Counseling, Hypnosis, Reiki, Holistic Healing

This review is adapted from the writer's review at Amazon.com

Colin Tipping's Radical Forgiveness is a superb guide to finding genuine forgiveness and healing.  This book is based on some essential metaphysical principles that when understood assist us in seeing things from a spiritual, soul-based perspective rather than the dualistic ego perspective.  This is similar to A Course in Miracles and other popular "new age" and "new thought" spiritual teachings.

This approach invites everyone to shift from victim consciousness into a perspective where there are no victims and no need for blame - everything happening in your life is happening in a perfect synchronistic manner to help you heal your misperceptions.  Paradoxically, with this understanding, we see that our Higher Selves chose for us to participate in this human reality where we took on the role of victims, so that we can gain an even deeper understanding of who we are as we heal.  This approach invites us to release judgments and the need to feel we are "right."  Radical Forgiveness guides us to recognize that all of our experiences serve our greater good.  Since whatever occurred is ultimately helping us grow we feel no need to blame others or resent them - we can actually be thankful for what has happened!  This comes naturally as we shift into this higher perspective as this can't be forced.  Tipping points out why other forgiveness practices often fail to produce healing and offers a process through which readers can practice radical forgiveness with any issue that arises in their lives.

This book presents the ideas in a clear manner with multiple real-life examples of people using radical forgiveness to transform their experience.  As a metaphysical writer, counselor, and healing facilitator, I have found these teachings very valuable - Colin has presented a well-organized and inspiring guide to what many healers and counselors have been teaching their clients and themselves in a more informal manner.  This book is more clear and concise than A Course in Miracles, and is a welcome resource to help people heal what Tipping refers to as the "victim archetype."

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591797640/

Jed Shlackman, LMHC, C.Ht.
www.phinsights.com

This review is adapted from the writer's review at Amazon.com

Meg Losey offers a new parenting book that isn't a typical how-to parents' guide.  It's a book of deep spiritual insight that challenges the reader to be open, authentic, self-accepting, and willing to break out of old patterns and limiting beliefs.  It's about becoming an example of a spiritually liberated, self-actualized human being and doing the personal growth work as a vital part of being a better parent.  This is a book on conscious parenting, which means it inspires parents to be self-aware so that they can be more aware and sensitive to the needs of their children.

Losey refers to the many children who are exceptionally aware and sensitive as the Children of Now.  This is similar to the designations of "indigo" and "crystal" given to these children by "new age" thinkers and parents who wish to feel their kids are special.  These children have much to share with the world, although Losey does over-idealize them at times.  They have areas they need to develop and balance themselves in, so Losey does well in pointing out how our society can be destructive to their self-concept and stifle their potential by suppressing their self-expression rather than helping them process their feelings.

This book teaches valuable spiritual principles and offers exercises to help parents love, heal, and accept themselves and their children.  It's designed to help you shift your perspective and help your child embrace the spiritual gifts and potential that lie within.  I find the principles offered in this book highly congruent with what I teach in my own writings and the spiritual/holistic counseling and healing work I offer.  This book is quite valuable for any parent to read, yet it's not just for parents - anyone can learn and apply the insights provided in this book.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1578634601/

Jed Shlackman, LMHC, C.Ht.
www.phinsights.com

With a new calendar year many people set goals or resolutions to make healthy changes in their lives. If you wish to maintain healthy commitments you are encouraged to take joy in having a healthy lifestyle - live this way not because you feel you have to but because you like healthy habits! You don't want to be the same old person attempting to force yourself into behaviors that are incongruent with your identity - you want to fully transform yourself so that the new habits are natural to the new you!

Here are 20 suggestions for things that can help you find improved health and harmony in 2010:

1. Release old addictive behaviors. This could be addictive use of food or drugs as well as addictions to behaviors and activities like gambling, sex, the Internet, shopping, and other pursuits.
2. Eat more whole, unprocessed foods. This includes more fruits and vegetables as well as avoiding sugar, artificial sweeteners, fried foods, hydrogenated oils, and other foods that don't work harmoniously with you body.
3. Take time each day for meditation, prayer, or quiet contemplation.
4. Take time for exercising your body at least a few days a week.
5. Avoid environmental toxins as much as possible.
6. Use a water purification system in your home.
7. Commit to taking steps to heal unresolved emotions.
8. Learn to look at life from a new perspective in which everything in your life is there to help you grow and evolve... nothing that happens is bad for you no matter how unpleasant the experience may feel in the moment.
9. Use exercises or healing methods that work to help restore balance to your energy system. This includes yoga, tai chi, qi gong, reiki, healing touch, therapeutic touch, quantum touch, massage, acupuncture, and other practices.
10. Enhance your communication with others - be authentic and genuine, listen openly to others and their points of view.
11. Don't take it personally when other people don't treat you the way you wish to be treated.
12. Take more time to be of service to others if you've been too self-absorbed.
13. Take more time to address your own needs and desires if you've been too preoccupied with helping others.
14. Consciously recognize things you can feel grateful for.
15. Spend more time with people who are positive examples for healthy qualities.
16. Spend less time with people who exhibit unhealthy traits.
17. Find something that allows you to express your creativity.
18. Spend more time reading about natural health and less time going to doctors who are uneducated about natural health.
19. Accept that everyone has the freedom and responsibility to live their lives with their own choices and challenges.
20. Trust in the love and wisdom of Creation and the Creator (with whatever name or concept you have for the Source of your being).

With cold weather blanketing most of America, many people are remaining indoors and missing out on sunlight, exercise, and fresh air. Under these conditions you may be more vulnerable to catching illnesses. Fresh air and exercise help bring more oxygen to your cells. This nourishes your cells and helps prevent the spread of harmful microbes. Sunlight also helps support your immune system, as it triggers production of Vitamin D in your body. Deficiencies in Vitamin D are associated with weakened immune function and increased incidence of common infections such as colds and flus. If you are indoors and not getting sunlight exposure then it is important to get Vitamin D supplementation and to take time to exercise inside, breathing deeply and increasing your oxygen intake.

The form of Vitamin D known to enhance your immune system is Vitamin D3. Some researchers estimate that about 85% of the population is deficient in this vitamin. This situation is aggravated during the winter season when there is less daylight and many people remain indoors due to cold temperatures. Fish and fish oil contain Vitamin D3, as do egg yolks, liver, and cheese. Plant foods are not recognized as a significant source of vitamin D, so sometimes items such as orange juice and cereal may contain added vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for metabolism of the minerals calcium and phosphorus, which are needed to build and maintain bones. This winter be sure to keep healthy Vitamin D levels in your body so that your immune system stays strong and your bones stay healthy as well.

This is a review of the CD set "Emotional Freedom," with Judith Orloff, MD

Dr. Judith Orloff is a holistic psychiatrist who focuses on teaching people psychospiritual approaches to handling psychological challenges.  In her 2-CD set Emotional Freedom, Dr. Orloff shares exercises to help transform emotions such as fear, anxiety, frustration, and loneliness.  Activating qualities such as courage, self-esteem, connection, and patience, Orloff guides the listener to begin to experience things in a different way.  The guidance includes a variety of cues to help the listener relate their emotions to where they are processed in the body.  There are many good insights here to build self-awareness and develop skills to process emotions in constructive ways.  One thing that I found missing here was more input about how belief-structures underlying emotional patterns may be addressed.  The approach Orloff shares may slowly help a person shift from negative thinking to positive thinking, but there are sometimes ways to foster a more rapid shift.  Overall, I found this CD set to be helpful.  As a holistic counselor and healer I find Dr. Orloff's approaches to be useful and would encourage those seeking to overcome emotional challenges to consider this recording as a potential tool to help them.  Self-help books and audios can be beneficial, while it is also quite valuable to have an experienced therapist/counselor/coach available to help you address emotional challenges in an individualized manner.

Jed Shlackman, LMHC, C.Ht.
www.phinsights.com

A study published in the journal Pediatrics has demonstrated exceptional benefits in children who were given probiotics. The double-blind, placebo controlled study carried out in China found that children taking probiotic supplements were less likely to contract fevers and coughs and recovered much faster from illnesses than children who had not received probiotics. Taking 2 different varieties of probiotics brought a greater benefit than using just one strain. The research was conducted in 2005-2006 and included over 300 children in the study sample. Children who received both Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis exhibited 72% fewer fevers than the placebo group. They had 62% fewer coughs, and 59% fewer runny noses than the control group. The length of illnesses in the group administered two probiotics was 48% of that in the placebo group and they used 84% less antibiotics than the placebo group.


Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that assist in digestion and are found in the intestines. They grow naturally in cultured milk products and are available in a variety of supplements. Antibiotics typically destroy many of these beneficial bacteria, which means it is important to replenish one's probiotics with supplements if antibiotics have been consumed. Since our digestive health affects our overall health and well-being, probiotics benefit many aspects of health beyond their direct benefits for digestion. With increased absorption of nutrients and a clearing of toxin buildup in the digestive tract, our health naturally improves. We become more resistant to illness and have more resources to recover quickly if we do become sick. This study joins an impressive body of evidence showing how beneficial probiotics can be and how our digestive health affects our immune system and vulnerability to illness.

Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams is a devotee of alternative healing methods such as breathwork, meditation, yoga, acupuncture, massage, pranic healing, and a vegetarian diet. Williams has studied ayurvedic medicine and practices pranic healing, an energy healing method based on traditions from India believed to go back thousands of years. Williams also has California-based pranic healer Daniel O'Hara provide distance healing sessions to supplement the self-treatments that Ricky applies. Williams told Miami Herald reporter Barry Jackson "I know for a fact it works. It's fascinating." Williams is currently averaging about 5.3 yards per carry, a career high, and believes his use of natural healing methods has much to do with his improved performance. Williams' career has previously been marred by injuries and by suspension for using illicit substances. His difficulties with social anxiety have been publicized, and in the past Williams had used marijuana as well as trying prescription medications to cope with his psychological challenges. Williams current success with alternative medicine may seem unusual to teammates, yet the fact that Ricky is healthy, performing well, and not creating any negative publicity is pleasing to the team and fans.


Pranic healing is a system in which healers use breathing and visualization to help direct energy flow, helping restore balance to one's energy system. The energy system includes the aura or energy field, and the chakras, which are energy centers that distribute energy to the body. This yogic healing tradition is similar to many other healing traditions, including reiki, medical qi gong, therapeutic touch, quantum touch, shamanic energy healing, and Christian laying-on-of-hands traditions. Prana is a Sanskrit word that refers to the breath of life, or life force energy that is carried with the breath. Ricky Williams has been practicing pranic healing since 2007, and other pranic healing students in Miami report that Ricky appeared at workshops as just another student, not as a celebrity.

Pranic healing is a method that anyone can learn, as it involves use of simple exercises involving skills we all already possess. The author of this article is a reiki teacher in Miami, and has witnessed students with no prior healing arts experience effectively apply reiki within minutes. Those wishing to find improved health and enhanced success in their lives may wish to consider Ricky Williams' example and learn to use energy healing methods. Those wishing for a brief introduction or taste of these healing methods can find free or low cost energy healing group sessions. Anyone wishing to learn more can do an Internet search for terms like pranic healing, reiki, or energy healing, combined with the name of their city or town, and this will lead to resources to help start one's healing journey.


Article by Jed Shlackman, LMHC, a counselor and energy healer in Miami, FL
www.phinsights.com