In 1999 we were working with a variety of clients who were seeking improvement with mental, emotional, physical or spiritual issues. More than a few of the clients had been involved in seeking "helping professionals" over a number of years. Some of the clients' situations were complicated by being involved in the judicial system or as a result of being among people who were nonsupportive of positive change and more supportive of unhealthy choices and lifestyles.
Wherever they were on in addressing with their issues, the more significantly impacted clients had a few things in common:
It was very tough for them to make the changes they wanted
Over some period of time, if positive changes did occur, the changes didn't last
No option for help seemed to really work or connect
A sense of calm and peace was lacking
General agitation was present which led to emotional, mental, physical or spiritual unrest
Personal relationships were either superficial, non-existent, volatile, or enmeshed
They had a sense that they were trapped in a situation, body, or life that was fighting them
My background is somewhat unique. I straddle several professional roles and have education, experience and background in multiple areas. My background presented the opportunity for me to observe clients, who came to me for one reason, obtain unanticipated benefits in other areas not directly expected from their primary interaction with me. Over the course of several years, this happened frequently and sometimes the results were pretty significant. I could go into a number of case examples, but it might be more useful to stay a little more general and explain the possible "why" of how this occurred.
In short, I have studied many different wellness concepts that appear, at first, to have very little relationship with each other. What I observed with IB and the results clients experienced was that a blend of concepts and techniques drawn from massage & bodywork, meridian based acupressure, energy work (primarily Reiki), yogic meditation & breath work, Neo-Ericksonian hypnosis and aromatherapy had a synergistic effect. A blend of these techniques, based on the client's presentation and goals, seems to provide significant results. I am hesitant to say this, because I don't want to set an unrealistic expectation - but in some situations, with some clients, the client stated that they obtained more improvement from one session that they had ever received for years via other more mainstream and silo based methods. Even when less dramatic results were obtained, the results were still significant.
The results have very little to do with me. It has to do with the blend of techniques and the delivery. I am becoming more and more convinced that language is not a very good tool to use to address many wellness and well-being issues. Verbal communication is a very cognitive, preconditioned, often misinterpreted, faulty delivery method, when it is used as the primary method to address issues of wellness. Often, the communication channel is so affected and conditioned by past issues that it is relatively useless as a tool to help make improvements. Also, verbal communication inherently relies heavily on conscious cognitive processes which, almost by definition, are not optimal if someone is seeking to improve their situation. In some situations, techniques that rely on unconscious, non-verbal methods seem more effective. It may be true that silence is golden.
Even in situations where unconscious body memory or physical touch may elicit a client's awareness recall of a physical accident or abuse and evoke a response; non-verbal, unconscious, directly contrasting healthy touch or sensations can immediately offset years of prior patterning and conditioning. This is especially true if concurrent methods are used to reduce the physiological reaction and reset a baseline that supports the parasympathetic nervous system (rest, digest, relax, recover). The baseline reset can be facilitated and anchored by breath work, visualization, hypnosis... The effective power is in the blend of the multi-modality delivery.
I do not personally or professionally consider IB "fringy." I know not everyone will agree. IB crosses multiple disciplines, models and professions. The concept of touching clients as a form of "therapy" is controversial. However, while much simpler in delivery and extent than our IB process, there is a growing collection of research and support for a basic component of IB. The Veteran's Administration and the military are gathering research and support for simple massage as supportive treatment for PTSD. In our IB model, the disciplines are blended and delivered by a single multi-modality practitioner. This option leverages continuity, encourages transference and offers real-time flexibility.
I know that the above explanation is presented in a pretty dry and clinical way. In delivery, IB is a very peaceful, restful, nurturing and relaxing process. This article also addressed some of the more extreme scenarios related to IB. IB is also very useful and helpful for clients who are simply seeking a powerful and holistic session to help fine tune or optimize and already healthy and centered status. Click here for more information about Wishing Wellness.
