Unskilled New Age\Holistic Healers
Posted by:
Hope
()
Date: October 05, 2002 05:35AM
Please refer to the Large Group Awareness Training thread regarding my experience with a naturopathic physician, Corboy's responses, and also read $375lighter's thread (his Leader's manual).
Posting on a naturopathy message board about my experience led to corresponding with a current student at a "respected" naturopathic college in Washington. He was not surprised to hear about Landmark, as it is popular on campus. He's had faculty as well as fellow students try to enroll him.
This particular school prides itself on its emphasis on science, and this student agrees that he has challenging courses in medical sciences, however, quite a few students opt for new age-type courses on developing telephone psychic skills and other "flaky stuff" as he puts it.
This school requires premed courses in order to register, and my ND exceeded the requirements. Naturopaths claim to be mind-body medical specialists and it is here where the problem lies. They are not skilled psychotherapists, so how and when do they draw the line regarding the psychoemotional components of disease? As it is, unskilled but trained therapists do damage. Unskilled nontherapists can do severe damage at many levels.
It took a long time to realize that my ND had "Landmarked" me over the course of a year. He had his own agenda and used me as a guinea pig, trying out all his personal interests in consciousness studies, LF and Ecstasy. I did not know he was heavily involved in Landmark Education until the last month I worked with him.
The frightening part of this is that he was well educated. He was correct about the etiology of one condition, yet did not know how to get to it. There are countless types of healers, gurus, spiritual guides, channelers, and cult-like groups offering services to probably a very desperate client base (those fed up with standard medicine), who have no formal training in administering therapy. Landmark Forum volunteers defended my ND. In other words, they also assessed that I was running a racket, instead of suffering from a medical condition.
Naturopaths are fighting to become recognised as general practitioners and want to be licensed in all states. Only 11 states license them, but they are free to practice as long as they don't diagnose and treat. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians claims their education is equal or superior to that of several American medical schools, yet they can opt to treat with Landmark Forum technology. The AANP does not give guidelines for consumers on what questions to ask a new ND and does not let on what types of classes they are taking. Nor does there seem to be any continuing education in ethics for practicing NDs.
This ND seriously injured me physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. His claim that he specialized in mind-body medicine, what he called psychoneuroimmunology, was false, and his methods overreaching. The claim that physical problems represent deeply hidden emotional wounds (in some cases true), leads people on a never-ending, frustrating search for answers, while ignoring physical complaints by saying standard medicine is toxic symptom control. The offer of transformational healing or getting to the underlying cause of a chronic condition is very appealing.
If your gut tells you something's not right, ask lots of questions or leave. My ND had answers for everything but at the same time told me my search for information was part of my control "problem". This caused some confusion, which is a great big red flag.
Guidelines to follow.
Posting on a naturopathy message board about my experience led to corresponding with a current student at a "respected" naturopathic college in Washington. He was not surprised to hear about Landmark, as it is popular on campus. He's had faculty as well as fellow students try to enroll him.
This particular school prides itself on its emphasis on science, and this student agrees that he has challenging courses in medical sciences, however, quite a few students opt for new age-type courses on developing telephone psychic skills and other "flaky stuff" as he puts it.
This school requires premed courses in order to register, and my ND exceeded the requirements. Naturopaths claim to be mind-body medical specialists and it is here where the problem lies. They are not skilled psychotherapists, so how and when do they draw the line regarding the psychoemotional components of disease? As it is, unskilled but trained therapists do damage. Unskilled nontherapists can do severe damage at many levels.
It took a long time to realize that my ND had "Landmarked" me over the course of a year. He had his own agenda and used me as a guinea pig, trying out all his personal interests in consciousness studies, LF and Ecstasy. I did not know he was heavily involved in Landmark Education until the last month I worked with him.
The frightening part of this is that he was well educated. He was correct about the etiology of one condition, yet did not know how to get to it. There are countless types of healers, gurus, spiritual guides, channelers, and cult-like groups offering services to probably a very desperate client base (those fed up with standard medicine), who have no formal training in administering therapy. Landmark Forum volunteers defended my ND. In other words, they also assessed that I was running a racket, instead of suffering from a medical condition.
Naturopaths are fighting to become recognised as general practitioners and want to be licensed in all states. Only 11 states license them, but they are free to practice as long as they don't diagnose and treat. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians claims their education is equal or superior to that of several American medical schools, yet they can opt to treat with Landmark Forum technology. The AANP does not give guidelines for consumers on what questions to ask a new ND and does not let on what types of classes they are taking. Nor does there seem to be any continuing education in ethics for practicing NDs.
This ND seriously injured me physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. His claim that he specialized in mind-body medicine, what he called psychoneuroimmunology, was false, and his methods overreaching. The claim that physical problems represent deeply hidden emotional wounds (in some cases true), leads people on a never-ending, frustrating search for answers, while ignoring physical complaints by saying standard medicine is toxic symptom control. The offer of transformational healing or getting to the underlying cause of a chronic condition is very appealing.
If your gut tells you something's not right, ask lots of questions or leave. My ND had answers for everything but at the same time told me my search for information was part of my control "problem". This caused some confusion, which is a great big red flag.
Guidelines to follow.
Unskilled New Age\Holistic Healers
Posted by:
Hope
()
Date: October 06, 2002 02:07AM
What may seem like generosity, kindness, empathy and caring could very well be manipulative, exploitative and dangerous.
1. Criticizing mainstream medicine, psychotherapy and western culture as not getting it, missing the real causes of disease, yet never really exploring diet, excercise, relationships, medical history, psychological history, family history, etc.
2. Changing therapy methods without discussion with the client with the excuse that the case is a difficult one and he or she is trying everything to help.
3. Allowing patients to call, anytime for any reason and not charge for time on calls. This nurtures dependence and further loosens boundaries.
4. Hugging and kissing after sessions. It may not seem like a sexual advance but rather, reassurance and caring. It is inappropriate, unprofessional and redefines the relationship as familiar and friendly.
5. Dismissal of important issues that don't fit their agenda. My ND sounded like he was arguing in my best interests when he stated "it isn't about" whatever idea I had brought up. As it turns out, my issues would not have fit into his interest in MDMA therapy for post traumatic stress disorder. A skilled therapist never dismisses a client's concerns. In retrospect, what I brought up at my second visit was the MAJOR life issue that he and I NEVER talked about.
6. Ignoring serious symptoms by stating they are trapped emotions emerging. Telling the client they are tough and strong when in fact they are suffering.
7. Diagnosing or assessing symptoms when not trained to do so. For instance, shaking, dizziness and collapsing from fasting or anorexia is not a panic attack. Inability to urinate is not trapped emotions, fear, rigidity or anxiety. Asthma is not grief.
8. Ignoring suicide attempts, talk of morbid ideas, instead talking about their beliefs on death and the afterlife. Not notifying appropriate mental health practitioners, family or guardian, or referring out to a skilled practitioner.
9. Introducing personal information as a way of being empathetic and coercive. ND described his childhood abandonment and how this led to his control issues. He wanted me to let go of my control issues and go to Landmark Forum.
10. Losing patience when client does not make progress.
11. Forgetting the original complaint as a result of being caught up in practitioner's agenda.
12. Telling client their condition is learned, a story, just thoughts, a way of avoiding responsibility.
13. Isolating or leading a client away from family and friends suggesting they are better off, it's courageous to do so, or simply observing the client's isolation and not questioning it.
14. Stating there isn't much else that can be done that hasn't been done already, in an effort to get client to give in to therapy, which leads to further dependence on practitioner.
15. Dismissing client's questions and research as control issues.
16. Making it seem like the client did not try hard enough when it is apparent that no progress has been made.
17. Not wrapping up therapy and discharging appropriately.
A skilled therapist will be able to work with the transference that arises typically in therapy. Transference can be effectively used as a healing tool. There are many kinds of transference, not just romantic.
An ethical therapist will not enter into an intimate, social or business relationship with their client. A covert manipulator likely will use information culled from client sessions to their advantage. This is a serious breech of trust and it is the client who suffers.
He or she will not waste a client's time promoting their political and religious beliefs or talking excessively about personal issues.
An ethical therapist is reliable, does not travel so as to provide consistent visits, is on time, can be reached in emergencies and instructs clients on what to do in their absence.
An ethical therapist never blames the patient for their own pain, nor for not "getting it." There are victims. Landmark doesn't think so and neither did my ND. A person cannot see their own denial. A skilled therapist will ask questions that help clients see for themselves what is causing depression, anxiety, and perhaps aches and pains, but they will work with the appropriately trained health practitioners. Insight does not mean cure. More work must follow.
When confronted with his inconsistencies and lies, my ND shouted that I was a sick person and needed help. He accused me of slander and harassment when I tried to ask questions. He later threatened to bill me for >40 hours (his claim) of phone calls @$80\hour when I sent the final bill for work I had done for him. He has refused to discuss any of my concerns regarding the care I received, avoided phone calls, and then left the country.
1. Criticizing mainstream medicine, psychotherapy and western culture as not getting it, missing the real causes of disease, yet never really exploring diet, excercise, relationships, medical history, psychological history, family history, etc.
2. Changing therapy methods without discussion with the client with the excuse that the case is a difficult one and he or she is trying everything to help.
3. Allowing patients to call, anytime for any reason and not charge for time on calls. This nurtures dependence and further loosens boundaries.
4. Hugging and kissing after sessions. It may not seem like a sexual advance but rather, reassurance and caring. It is inappropriate, unprofessional and redefines the relationship as familiar and friendly.
5. Dismissal of important issues that don't fit their agenda. My ND sounded like he was arguing in my best interests when he stated "it isn't about" whatever idea I had brought up. As it turns out, my issues would not have fit into his interest in MDMA therapy for post traumatic stress disorder. A skilled therapist never dismisses a client's concerns. In retrospect, what I brought up at my second visit was the MAJOR life issue that he and I NEVER talked about.
6. Ignoring serious symptoms by stating they are trapped emotions emerging. Telling the client they are tough and strong when in fact they are suffering.
7. Diagnosing or assessing symptoms when not trained to do so. For instance, shaking, dizziness and collapsing from fasting or anorexia is not a panic attack. Inability to urinate is not trapped emotions, fear, rigidity or anxiety. Asthma is not grief.
8. Ignoring suicide attempts, talk of morbid ideas, instead talking about their beliefs on death and the afterlife. Not notifying appropriate mental health practitioners, family or guardian, or referring out to a skilled practitioner.
9. Introducing personal information as a way of being empathetic and coercive. ND described his childhood abandonment and how this led to his control issues. He wanted me to let go of my control issues and go to Landmark Forum.
10. Losing patience when client does not make progress.
11. Forgetting the original complaint as a result of being caught up in practitioner's agenda.
12. Telling client their condition is learned, a story, just thoughts, a way of avoiding responsibility.
13. Isolating or leading a client away from family and friends suggesting they are better off, it's courageous to do so, or simply observing the client's isolation and not questioning it.
14. Stating there isn't much else that can be done that hasn't been done already, in an effort to get client to give in to therapy, which leads to further dependence on practitioner.
15. Dismissing client's questions and research as control issues.
16. Making it seem like the client did not try hard enough when it is apparent that no progress has been made.
17. Not wrapping up therapy and discharging appropriately.
A skilled therapist will be able to work with the transference that arises typically in therapy. Transference can be effectively used as a healing tool. There are many kinds of transference, not just romantic.
An ethical therapist will not enter into an intimate, social or business relationship with their client. A covert manipulator likely will use information culled from client sessions to their advantage. This is a serious breech of trust and it is the client who suffers.
He or she will not waste a client's time promoting their political and religious beliefs or talking excessively about personal issues.
An ethical therapist is reliable, does not travel so as to provide consistent visits, is on time, can be reached in emergencies and instructs clients on what to do in their absence.
An ethical therapist never blames the patient for their own pain, nor for not "getting it." There are victims. Landmark doesn't think so and neither did my ND. A person cannot see their own denial. A skilled therapist will ask questions that help clients see for themselves what is causing depression, anxiety, and perhaps aches and pains, but they will work with the appropriately trained health practitioners. Insight does not mean cure. More work must follow.
When confronted with his inconsistencies and lies, my ND shouted that I was a sick person and needed help. He accused me of slander and harassment when I tried to ask questions. He later threatened to bill me for >40 hours (his claim) of phone calls @$80\hour when I sent the final bill for work I had done for him. He has refused to discuss any of my concerns regarding the care I received, avoided phone calls, and then left the country.
Unskilled New Age\Holistic Healers
Posted by:
Rahzel101
()
Date: October 07, 2002 08:29AM
you right, simpel logic tells thy, " something is roung with you, go to a doc asap" but a lot of prople have not the money to do that, and thes peopel r sometimes cheep, some times not. so they will go there, thinking there r just the same. I hope the r stopped.
Unskilled New Age\Holistic Healers
Posted by:
Hope
()
Date: October 08, 2002 05:45AM
The naturopaths I know are not cheap. Most spend more than the usual 15 minute standard medical office visit, but in my state, insurance does not cover naturopathy. A visit can run anywhere from $65 to $130\hour. Mine was $80\hr. I use ND, but this info applies to any kind of healer, guru or counselor.
Consumers need to ask questions they might not think of asking. If I go to another ND, I'm will ask, based on info I've found, if they've been to Landmark Forum and what did they think about it. I don't like to stereotype, but if they did LF and liked it, I'm out of there. It would rare indeed to not "get something out of it" and not want to share it. Another good question to ask is if there therapies are science-based or more esoteric. If they are selling mind-body medicine, one needs to ask how they determine when to refer to, perhaps, a cognitive therapist.
A good thing to ask is who are the doctors the ND works along with - get names. My ND lied outright about his professional relationships with other doctors - he didn't have any, not even with the MD whose office he was renting. He referred me to her for hormone testing, but never called her to give background info.
While I don't think most therapists are as unethical as mine, my experience has driven me to try to educate people about "eclectic" practitioners, like the excerpt in Corboy's post describes. His post on what to look for with spiritual guides also offers important info on finding out their background, who they learned from. Ask them if they lecture extensively.
Consumers need to ask questions they might not think of asking. If I go to another ND, I'm will ask, based on info I've found, if they've been to Landmark Forum and what did they think about it. I don't like to stereotype, but if they did LF and liked it, I'm out of there. It would rare indeed to not "get something out of it" and not want to share it. Another good question to ask is if there therapies are science-based or more esoteric. If they are selling mind-body medicine, one needs to ask how they determine when to refer to, perhaps, a cognitive therapist.
A good thing to ask is who are the doctors the ND works along with - get names. My ND lied outright about his professional relationships with other doctors - he didn't have any, not even with the MD whose office he was renting. He referred me to her for hormone testing, but never called her to give background info.
While I don't think most therapists are as unethical as mine, my experience has driven me to try to educate people about "eclectic" practitioners, like the excerpt in Corboy's post describes. His post on what to look for with spiritual guides also offers important info on finding out their background, who they learned from. Ask them if they lecture extensively.
Unskilled New Age\Holistic Healers
Posted by:
richardmgreen
()
Date: October 13, 2002 01:14AM
I think the crux of the matter is that these therapies are rooted in religious traditions that don't have scientific back up and verification. Perhaps the systems have some good ideas but, it all has to be quantified and qualified before actually using the systems to any extent and I wouldn't go to a holisitic healer to set a bone, or cure my soul.
A lot of these systems had root in the Orient where they had certain ideas about how energy works in the body, Chi, Yin/Yang, Chakras, meridians, etc.. I know some of it because I studied the martial arts and have books of developing Chi.
Shlomo Carlebach had a "healer" who I met once and some of the Carlebach people see him when they can. The healer had these diagrams that I take it were derived from some ancient system.
It seems to me that science has to further evolve to understand the way energy works and is transmitted in the body not just for muscle movement and organ functioning but also how it projects into the surroundings of a person. I think there's a lot that we don't know about how a person functions holistically and while chemicals and surgery work for some things, they don't work for everything.
There's actually a system for measuring a person's "aura". I have a book on it. People's aura changes shape and color as different events hapen.
A lot of these systems had root in the Orient where they had certain ideas about how energy works in the body, Chi, Yin/Yang, Chakras, meridians, etc.. I know some of it because I studied the martial arts and have books of developing Chi.
Shlomo Carlebach had a "healer" who I met once and some of the Carlebach people see him when they can. The healer had these diagrams that I take it were derived from some ancient system.
It seems to me that science has to further evolve to understand the way energy works and is transmitted in the body not just for muscle movement and organ functioning but also how it projects into the surroundings of a person. I think there's a lot that we don't know about how a person functions holistically and while chemicals and surgery work for some things, they don't work for everything.
There's actually a system for measuring a person's "aura". I have a book on it. People's aura changes shape and color as different events hapen.
Unskilled New Age\Holistic Healers
Posted by:
Hope
()
Date: October 13, 2002 02:47AM
It's all derivative - even mainstream psychology (study of soul) - in religious and spiritual practice.
This ND attempted to practice cognitive-behavioral therapy - as does Landmark Education - but did not know what he was doing. He was arrogant, sociopathic, manipulative, and very likely a polysubstance abuser.
My point is that practitioners who are offering therapies, whether "proven" scientifically or not, need to be ethical and responsible business people. Something like the Health Freedom Act ([www.naturalhealth.org]) that provides consumers with a bill of rights, a written CV from the practitioner, and which sets ethical standards and holds practitioners responsible for their clients sounds like a good idea.
This ND attempted to practice cognitive-behavioral therapy - as does Landmark Education - but did not know what he was doing. He was arrogant, sociopathic, manipulative, and very likely a polysubstance abuser.
My point is that practitioners who are offering therapies, whether "proven" scientifically or not, need to be ethical and responsible business people. Something like the Health Freedom Act ([www.naturalhealth.org]) that provides consumers with a bill of rights, a written CV from the practitioner, and which sets ethical standards and holds practitioners responsible for their clients sounds like a good idea.
Re: Unskilled New Age\Holistic Healers
Posted by:
jj52
()
Date: March 04, 2008 03:34AM
I was happy to find this thread. Thanks for all the tips. I am a Nationally Certified and Licensed Massage Therapist who is considering a complete change of profession because I'm so sick of all the kooks in the Holistic Medicine field... and tired of being associated with them. I'm sick of the looks and comments people make because of their experiences with kooky people in this field. And believe me, there are plenty.
I'm tired of clients who've been made to be dependent on one holistic healer, so they expect me to mother them. I always know when someone's been seeing an abusive healer prior to seeing me. Those are the people who feel at liberty to call all hours, find my home and show up on my doorstep without any warning, or who want to hang around after their session is over to "talk". This is not my job. People who've had bad experiences don't seem to get that, and sadly, I often have to drop them from my clientele.
I'm tired of people asking for spiritual advice or psychic readings from their sessions. I know too many massage therapists and holistic practitioners who play guru to their clients and make the treatments into something it shouldn't be. I always know when someone comes to me from one of those people because they act like they are having a spiritual experience while getting treatment and want me to basically read their palms. I've had people get really angry at me when I wouldn't give them psychic or spiritual counsel. That does not belong in holistic medicine.
I'm tired of people dumping all their problems on me and expecting me to give them advice or counsel. By law, I'm not allowed to counsel anyone. But, those people who seem shocked when I won't counsel them usually are the victims of a bad holistic practitioner who did.
I'm tired of attending continuing education with people who are supposed to be my colleagues that think that holisitic medicine is all about New Age spirituality, like The Law of Attraction. I'm tired of trying to civil and professional with colleagues who think that because a client or two had an emotional release during a session that they are now qualified to counsel people and take them deep into trauma-related memories. I'm tired of people using "massage therapist" or "holistic practitioner" as a disguise for their own private guru-dom.
I'm sick of seeing colleagues abandon good sense and their basic education to teach classes on "The Secret" or hynoptism, or the like. I'm tired of people in this field abandoning all professional ethics and boundaries to pretend to be something they are not. I'm tired of seeing people advertise themselves as experts in modalities of holistic medicine that they've never been properly trained for or studied. Okay, maybe they read a book. That doesn't give someone the right charge money for it and bill themselves as an expert!
And most of all, I'm tired of being mistaken for one of those kooks just because I'm a massage therapist.
These posts rang very true to me. I'm very sorry for anyone who has been abused or mislead by these people. It's sad and sick.
Anyway, thanks for the information.
-jj
I'm tired of clients who've been made to be dependent on one holistic healer, so they expect me to mother them. I always know when someone's been seeing an abusive healer prior to seeing me. Those are the people who feel at liberty to call all hours, find my home and show up on my doorstep without any warning, or who want to hang around after their session is over to "talk". This is not my job. People who've had bad experiences don't seem to get that, and sadly, I often have to drop them from my clientele.
I'm tired of people asking for spiritual advice or psychic readings from their sessions. I know too many massage therapists and holistic practitioners who play guru to their clients and make the treatments into something it shouldn't be. I always know when someone comes to me from one of those people because they act like they are having a spiritual experience while getting treatment and want me to basically read their palms. I've had people get really angry at me when I wouldn't give them psychic or spiritual counsel. That does not belong in holistic medicine.
I'm tired of people dumping all their problems on me and expecting me to give them advice or counsel. By law, I'm not allowed to counsel anyone. But, those people who seem shocked when I won't counsel them usually are the victims of a bad holistic practitioner who did.
I'm tired of attending continuing education with people who are supposed to be my colleagues that think that holisitic medicine is all about New Age spirituality, like The Law of Attraction. I'm tired of trying to civil and professional with colleagues who think that because a client or two had an emotional release during a session that they are now qualified to counsel people and take them deep into trauma-related memories. I'm tired of people using "massage therapist" or "holistic practitioner" as a disguise for their own private guru-dom.
I'm sick of seeing colleagues abandon good sense and their basic education to teach classes on "The Secret" or hynoptism, or the like. I'm tired of people in this field abandoning all professional ethics and boundaries to pretend to be something they are not. I'm tired of seeing people advertise themselves as experts in modalities of holistic medicine that they've never been properly trained for or studied. Okay, maybe they read a book. That doesn't give someone the right charge money for it and bill themselves as an expert!
And most of all, I'm tired of being mistaken for one of those kooks just because I'm a massage therapist.
These posts rang very true to me. I'm very sorry for anyone who has been abused or mislead by these people. It's sad and sick.
Anyway, thanks for the information.
-jj
Re: Unskilled New Age\Holistic Healers
Posted by:
jj52
()
Date: March 04, 2008 03:35AM
I was happy to find this thread. Thanks for all the tips. I am a Nationally Certified and Licensed Massage Therapist who is considering a complete change of profession because I'm so sick of all the kooks in the Holistic Medicine field... and tired of being associated with them. I'm sick of the looks and comments people make because of their experiences with kooky people in this field. And believe me, there are plenty.
I'm tired of clients who've been made to be dependent on one holistic healer, so they expect me to mother them. I always know when someone's been seeing an abusive healer prior to seeing me. Those are the people who feel at liberty to call all hours, find my home and show up on my doorstep without any warning, or who want to hang around after their session is over to "talk". This is not my job. People who've had bad experiences don't seem to get that, and sadly, I often have to drop them from my clientele.
I'm tired of people asking for spiritual advice or psychic readings from their sessions. I know too many massage therapists and holistic practitioners who play guru to their clients and make the treatments into something it shouldn't be. I always know when someone comes to me from one of those people because they act like they are having a spiritual experience while getting treatment and want me to basically read their palms. I've had people get really angry at me when I wouldn't give them psychic or spiritual counsel. That does not belong in holistic medicine.
I'm tired of people dumping all their problems on me and expecting me to give them advice or counsel. By law, I'm not allowed to counsel anyone. But, those people who seem shocked when I won't counsel them usually are the victims of a bad holistic practitioner who did.
I'm tired of attending continuing education with people who are supposed to be my colleagues that think that holisitic medicine is all about New Age spirituality, like The Law of Attraction. I'm tired of trying to be civil and professional with colleagues who think that because a client or two had an emotional release during a session that they are now qualified to counsel people and take them deep into trauma-related memories. I'm tired of people using "massage therapist" or "holistic practitioner" as a disguise for their own private guru-dom.
I'm sick of seeing colleagues abandon good sense and their basic education to teach classes on "The Secret" or hynoptism, or the like. I'm tired of people in this field abandoning all professional ethics and boundaries to pretend to be something they are not. I'm tired of seeing people advertise themselves as experts in modalities of holistic medicine that they've never been properly trained for or studied. Okay, maybe they read a book. That doesn't give someone the right charge money for it and bill themselves as an expert!
And most of all, I'm tired of being mistaken for one of those kooks just because I'm a massage therapist.
These posts rang very true to me. I'm very sorry for anyone who has been abused or mislead by these people. It's sad and sick.
Anyway, thanks for the information.
-jj
I'm tired of clients who've been made to be dependent on one holistic healer, so they expect me to mother them. I always know when someone's been seeing an abusive healer prior to seeing me. Those are the people who feel at liberty to call all hours, find my home and show up on my doorstep without any warning, or who want to hang around after their session is over to "talk". This is not my job. People who've had bad experiences don't seem to get that, and sadly, I often have to drop them from my clientele.
I'm tired of people asking for spiritual advice or psychic readings from their sessions. I know too many massage therapists and holistic practitioners who play guru to their clients and make the treatments into something it shouldn't be. I always know when someone comes to me from one of those people because they act like they are having a spiritual experience while getting treatment and want me to basically read their palms. I've had people get really angry at me when I wouldn't give them psychic or spiritual counsel. That does not belong in holistic medicine.
I'm tired of people dumping all their problems on me and expecting me to give them advice or counsel. By law, I'm not allowed to counsel anyone. But, those people who seem shocked when I won't counsel them usually are the victims of a bad holistic practitioner who did.
I'm tired of attending continuing education with people who are supposed to be my colleagues that think that holisitic medicine is all about New Age spirituality, like The Law of Attraction. I'm tired of trying to be civil and professional with colleagues who think that because a client or two had an emotional release during a session that they are now qualified to counsel people and take them deep into trauma-related memories. I'm tired of people using "massage therapist" or "holistic practitioner" as a disguise for their own private guru-dom.
I'm sick of seeing colleagues abandon good sense and their basic education to teach classes on "The Secret" or hynoptism, or the like. I'm tired of people in this field abandoning all professional ethics and boundaries to pretend to be something they are not. I'm tired of seeing people advertise themselves as experts in modalities of holistic medicine that they've never been properly trained for or studied. Okay, maybe they read a book. That doesn't give someone the right charge money for it and bill themselves as an expert!
And most of all, I'm tired of being mistaken for one of those kooks just because I'm a massage therapist.
These posts rang very true to me. I'm very sorry for anyone who has been abused or mislead by these people. It's sad and sick.
Anyway, thanks for the information.
-jj
Re: Unskilled New Age\Holistic Healers
Posted by:
Hope
()
Date: March 14, 2008 05:24AM
jj,
Excellent points. I hear so many people who "believe" in their "healer" and do not question anything. I also see so many mainstream therapists who have fallen for crap like the Secret and the likes of Byron Katie (the therapist I saw in the aftermath of my quack recommended BK's books). Another poster here wrote that mainstream medical schools are offering New Age fluff classes so that the future physicians will know what their patients are talking about and be able to offer alternative services.
I am currently in a program of study for nutrition and there is some reference to some New Age stuff by other students that really pisses me off, for instance, when they recognize some scientific research that they claim is what Louise Hay is talking about. Ugh!
It is pretty scary out there, in both the alternative and mainstream medical fields.
Excellent points. I hear so many people who "believe" in their "healer" and do not question anything. I also see so many mainstream therapists who have fallen for crap like the Secret and the likes of Byron Katie (the therapist I saw in the aftermath of my quack recommended BK's books). Another poster here wrote that mainstream medical schools are offering New Age fluff classes so that the future physicians will know what their patients are talking about and be able to offer alternative services.
I am currently in a program of study for nutrition and there is some reference to some New Age stuff by other students that really pisses me off, for instance, when they recognize some scientific research that they claim is what Louise Hay is talking about. Ugh!
It is pretty scary out there, in both the alternative and mainstream medical fields.
Re: Unskilled New Age\Holistic Healers
Posted by:
mindconcern
()
Date: March 26, 2008 10:32PM
Any massage therapist who says that you will receive any other benefit besides feeling nice or loosening up a muscle is pulling your leg.
Any chiropractor who says they can do anything besides make your joints and tendons make a popping sound and MAYBE providing temporary relief from something that needs surgery or professional evaluation is pulling your leg.
There's a reason that naturopaths aren't allowed to diagnose or treat with real medicine: it's because their entire philosophy is to create a magic sugar pill to convince you, and sometimes their self, that something really is happening.
The only skill any new age or holistic healer has is to make a hubbub.
Any chiropractor who says they can do anything besides make your joints and tendons make a popping sound and MAYBE providing temporary relief from something that needs surgery or professional evaluation is pulling your leg.
There's a reason that naturopaths aren't allowed to diagnose or treat with real medicine: it's because their entire philosophy is to create a magic sugar pill to convince you, and sometimes their self, that something really is happening.
The only skill any new age or holistic healer has is to make a hubbub.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.