HEALING FROM THE BODY LEVEL UP™ --
AN EXCITING NEW APPROACH TO COUNSELING
©1999 By Joan B. Baggett
In thinking of counseling or therapy, the picture that comes to mind is that of sitting in a therapist's office and talking. The word 'processing' also comes to mind. Endless hours of talking and talking about stresses in hopes of relieving emotional and at times physical distress.
The traditional approach to healing the emotions has always originated at the mental level. However, in recent years traditional psychotherapy has opened up to new approaches to healing, approaches that incorporate working with the body's energy while moving away from dependence on the conscious mind.
Many of us have experienced the use of energy therapies when we have sought body work. Acupuncture is based on the concept of chi, or life force energy, and maps out meridians in the body that can be opened or unblocked. Shiatsu, polarity therapy, Reiki, and massage all work with the body's energy flow. These approaches are based in part on the principle that physical and emotional distress is not only carried or held in the body, but also held in our energetic fields. If we work with the energy of the body, we will help release or relieve the physical and emotional stress we may be experiencing.
In the early '80s, my chiropractor used energy work to adjust my body. He would test my body through the use of Applied Kinesiology, also known as muscle testing, to verify his work. Occasionally he would uncover emotional blocks utilizing these techniques and we would address these blocks in our work together. I would leave these sessions wondering why no one was doing this in my field, that of mental health.
Becoming fascinated with energy work, I studied MariEl and Reiki and became a Reiki Master. In my practice I used these energy based systems with HIV and AIDS clients but that was where I stopped. I had no desire to violate my clients boundaries and yet I knew so much more was possible. However, I still did not feel that I had found an effective way to integrate these energetic therapies into my daily work with clients.
Over the last decade, these energy based systems have been integrated into several psychotherapeutic based approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Thought Field Therapy (TFT™), Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT), and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Lots of letters to remember? These therapies are commonly referred to as the "alphabet soup" therapies and are seen as being highly effective in treating the mind, body and spirit. While each intervention can be quite useful, there is some overlap in the areas they are most effective in helping and thus it is not always clear which might be the most helpful for a given person or problem.
Healing from the Body Level Up (HBLU ™) is one of these new integrative approaches. Developed by Judith Swack, Ph.D., a scientist, teacher and healer, HBLU™ resulted from a synthesis of biomedical research, research from other non- medical systems and Systematic Applied Kinesiology. As mentioned above, Systematic Applied Kinesiology is also known as muscle testing. HBLU™ consciously brings the "higher self" into the therapy process and through the use of muscle testing gives it voice.
Using a step by step method, you set a goal and identify what is keeping you from achieving the goal, be it a negative experience, a lack of belief in yourself, fears related to achieving the goal, or whatever else might be blocking you. Then you and your therapist determine what you need to do to remove these blocks and move toward your goal. Each of these steps uses muscle testing to determine the answer. For instance, your therapist will ask your body via muscle testing what the blocks are to your goal and then ask your body what will remove those blocks.
Often you will discover that one of the "alphabet soup" therapies is what your body needs to release the block to your goal. However, you are not limited to these therapies. It could even be that talk therapy is the best approach. Whatever treatment approach is used will be the correct approach because your higher self will be choosing the approach through muscle testing. You are then ready to heal "from the body level up". Yes, I did say heal. When the process is completed you will immediately verify that the block has been cleared and will identify what you have learned from the work you have just completed.
Since integrating HBLU™ into my practice, I have seen clients make major transformations in their life patterns. Phobias have been released, fears and traumas healed. One young woman had worked with me for months on issues related to childhood traumas. We were able to help change many of the messages she had carried through life. However, she was still unable to relate to herself as a "sexual being". When we began using HBLU™, we were able to identify what areas were still blocked and determine what intervention would be most helpful. We were then able to quickly clear those blocks and help her achieve her goal of being a healthy sexual person.
HBLU™ bypasses both your therapist's and your own conscious and unconscious preconceptions about your healing process. It allows your highest wisdom to direct your healing process, truly bringing psychotherapy into the Millennium. Healing occurs rapidly and easily, moving us from being victims to our past (both this and previous lives!) to active participants in our future.
My offices are in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. I can be reached at (503) 417-8092 in Portland or in Vancouver at (360)690-1180. I can also be reached by e-mail.
DESIGN CREDIT: This background set and the coordinating one on subsequent pages was created by Roxy at Autumn Web.