When our bodies are in a deeply relaxed state (as with energy-based therapies, deep sleep, meditation, massage, yoga, relaxing soaks, etc.) that’s when our bodies are able to heal.

 “Nearly 90% of disease is preventable, and the most important component of prevention is empowering people to take positive steps to maximize well-being. Prevention is not medical intervention; prevention is living simply and wisely.”

Most of us are caregivers…whether it’s our families, our friends, or our jobs. As caregivers we tend to forget about OUR self-care.  But remember, “You cannot expect to recharge any one else’s batteries unless you recharge your own!”

It is important to listen to what our bodies are telling us.  You may get a small “hint” that you need to take it easy, but chose to ignore it.  Then you may get a larger “hint” but you keep going full speed ahead.  And then, guess what?  Your body will find a way to get your attention and hits you over the head with a 2X4!  Sometimes it’s in the form of pain…we get that message loud and clear.

“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.”  ~Sidney J. Harris  

When we are out of balance, illness and disease may occur. The mental body must be healed as well as the physical body to regain harmony and be freed from disease.

Mind, body and spirit need to be addressed for optimal health.

You are what you say, think and feel. “Your thinking has more impact on your life than any other activity you engage in,” writes Caterina Rando, author of Learn to Power Think. Are there ideas or attitudes that you have that have made a difference in your life? Can you pinpoint what they are? What you say and think may affect you more than you realize.

Throughout our lifetime, our body has kept a perfect copy of our every word, thought, and emotion. These have been stored as cellular memory. As a result, we have become what we say, think, and feel.

Whenever we have negative thoughts or feelings, these become lodged in our subconscious mind/body. As a result, this becomes a challenge to change or eliminate, as we may not be aware that they are there.

Over time these memories develop into blockages of energy. Blocked energy, disharmonious or congested energy is usually connected with emotional trauma, illness, disease or injury. Author Caroline Myss states, “your biography is your biology. Your body contains your history. A memory of each event and every relationship is recorded in our cells.”

Practice releasing attachment to all the countless thoughts running in circles in your mind right now.  We usually are thinking of what we need to do next, making a grocery list in our minds or replaying a conversation or situation that happened previously.  It is important to be IN the NOW.  Enjoy each moment for what it is.  There will not be another one just like it.

Dramatic shifts in medicine are happening all around us now.  There is growing interest in learning more about alternative and complementary therapies.  We are ultimately responsible for our own health.

Previously, western medicine has looked at our physical bodies from a symptom relieving solution such as drugs or surgery.  If this approach was effective, we wouldn’t be spending billions of dollars on prescriptions each year and still have the chronic diseases and illnesses that we have today.

So, if we want to make changes in our lives, it is evident that we need to move in a new direction.  There is an old saying, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got”

We create what we focus on. How often during the day are you focused on what you REALLY WANT? Is it even 10% of the time? This is important, as we are always creating more of whatever we’re focused on. This can be hard as we discuss problems in our lives; we actually BRING MORE of it into our lives. Our thoughts are setting our intentions in very subtle ways and our subconscious follows our directions. Louise Hay, author of Heal

Your Body, Heal Your Life, states that “a thought is just a thought and that can be changed.”

Have you ever said to yourself?

As soon as I finish this, I’m going to crash and burn?

This is a pain in the neck.

This job is killing me.

No pain, no gain.

I never have any money.

I’m breaking my back to do this.

Do you realize no matter what you say, you’re giving your subconscious a message?  If these messages are all negative then the body is going to carry out your instructions. So when you say these things repeatedly, the body gets the idea that the back should be broken, you should have a pain in your neck, etc. It will ensure that you never have any money.

Is this what you really want? If not, stop saying these things, even if you’re only joking. The negative thoughts and feelings that are lodged in the unconscious mind/body are the greatest problem as we are not aware of them and therefore, we are greatly hampered in changing or eliminating them.

A study was done which had participants concentrate on appreciation and love for 5 minutes. The results showed that this helped a component of the immune system for 1-6 hours. Conversely, being angry for 5 minutes caused heart irregularities for several hours.

You can change the limitations imposed upon you by negative programming and a restrictive belief system. A negative mental state is a breeding ground for disease. Illness develops, as energy is lost in specific areas of the body. These can be caused by negative emotions such as anger or fear. In addition, old psychological wounds that have caused pain in the past can be used as an excuse not to heal.

In order to create what you want in your life, it is important to be consciously aware of what you are feeling and thinking all of the time. It is a challenge to become aware of our emotions and how they affect us, but it can also be very rewarding beyond what we can imagine.

The mental body must be healed as well as the physical body to regain harmony and be freed from disease. The effect of negative thought patterns can be reversed and the negative programming itself can be replaced with positive programming, which will nourish you and provide the structure for good health and happiness.

Once you transcend negativity, you will come back into balance and the healing energy will flow. You are far more than you think. Whatever your limitations, they are self-imposed. There is extraordinary potential and healing power in all of us that lies dormant within us.

One way to regulate our thoughts is through meditation. Meditation is the discipline of “Thought Control”. Control your thoughts and you will control your life. It’s that simple. God gave us free will. Therefore, we can choose to create a satisfying life or we can choose to create a dissatisfying life. The choice is always our own.

Meditation and prayer are other natural approaches that have shown to have many healing benefits.  A government survey in 2007 found that about 1 out of 11 Americans, more than 20 million, meditated in the past year. And a growing number of medical centers are teaching meditation to patients for relief of pain and stress.

Practice gratitude whenever you are feeling overwhelmed. As bad as things can get, there is always something to be grateful for: A beautiful day, a rainbow, and wonderful people in our lives.

Energy work, such as Healing Touch, Reiki, Integrated Energy Therapy, Quantum Touch, Body Talk, or breath work deals directly with the unconscious parts of the mind/body that contain negative energy inhibiting thoughts and feelings and helps to eliminate them.

In particular, Integrated Energy Therapy works with getting the “issues out of the tissues.” This type of energy modality works with nine primary cellular memory areas of the body to provide a powerful clearing of suppressed cellular memories and emotions. Energy work can be used as a complimentary therapy with other alternative or traditional therapies. After an energy session, a normal flow of energy helps to eliminate these suppressed memories with ease as the person is restored to a balanced state.

It’s time to focus on what you really want. This is why “whatever you resist persists” and “you attract what you fear.” When you resist or fear something, you’re focused on it. So, it’s a lot more fun to be focused on what you really want. What exactly is that? Is it joy, peace, love, more money?

Are you prepared for the future you are creating now? What have your thoughts been lately?

Consciously sending loving energy to your own being will create amazing shifts in your physical body on a molecular level.  As you start each day, send loving thoughts and feeling into every cell of your body. You will start to heal your mind-body, and experience a dramatic shift in your energy field.  You will naturally feel more energized, alive, and healthier as you continue to bathe your cells in the healing energy of self-love.

On the other hand, worry and stress changes the pH of your body from alkaline to acidic very quickly.  When your body is in a very acidic state, it is easier to illness, infections and disease to occur.

We create positive energy in our mind-body by giving love and accepting energies for others and ourselves.  In fact, the vibration of love will literally create physical healing in the body. The more loving energy you send towards yourself, the healthier you will be and the more energy you will have,

Open your mind~ Open your heart ~Step out of the box ~Intend and Integrate

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”-Dr. Seuss

Sue Heldenbrand BS, CHTP, CIET

Lafayette, La. 70506

337-232-4799

energyworker2003@yahoo.com

Sue became involved with Healing Touch in 1998 and received her certification as a Healing Touch practitioner in 2002.  She is also a Certified Integrated Energy Therapy Practitioner, a Reiki Practitioner, Trauma Release and a Quantum Touch Practitioner.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Personnel Management from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.  She has been a guest speaker for numerous organizations, as well as presenting at state conferences.  Sue has written articles on energy work for alternative and complementary newsletters. She has developed material and has been a trainer for education classes for child care providers in several cities in Louisiana since 2003.   She has been able to integrate energy- based therapies into local hospital’s operating and recovery rooms as well as providing these therapies to newborn babies at a local hospital.  As a volunteer at health fairs and cancer survivor retreats offering energy based therapies, Sue has gained experience in dealing with a variety of health challenges.  Sue is also an Instructor at Blue Cliff College and has helped conduct workshops with local hospitals and hospice for caregivers.

Training in an advanced Healing Touch technique for PTSD (“amygdala connection”) proved helpful for recovery personnel dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes as they dealt with anxiety, confusion, sleeping disturbances, undiagnosed pain and other symptoms of acute stress disorder. Trauma Release is helpful for health providers to reduce secondary stress effects of working with traumatized clients or in trauma settings like hospitals, first response settings, disasters, battle zones, etc.

Sue’s private clientele includes World War II and Iraqi war veterans, abuse victims and other individuals reporting symptoms of stress from life-threatening illnesses, chronic pain, accidents, and the death of loved ones. As a volunteer working with cancer survivors and hospital personnel, Sue has assisted individuals dealing with the trauma of their illness.

Sue has a private practice in Lafayette, Louisiana.

http://www.SynergisticCenter.com

For example: Monday, you may select “a-attitude”.  On Mondays be aware of your attitude.  Is it positive or negative? How does it affect yourself and family?  Is your attitude something you want to change?  Tuesday you may select “r-read”.  Take a few minutes to read a new book, inspirational readings, etc. Wednesday you may select “f-family time”. 

Make a special point of having everyone sit together and eat dinner or do something special on that night: play a game, take a walk together, etc.  As a family, talk about the personal benefits, challenges and how these exercises affect others.

A.  Attitude, affirmations, awareness, accept yourself, appreciate, allow, action

B.  breathe, believe, best you can be, begin

C.  calm, creativity, compassion, commit, confidence, communication, change

D.  discipline, diet, dance, dream journal

E.  exercise, enjoy, energy work, encourage, embrace experience something new

F. faith, fun, forgiveness, family time, focus, friendship, flexibility

G.  gratitude, gardening, goal setting, goodness

H.  health, hobby, humor, happy thoughts, hugs

I.  interests, imagery, intention, integrity

J.  joy, journaling

K. knowledge, kindness to self, others

L. laughter, love, learn something new, listen, Let Go, live in the moment

M.  Meditation, minerals, massage, mindfulness, music, “ME-TIME”

N.  naps, nutrition, nutrients, nature, nurture

O.  oxygen, organic, open minded, organize

P.  prayer, peaceful thoughts, positive, play, patience

Q. quiet time, quality decisions

R. rest, relaxation, read, respect, right thoughts, responsibility for actions

S.  sleep, spa night, solitude, supplements, support, self-image

T. time management, trust, truth, transformation

U.  utilize resources, understand

V.  visualization, vitamins, variety

W.  wellness, willingness to try new things, words, walk

X.   extra of what makes you feel good

Y.   you, your word, young at heart (be a child again)

Z.    zzz’s, zest for life

http://www.SynergisticCenter.com

Sue Heldenbrand BS, CHTP, CIET

Lafayette, La.

energyworker2003@yahoo.com

Sue became involved with Healing Touch in 1998 and received her certification as a Healing Touch practitioner in 2002.  She is also a Certified Integrated Energy Therapy Practitioner, a Reiki Practitioner, Trauma Release and a Quantum Touch Practitioner.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Personnel Management from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.  She has been a guest speaker for numerous organizations, as well as presenting at state conferences.  Sue has written articles on energy work for alternative and complementary newsletters. She has developed material and has been a trainer for education classes for child care providers in several cities in Louisiana since 2003.   She has been able to integrate energy- based therapies into local hospital’s operating and recovery rooms as well as providing these therapies to newborn babies at a local hospital.  As a volunteer at health fairs and cancer survivor retreats offering energy based therapies, Sue has gained experience in dealing with a variety of health challenges.  Sue is also an Instructor at Blue Cliff College and has helped conduct workshops with local hospitals and hospice for caregivers.

Training in an advanced Healing Touch technique for PTSD (“amygdala connection”) proved helpful for recovery personnel dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes as they dealt with anxiety, confusion, sleeping disturbances, undiagnosed pain and other symptoms of acute stress disorder. Trauma Release is helpful for health providers to reduce secondary stress effects of working with traumatized clients or in trauma settings like hospitals, first response settings, disasters, battle zones, etc.

Sue’s private clientele includes World War II and Iraqi war veterans, abuse victims and other individuals reporting symptoms of stress from life-threatening illnesses, chronic pain, accidents, and the death of loved ones. As a volunteer working with cancer survivors and hospital personnel, Sue has assisted individuals dealing with the trauma of their illness.

Sue has a private practice in Lafayette, Louisiana.

http://www.SynergisticCenter.com

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words. Rei and ki.  Rei means supernatural force of spiritual intelligence and Ki means life energy.  Thus Reiki is spiritually guided life force energy.

Treatments can be done in person or remotely. It may aid in helping illnesses, injuries and diseases.  Reiki is very versatile and can be used to heal or improve any condition or difficulty.

While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a Religion.  It has no dogma and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn or use Reiki.  Reiki is compatible with all Religious paths and faiths.

Sessions usually involve a combination of energy-based modalities that are individualized to fit the client.

The Five Spiritual Principles of Reiki

Just for today I shall not worry.

Just for today I will do my work honestly.

Just for today I will not anger.

Just for today I will respect and be kind to all beings.

Just for today I will show gratitude for all my blessings.

http://www.synergisticcenter.com/

Sue Heldenbrand BS, CHTP, CIET

Lafayette, La.

energyworker2003@yahoo.com

Sue became involved with Healing Touch in 1998 and received her certification as a Healing Touch practitioner in 2002.  She is also a Certified Integrated Energy Therapy Practitioner, a Reiki Practitioner, Trauma Release and a Quantum Touch Practitioner.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Personnel Management from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.  She has been a guest speaker for numerous organizations, as well as presenting at state conferences.  Sue has written articles on energy work for alternative and complementary newsletters. She has developed material and has been a trainer for education classes for child care providers in several cities in Louisiana since 2003.   She has been able to integrate energy- based therapies into local hospital’s operating and recovery rooms as well as providing these therapies to newborn babies at a local hospital.  As a volunteer at health fairs and cancer survivor retreats offering energy based therapies, Sue has gained experience in dealing with a variety of health challenges.

Training in an advanced Healing Touch technique for PTSD (“amygdala connection”) proved helpful for recovery personnel dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes as they dealt with anxiety, confusion, sleeping disturbances, undiagnosed pain and other symptoms of acute stress disorder. Trauma Release is helpful for health providers to reduce secondary stress effects of working with traumatized clients or in trauma settings like hospitals, first response settings, disasters, battle zones, etc.

Sue’s private clientele includes World War II and Iraqi war veterans, abuse victims and other individuals reporting symptoms of stress from life-threatening illnesses, chronic pain, accidents, and the death of loved ones. As a volunteer working with cancer survivors and hospital personnel, Sue has assisted individuals dealing with the trauma of their illness.

Sue has a private practice in Lafayette, Louisiana.

http://www.SynergisticCenter.com

The majority of what we fear usually does not materialize.  It’s in the allowing the fear to control you that makes it stronger by interacting with it.  The news media is great for instilling that fear in our minds and keeping it there.  By constantly being exposed to the fear based channels, you are generating more of that fear by giving it more power.

Everyone at one time or another in his or her lifetime has had an event or situation that would be considered as traumatic.  It can be a series of events, abuse, and fear produced by a critical and unsupportive parent or anything that produces a feeling of helplessness. These experiences can be overwhelming and dealing with emotions can be difficult. Although the event has ended, the memories may last for months or years to come.

What about the fear from the past or feelings of panic or anxiety that comes out of nowhere?  If you have ever experienced PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or severe or chronic stress, then possibly you may be re-living that traumatic event or events and not be aware of it.

One way that these emotions may be released from the part of the brain that stores these memories is with energy-based therapies. Energy-based therapies use techniques that address all levels of the individual: mental, emotional, spiritual as well as physical and allow the person to heal on whatever level is needed.

What happens in our bodies and our brain when we perceive a threatening situation or we have been through a traumatic situation? Feelings of anger, rage, fear, avoidance and defensiveness are involved in the limbic brain or our emotional brain. Our emotional brain creates the freeze reaction, sweaty palms, and muscles to tense, protective postures or facial expressions. This area of the brain sends adrenaline and other hormones into the blood stream during a stressful or fearful situation.

There are unconscious memory centers in our brains that store these traumatic events. When we experience sensations, images, smells, sights or anything that reminds us of the trauma, our body reacts as if being a present threat. The traumatic experience still exists in our brain and contains the emotional and conscious memory traces of the event. Our brains are unable to release this message of threat that it is receiving and shows up as symptoms of fear and anxiety.

Instead of focusing on something negative that might happen, visualize what you would like to happen.  Keep your focus on a positive outcome.

Using energy-based techniques such as Healing Touch can help to release these stuck emotions and give the person a sense of peace and well-being.  Practitioners act as facilitators in assisting the individual in their journey to self heal.

For more information about this form of trauma release or other forms of energy-based therapies, please visit http://wwwsynergisticcenter.com.  Holistic Health practitioners can sign up to be included in our directory) or http://www.enchanting-garden.com, to find ways to heal with nature (A garden decor site with an emphasis on healing with nature, free newsletter)

Sue Heldenbrand BS, CHTP, CIET

Lafayette, La.

energyworker2003@yahoo.com

Sue became involved with Healing Touch in 1998 and received her certification as a Healing Touch practitioner in 2002.  She is also a Certified Integrated Energy Therapy Practitioner, a Reiki Practitioner, Trauma Release and a Quantum Touch Practitioner.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Personnel Management from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.  She has been a guest speaker for numerous organizations, as well as presenting at state conferences.  Sue has written articles on energy work for alternative and complementary newsletters. She has developed material and has been a trainer for education classes for child care providers.  She has been able to integrate energy- based therapies into local hospital’s operating and recovery rooms as well as providing these therapies to newborn babies at a local hospital.  As a volunteer at health fairs and cancer survivor retreats offering energy based therapies, Sue has gained experience in dealing with a variety of health challenges.

Training in an advanced Healing Touch technique for PTSD (“amygdala connection”) proved helpful for recovery personnel dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes as they dealt with anxiety, confusion, sleeping disturbances, undiagnosed pain and other symptoms of acute stress disorder. Trauma Release is helpful for health providers to reduce secondary stress effects of working with traumatized clients or in trauma settings like hospitals, first response settings, disasters, battle zones, etc.

Sue’s private clientele includes World War II and Iraqi war veterans, abuse victims and other individuals reporting symptoms of stress from life-threatening illnesses, chronic pain, accidents, and the death of loved ones. As a volunteer working with cancer survivors and hospital personnel, Sue has assisted individuals dealing with the trauma of their illness.

Sue has a private practice in Lafayette, Louisiana.

http://www.SynergisticCenter.com

These faith healers have existed since the 1700s when the Acadians migrated to south Louisiana from France.  But the tradition of the Traiteurs is slowly dying out, as it is not as prevalent as it once was.  Some of the Traiteurs that I know incorporate other types of energy based modalities such as Healing Touch and Reiki.

The Cajun healer is thought to be able to “treat” certain ailments.  Most have their own specialty that was handed down to them usually from a relative.  Some of their specialties include warts, shingles, sunstroke, bleeding, earaches and toothaches.

As a small girl I remembered my Mom bringing me to an elderly lady that “treated” me for warts that I had on my hand.  The warts went away, but I’m not sure of the time involved.

When my son was in college he started having numerous warts on his hands around the cuticles and on the calf of one leg.  After a visit to a dermatologist who told us that burning the warts would ruin his cuticles and the warts would probably come back, I called a lady who was a Traiteur.

The only information that I gave her was his name and the nature of the problem; She said to call back in a couple of weeks if the warts were still there.  I called back as we did not notice a difference.  Again, she said to call back in a couple of weeks.  Shortly after, my son looked at his leg and realized that the warts were gone.  There were no signs of warts on his hand as well. I had a similar situation with a case of shingles that I had.  After being treated 3 times, there were no signs of shingles.

The older traditional Traiteurs usually spoke Cajun French.  Their methods of treatments were “passed” down to other generations, usually from the opposite gender.  But this also varied.

Because the methods were usually passed down orally, their traditions varied by region and in the methods that they were taught.  I remember my great aunt trying to give me the prayers that she used to treat sunstroke.  But she said the prayers in French and I did not speak French, so I was not able to learn these.  Years later, I wished that I had paid more attention to what she was trying to teach me.

The traditional Traiteurs were mostly Catholic and so they said prayers, usually in silence.  Sometimes Novenas were said (saying a set of prayers for 9 days).  Faith is the main element and some Traiteurs are essentially “praying” for the sick. Some may call their method of treatment faith healing or ”laying on of hands.”

From my experience as an energy healer, I understand now that they are balancing the energy fields that surround the body as they use their hands in a pattern around the body, usually doing this 3 times.  In addition, their intention of wanting the person to be healthy is part of their philosophy.  They also felt that it was necessary for the person to “ask” to be healed…they would not offer.

Because doctors were not that accessible in bayou and marsh areas of rural parts of South La. nor could most people afford to go to a physician, the Traiteurs in the past played an important part in health care. A friend remembered her grandmother’s life a Traiteur.  There would often be lines of people waiting with eggs or chickens as payment.

Most Traiteurs consider their healing abilities a gift from God, and therefore do not ask for payment in exchange for their services.  Although it is acceptable to leave a gift for receiving a treatment, gifts are never required. The older generation of Traiteurs used to tell you not to say “thank you” as it was thought that this would make the treatment not work.

In Southern Louisiana, traditional medicine and Traiteurs offer patients a range of resources for treating illness. Although these 2 methods are very distinct, Traiteurs and their patients do not view the two systems as conflicting.

Complied by Sue Heldenbrand

Certified Healing Touch Practitioner

Synergistic Health and Wellness

http://www.SynergisticCenter.com

337-232-4799

energyworker2003@yahoo.com

Sue became involved with Healing Touch in 1998 and received her certification as a Healing Touch practitioner in 2002.  She is also a Certified Integrated Energy Therapy Practitioner, a Reiki Practitioner, Trauma Release and a Quantum Touch Practitioner.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Personnel Management from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.  She has been a guest speaker for numerous organizations, as well as presenting at state conferences.  Sue has written articles on energy work for alternative and complementary newsletters. She has developed material and has been a trainer for education classes for child care providers in several cities in Louisiana since 2003.   She has been able to integrate energy- based therapies into local hospital’s operating and recovery rooms as well as providing these therapies to newborn babies at a local hospital.  As a volunteer at health fairs and cancer survivor retreats offering energy based therapies, Sue has gained experience in dealing with a variety of health challenges.  Sue is also an Instructor at Blue Cliff College and has helped conduct workshops with local hospitals and hospice for caregivers.

Training in an advanced Healing Touch technique for PTSD (“amygdala connection”) proved helpful for recovery personnel dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes as they dealt with anxiety, confusion, sleeping disturbances, undiagnosed pain and other symptoms of acute stress disorder. Trauma Release is helpful for health providers to reduce secondary stress effects of working with traumatized clients or in trauma settings like hospitals, first response settings, disasters, battle zones, etc.

Sue’s private clientele includes World War II and Iraqi war veterans, abuse victims and other individuals reporting symptoms of stress from life-threatening illnesses, chronic pain, accidents, and the death of loved ones. As a volunteer working with cancer survivors and hospital personnel, Sue has assisted individuals dealing with the trauma of their illness.

Sue has a private practice in Lafayette, Louisiana.

http://www.SynergisticCenter.com

This could be something as seemingly non life threatening, but traumatic none the less as a dental and medical procedure, falls, or minor car accidents.

Whenever someone has experience trauma, whether it’s from a particular event, accident, series of traumatic events or being in a traumatic and stressful environment, our brains may still perceive messages of being in danger.  In a situation when we feel that we are in danger, the regions of our brain that are responsible for our survival are activated.

When a state of helplessness and lack of control accompanies negative life experiences, our brains are unable to rid themselves of the messages of threat. All of the experiences that accompanied these traumatic events are mainly stored in our unconscious survival memory centers.  Our bodies may re-experience these memories in the form of body sensations, muscle bracing, images, smells, stomach and heart sensations, etc.

The conscious memories of traumatic emotional events are linked to emotions and sensations of the body, and show up as symptoms of fear, rage or anxiety. A person who has had a traumatic event may still have memories and body sensations when exposure to cues which are a reminder of the traumatic even, as is seen in PTSD.

Even after a trauma has been experienced, sights, smells, similar events and situations may be perceived as being a present threat, even though our logical brain realizes that the experience is actually over. The part of our brain that processes and stores these memories is the right-sided limbic or emotional brain.

When our brains are in a high state of arousal due to danger, the left side of the brain that serves logical thought and particularly speech is relatively shut down. You don’t need words to initiate the fight/flight/freeze response. By helping areas in the body to communicate and become re-aligned and balanced energetically, we are able to help eliminate those memories cues that cause a “fight, flight or freeze reaction.” There are techniques available that do not require verbal responses such as in Healing Touch that help to extinguish the portions of traumatic memory with ease, without having to “re -live the experience”.

This new healing sequence can de-activate stuck reactive patterns to perceived life-threatening situations.  Using Healing Touch techniques in a specific sequence, persons with post-traumatic stress syndrome, chronic patterns of fear, panic and anxiety are assisted to shift out of their fear-based energetic patterns.  This shift opens energetic pathways for a new response of calm and compassion to previously perceived threatening situations.

This is great for anyone that has gone through any sort of traumatic situation or accident. This technique was developed to be used for the “Ready for the Return” of soldiers coming back from war and also for their family and friends.

Some persons with PTSD, panic attacks, chronic anxiety and obsessive thinking do not receive short or long term changes from energy based therapies.  This particular sequence can provide long lasting changes in one session.  When this technique is used again, it has a cumulative effect as energetic changes that last from one session to another.  Each subsequent session will start from the new energetic state, not from the original place as the first session.

In addition, there are programs available that work with understanding the natural defensive responses to relieve the traumatic stress symptoms through

stabilizing the nervous system.  One program in particular that Sue attended is called TOP (Trauma Outreach Program)

To learn more about TOP (Trauma Outreach Program), Trauma First Aid ®

Visit their website. Sue Heldenbrand BS, CHTP, CIET

Lafayette, La. 70506

337-232-4799

energyworker2003@yahoo.com

Sue became involved with Healing Touch in 1998 and received her certification as a Healing Touch practitioner in 2002.  She is also a Certified Integrated Energy Therapy Practitioner, a Reiki Practitioner, Trauma Release and a Quantum Touch Practitioner.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Personnel Management from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.  She has been a guest speaker for numerous organizations, as well as presenting at state conferences.  Sue has written articles on energy work for alternative and complementary newsletters. She has developed material and has been a trainer for education classes for child care providers in several cities in Louisiana since 2003.   She has been able to integrate energy- based therapies into local hospital’s operating and recovery rooms as well as providing these therapies to newborn babies at a local hospital.  As a volunteer at health fairs and cancer survivor retreats offering energy based therapies, Sue has gained experience in dealing with a variety of health challenges.  Sue is also an Instructor at Blue Cliff College and has helped conduct workshops with local hospitals and hospice for caregivers.

Training in an advanced Healing Touch technique for PTSD (“amygdala connection”) proved helpful for recovery personnel dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes as they dealt with anxiety, confusion, sleeping disturbances, undiagnosed pain and other symptoms of acute stress disorder. Trauma Release is helpful for health providers to reduce secondary stress effects of working with traumatized clients or in trauma settings like hospitals, first response settings, disasters, battle zones, etc.

Sue’s private clientele includes World War II and Iraqi war veterans, abuse victims and other individuals reporting symptoms of stress from life-threatening illnesses, chronic pain, accidents, and the death of loved ones. As a volunteer working with cancer survivors and hospital personnel, Sue has assisted individuals dealing with the trauma of their illness.

Sue has a private practice in Lafayette, Louisiana.

http://www.SynergisticCenter.com

Some examples of affirmations are: I am grateful for wonderful relationships in my life; I am grateful for prosperous opportunities that are open to me; I enjoy my good health and happiness. Any thought or attitude you hold in fear stops the flow of love in your life.

When we use the term I AM, such as I AM willing, we are surrendering the fears and limited thoughts to be transformed. When we are willing to change our attitudes, we enter a state of surrender. In the state of surrender, all things are possible. This then is the state in which miracles can occur.

GOOD AFFIRMATIONS TO USE EVERY DAY:

Everyday and in every way, I’m getting better and better.

I am healthy, I am happy, I am whole.

I am the master of my fate; I am the master of my life.

I can do all things through God who strengthens me.

I am willing to make a difference in this world.

Healing is always accomplished in the present, in the now. Thus all your affirmations must be asserted in the present tense if they are to have any effect. You should never say, “I will be healed.” This says that you will be healed in the future-you want to be healed NOW, in the present. Instead, say, “I AM healed.”

Thoughts are real. Words send out a very powerful message-much more powerful that is usually understood. We continually send out messages to those around us and to ourselves-to our conscious and unconscious mind.

You can change the limitations imposed upon you by negative programming and a restrictive belief system. A negative mental state is a breeding ground for disease. Illness develops, as energy is lost in specific areas of the body. These can be caused by negative emotions such as anger or fear. In addition, old psychological wounds that have caused pain in the past can be used as an excuse not to heal.

In order to create what you want in your life, it is important to be consciously aware of what you are feeling and thinking all of the time. It is a challenge to become aware of our emotions and how they affect us, but it can also be very rewarding beyond what we can imagine.

Exchange that negative thought with a positive one. It will also make you more aware of what you are saying. Neutralize it with a positive imagery. Think of something positive to take its place.  You will be glad you did…and your body will thank you!

Sue Heldenbrand BS, CHTP, CIET

Lafayette, La.

energyworker2003@yahoo.com

Sue became involved with Healing Touch in 1998 and received her certification as a Healing Touch practitioner in 2002.  She is also a Certified Integrated Energy Therapy Practitioner, a Reiki Practitioner, Trauma Release and a Quantum Touch Practitioner.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Personnel Management from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.  She has been a guest speaker for numerous organizations, as well as presenting at state conferences.  Sue has written articles on energy work for alternative and complementary newsletters. She has developed material and has been a trainer for education classes for child care providers.  She has been able to integrate energy- based therapies into local hospital’s operating and recovery rooms as well as providing these therapies to newborn babies at a local hospital.  As a volunteer at health fairs and cancer survivor retreats offering energy based therapies, Sue has gained experience in dealing with a variety of health challenges.

Training in an advanced Healing Touch technique for PTSD (“amygdala connection”) proved helpful for recovery personnel dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes as they dealt with anxiety, confusion, sleeping disturbances, undiagnosed pain and other symptoms of acute stress disorder. Trauma Release is helpful for health providers to reduce secondary stress effects of working with traumatized clients or in trauma settings like hospitals, first response settings, disasters, battle zones, etc.

Sue’s private clientele includes World War II and Iraqi war veterans, abuse victims and other individuals reporting symptoms of stress from life-threatening illnesses, chronic pain, accidents, and the death of loved ones. As a volunteer working with cancer survivors and hospital personnel, Sue has assisted individuals dealing with the trauma of their illness.

Sue has a private practice in Lafayette, Louisiana.

http://www.SynergisticCenter.com

It could also be a series of stressful or traumatic events. It can be a series of events, abuse, and fear produced by a critical and unsupportive parent or anything that produces a feeling of helplessness. These experiences can be overwhelming and dealing with emotions can be difficult. Although the event has ended, the memories may last for months or years to come.

One way that these emotions may be released from the part of the brain that stores these memories is with energy-based therapies. Energy-based therapies use techniques that address all levels of the individual: mental, emotional, spiritual as well as physical and allow the person to heal on whatever level is needed.

What happens in our bodies and our brain when we perceive a threatening situation or we have been through a traumatic situation? Feelings of anger, rage, fear, avoidance and defensiveness are involved in the limbic brain or our emotional brain. There is a section of the limbic or emotional brain that inspires the freeze reaction, sweaty palms, and muscles to tense, protective postures or facial expressions. This area of the brain sends adrenaline and other hormones into the blood stream.

There are unconscious memory centers in our brains that store these traumatic events. When we experience sensations, images, smells, sights or anything that reminds us of the trauma, our body reacts as if being a present threat. The traumatic experience still exists in our brain and contains the emotional and conscious memory traces of the event. Our brains are unable to release this message of threat that it is receiving and shows up as symptoms of fear and anxiety.

Using energy-based techniques such as Healing Touch can help to release these stuck emotions and give the person a sense of peace and well-being. Practitioners act as facilitators in assisting the individual in their journey to self heal. For more information about this form of trauma release or other forms of energy-based therapies,

please visit http://www.synergisticcenter.com Holistic Health practitioners can sign up to be included in our directory) or http://www.enchanted-garden.com to find ways to heal with nature (A garden decor site with an emphasis on healing with nature, free newsletter)