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