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