been clinically proven to be effective. 
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• How is aromatherapy a holistic therapy? Holistic therapies are comprehensive—they involve the body, the mind and the spirit. Like the plants from which essential oils are derived, humans are part of the world of Nature.  For many thousands of years, people have used plants to help and to heal themselves. Many essential oils have strong antiseptic properties, some are powerful decongestants, some are digestives, and so on. The essential oils from some plants are energizing, others are relaxing. 
  The molecules of the essential oils affect the mind by initiating the release of specific neurotransmitters, which profoundly influence both the autonomic nervous system and the emotions. Certain essential oils not only relax the mind but also promote inner quiet and peacefulness; as such they have been used for millennia in many cultures as aids to prayer and meditation.
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• What is aromatherapy hand massage? In aromatherapy hand massage, lotions that contain essential oils from plants are applied to the hands and forearms. Aromatherapy hand massage combines the benefits of safe and gentle touch with the power of essential oils. It is amazingly relaxing.
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• What is self-massage? Self-massage is the technique of gently but firmly kneading the muscles in one’s own body in a specific manner in order to reduce stress and improve circulation and flexibility.
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• What is guided imagery? Guided imagery is the use of the imagination and sense memory to create an inner experience of relaxation or empowerment. The person who is using guided imagery sits or lies still, with eyes closed, and visualizes a scene of peacefulness, healing, or whatever is desired. As the person concentrates on the inner scene or situation, the individual’s physical and emotional state gradually changes.  Biofeedback equipment can actually record physical changes in response to the interior image that is created by the mind. The traditional practice of mentally counting sheep as they jump one by one over a fence is an example of guided imagery.  So is the athlete’s technique of imagining, in great detail, the experience of winning. The heart desires, the will decides, the mind shows how, and the body follows.
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• What is color therapy? Color therapy, or chromotherapy, is the use of color to achieve physical, emotional, and mental benefits.  The differing energy wavelengths of each color of the rainbow, entering the eye, stimulate the body to release various neurotransmitters.  These chemical messengers affect the autonomic nervous system, which in turn controls every organ system in the body. Color affects mood, energy level, the ability to concentrate, and the ability to relax. In color therapy, therapeutic colors can be worn, used in the personal environment, or, most powerfully, provided by color therapy sunglasses or certain light bulbs.  Clinical research is beginning to confirm the powerful effects of color on the human body and mind. 
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• What do you mean by “Eastern breathing techniques”? The Indian system of yoga and the Chinese system of Tai Chi, among other disciplines, emphasize the importance of breathing with awareness, control, and coordination with physical movement. Learning one or two simple breathing techniques based on these ancient practices helps to focus the mind and relax the body.
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• What are gentle movements for relaxation? Yoga and Golden Breath Tai Chi are millennia-old systems of movement and breath control that work gently with the body to improve circulation, coordination and flexibility. Taking simple movements from these disciplines and practicing them slowly and gently greatly aids relaxation and relieves stress.
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• What are specialized holistic practitioners? "Specialized holistic practitioners" are registered or certified experts in the various holistic therapies—for example, aromatherapists, massage therapists, and reiki masters.  If you should be drawn to one particular holistic technique during our work together, I will refer you to a specialized practitioner of that technique.  (I am not a specialized practitioner, but rather a generalist.) 
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• What is Life Coaching? A coach is someone who not only instructs, like a teacher, but also provides individualized guidance and support. Coaching is itself a holistic approach to human learning, because a coach gives advice and instruction that is tailored to meet the individual's unique physical, mental, and emotional needs in order to reach a specific goal.  Coaching is always goal-directed.  A life coach guides and supports the client who wishes to develop the judgment, inner harmony, and practical skills needed to live a happier, healthier life. 
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• What are the limits of Life Coaching?  Life coaching is not a substitute for professional psychotherapy, addiction counseling, couples therapy, or any specialized therapeutic treatment. Life coaching is also not a substitute for spiritual direction. However, a life coach can help the client discern if assistance from a specialized professional might be helpful. A life coach can also support the client in the search for an appropriate specialist. 
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• What is Intuitive Strategic Planning? Intuitive Strategic Planning is a process that helps groups of people who are faced with change, or the need for change, and are unsure how to proceed. As a process, it has a beginning and an end. The beginning is the group’s recognition that they have a problem. The end of the Intuitive Strategic Planning process is actually the beginning of the group’s living the jointly-arrived-at, frequently unexpected solution. The middle of the process is the Intuitive Strategic Planning session(s), during which there is much freedom of thought and imagination, much discussion of consequences, working toward consensus, and finally a Plan. Intuitive Strategic Planning helps groups cope with the present or prepare for the future by using both their logical and their intuitive abilities. It aims to generate a clear and well balanced vision of the future and practical strategies to bring that vision to life. 
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• How is Intuitive Strategic Planning “holistic”? Intuitive Strategic Planning is holistic because it respects the entire human personality of every individual in the group. Humans have the ability to sense or feel that certain situations will work or not—without being able to say why. “Oh, I don’t know; I just have a feeling.” Frequently these “hunches” or “gut feelings” are based on subconscious data, information that the individual has observed or perceived without being consciously aware of it. The requirement that every statement be logical and be able to withstand rational scrutiny keeps most people quiet when they should speak out, especially in group brainstorming sessions. Accordingly, many good ideas are lost to timidity before the demands of “proof.”  Intuitive Strategic Planning respects—encourages!—intuition. Intuition, logic, verbal agility, mathematical facility, the ability to observe detail, imagination—all the human problem-solving skills come into play during the process of clarifying the group’s vision and specific goals. And the Intuitive Strategic Planning process respects and supports the ideas and problem-solving skills of every member of the group. All are valued as necessary, contributing members of the whole.
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• What are the logical abilities?  Each individual is born with innate abilities to reason, to think sequentially, and to organize actions and ideas. These are the logical abilities, and they are highly prized and well developed in our culture—particularly in formal education. With a minimal amount of coaching, the average American adult can easily develop rational goals and the steps necessary to reach them. 
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• What are the intuitive abilities?  Each person is born with innate abilities to grasp situations instantly and insightfully, to sense instinctively what is helpful and what is hurtful, and to respond to places, people, and things with natural attraction or repulsion. These instinctive human recognitions are the intuitive abilities. They are not taken seriously in American culture—except by experts at marketing. On the contrary, the emphasis on the logical abilities in elementary education dulls the average American's intuitions, and causes us, as a culture, to be suspicious of most intuitive abilities—even as we respond to them.  The recognition of, and a respect for, the intuitive sense of each individual is a fundamental part of Intuitive Strategic Planning. 
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• Can I trust you? I pledge that all personal information that I obtain from every client—whether for a holistic relaxation session, an intuitive strategic planning session, or a life coaching session—will be held in the strictest confidence.  I promise this because trustworthiness is the foundation of every successful professional relationship—and because trust is central to every holistic practice.
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