| Wholistic and Empowering practitioners come with | | | | not make decisions for you. Now is an important time |
| many titles, in different shapes, of varied forms, and | | | | for you to claim your own power -- empowerment |
| with imaginative descriptions. Some do not identify | | | | from within, not power of one over another.So, decide, |
| themselves as "wholistic" or "empowering" at all. Some | | | | "Do I want to work with this practitioner?" If you work |
| may even resist such designations. Many have | | | | with someone because your spouse or a parent or |
| developed creative titles to identify their special | | | | your boss has insisted, be clear about such a decision |
| niches.By "wholistic" I mean a helping professional who | | | | not only with yourself, but with the practitioner. The |
| sees and treats you as a whole person. By | | | | wise professional supports you differently if he or she |
| "empowering" I mean one who helps you to find your | | | | knows you are there under duress or for someone |
| own power within yourself. At any given time in your | | | | else's needs.If you are uncertain that a practitioner is a |
| life, you may work with many different helpers, even | | | | match for you in a long-term relationship, you may |
| for the same issue.Getting StartedTo start your | | | | want to invest in just one session. Most practitioners |
| search for a wholistic and/or empowering practitioner: | | | | offer workshops or literature or initial consultations or |
| turn within. That is to say, turn to your own inner | | | | telephone conversations to assist you in your decision |
| wisdom. Ask, "What is my intention?" "What are my | | | | making. Sometimes these offerings are free of charge |
| needs?" "What do I desire?" If you are unclear about | | | | to you. Do not abuse introductory offers or |
| your needs, look for someone who can help you | | | | introductions. Remember, practitioners earn a living by |
| clarify them! Looking for help outside yourself is an act | | | | giving support to clients who pay for their time.If you |
| of empowerment if you stay connected with your | | | | cannot make up your mind or read your heart, that is |
| inner self; looking for help outside yourself is an act of | | | | your responsibility, not the practitioner's. Both of you |
| disempowerment if you believe that you are less | | | | need to give and share honestly, but within reason. |
| important than the practitioner.You may find it helpful to | | | | Please note: if you need someone to convince you, |
| write your intention and make a list of goals and wants | | | | then you are not looking for a wholistic or empowering |
| and needs to facilitate your search for help outside | | | | practitioner.During the initial contacts, keep turning within. |
| yourself. For example, if you prefer to work with | | | | How do you feel while you are with this person or as |
| someone who listens to you, pass up story tellers who | | | | you read this person's literature? Do you feel trusting? |
| talk about themselves and others as a means of | | | | Do you feel empowered? If you have been |
| teaching you something. If you experience this or any | | | | depressed, do you feel hopeful? If you have been |
| other approach as a waste of time, you will waste | | | | distressed, do you feel more calm? Do you sense |
| your time. Remember, your intention is to find your | | | | mutual respect? Do you believe you can get your |
| match, not make anyone wrong.Are you seeking a | | | | needs met with this person's assistance?It is important |
| Personal Consultant? Attorney? Therapist? | | | | to be open and realistic and to put into proper |
| Chiropractor? Energy Healer? Spiritual Practitioner? | | | | perspective the ideas that you hear or read. The |
| Accountant? Meditation Expert? Medical Doctor? | | | | practitioner may say something that you do not like. |
| Coach? Nutritionist? Financial Advisor? Career | | | | (e.g., "For your health's sake, it is essential that you quit |
| Counselor? Real Estate Agent? Massage Therapist? | | | | smoking.") If you are overly critical or seek the flawless |
| Mentor? Hypnotherapist? Acupuncturist? Friend?The | | | | practitioner or look only for agreement with your own |
| list can continue with complex or creative titles, since | | | | opinions, you may not find the help you need. After all, |
| helpers oriented toward empowerment and wholism | | | | your thoughts and beliefs and opinions have created |
| often have more than one area of expertise. Some | | | | the situation in which you find yourself. You need |
| technologies require academic degrees and/or licensing | | | | something to be different in order to change. |
| in order to practice what they say they practice. | | | | The Appointment is ScheduledAfter making your |
| Some have other impressive credentials or vast public | | | | appointment, keep turning within. What do you want to |
| exposure.You engage your rational thought processes | | | | get from the session? What is your intention? Think |
| to narrow your choices. Even more important than the | | | | about your needs, pay attention to your feelings, and |
| rational function is honoring your heart and your intuition. | | | | listen deeply. Stay flexible to new insights that may |
| Starting and continuing to check inside yourself leads | | | | reveal themselves just by turning within.Between the |
| you to wiser choices.First ImpressionsKeep your needs | | | | time of the appointment scheduling and the consultation |
| in your mind and heart when making your initial contact. | | | | itself, communication occurs through the energy field. |
| Ask the practitioner what he or she has to offer. If | | | | The work has begun, regardless of how much either |
| there seems to be a match, reveal your needs briefly, | | | | of you is aware of the connection. |
| then listen to the response. Have you been heard? Is | | | | At the AppointmentSo now you are at your |
| the practitioner trying to sell services or trying to | | | | scheduled appointment: keep turning within. How are |
| understand if your needs are those he or she can | | | | you received by the practitioner or receptionist? How |
| serve?Of course, this person is running a business and | | | | does the session start? Does he or she treat you with |
| does so by selling products and services, but you have | | | | respect by asking your experiences or perceptions or |
| a right to know now if the practitioner's integrity is | | | | intention?Remember, you are the client. Your |
| strong enough to put your needs first. This | | | | perceptions are important, no matter how much you or |
| conversation is a preview of the ways you will relate | | | | someone else values the expertise of this person. |
| to each other if you hire this person.When I made a | | | | Does this practitioner act as if you are a whole person, |
| 2300-mile move to Santa Monica from the East Coast | | | | or just a tooth ache or a muscle spasm or an |
| in 1986, my search for wholistic practitioners was at its | | | | interesting case? Your symptoms have prompted you |
| height. I sought and continue to seek services for | | | | to seek help; however, you are a whole person, not |
| myself as well as for making informed referrals as | | | | fragments of discomfort.As the session continues, |
| part of my own business. I have experienced the | | | | keep turning within. Are your needs addressed? Are |
| spectrum from disappointment to deep satisfaction, | | | | you encouraged to go below the surface of what you |
| even enthusiasm. Fortunately, I have had more of the | | | | say? Do you feel uplifted or empowered? Are you |
| latter than the former.Several years ago, I heard about | | | | given suggestions for supporting your own healing or |
| someone who works with sound. Since my voice is a | | | | growth or knowledge after the session? Do you know |
| vehicle for transformation and healing for many clients | | | | what to do next? Do you feel safe, nurtured, and/or |
| and workshop participants, I was interested in knowing | | | | understood?Next Steps and Follow-upAt the end and |
| more about his work. After receiving the requested | | | | following the session, keep turning within. Does the |
| literature, I telephoned to ask him to talk about his work | | | | follow-up support address your needs? Some |
| -- I wanted to hear his voice. He said, "Everything's in | | | | discomfort may be necessary for your growth, so do |
| the literature that I just sent you." Everything about | | | | not invalidate a worthwhile experience or potential |
| sound is on the written page? I think not. I tossed his | | | | growth because of some discomfort. If what you |
| literature in the recycling bin.Delightful and rewarding | | | | have done in the past is no longer working for you, |
| experiences finding solid professional help are far more | | | | you need a change. That change may include lack of |
| prevalent for me. Initial contacts have been made | | | | familiarity and/or comfort.How do you know if you |
| through friends' suggestions, clients' reports, colleagues' | | | | want to engage this person again? Of course, the |
| recommendations, ads and articles in various | | | | answer is within. Not everyone is a match for your |
| publications, and direct mail promotions. While my | | | | needs, beliefs, and personality. Change is constant. You |
| extensive networking yields most of my contacts, I | | | | change, practitioners change, matches change, needs |
| was delighted to find one of my most satisfying | | | | and values change. Finding the appropriate wholistic |
| practitioners from her paid advertisement. I resonated | | | | and/or empowering practitioner is a dynamic process, |
| with her choice of language and found her photograph | | | | not an inflexible one-time decision.Keep turning within. |
| pleasant. When I called, I felt good about her spoken | | | | Ask yourself meaningful questions, listen to the |
| words, clarity, and voice. I made an appointment | | | | answers you give yourself, and act on those |
| immediately.Remember Who You AreRemember, you | | | | answers.This article was originally written for the |
| are the client (or patient or customer). That means you | | | | Whole Life Times in the Los Angeles area, published |
| are the decision-maker. The practitioner you hire does | | | | July 1993. |