Are you totally new to the concept of mind-body healing, but think it might be for you? Have you done some reading but aren’t sure how to use mind-body concepts in your own healing process? Have you read Dr. John Sarno’s The Mindbody Prescription, or one of his other works? Do you recognize yourself in the pages and want help implementing the mind-body techniques into your own life? Are you struggling with some of his concepts and want a slightly different mind-body approach? Whatever you want to do, whatever you feel would work for you, I am here to help you, even if we never meet. Even if you are simply reading this, somewhere far from Wyoming, USA (and chances are good you’re not anywhere near here)!
When I set out to heal myself using mind-body techniques, I read everything I could get my hands on. I recognized myself very clearly in the pages of Dr. Sarno’s books (he’s probably one of the most well-known American doctors to discuss mind-body healing), but I also found that other information rang true to me as well. For example, Martha Beck, author of Finding Your Own North Star and Steering by Starlight, and under whom I am certified as a coach, has herself been through fibromyalgia and interstitial cystitis and returned to health through mind-body techniques. She discusses aspects of her own healing methods in both of the books mentioned above, and in her recently released mp3 download, “Coaching Revealed – How not to Hurt.“ (I highly recommend this recording – it is fabulous.)
I want you to know that Dr. Sarno is certainly not the only resource out there for mind-body healing, so if you’re struggling to accept everything he writes and believe in mind-body healing, don’t despair. You can return to health using a variety of mind-body techniques, and in fact, I believe that creating a personal approach for you is actually very effective. (This is what I do with clients.)
I have also recently been talking with Dr. Howard Schubiner (www.yourpainisreal.com), who bases his work on a mixture of Sarno and other mind-body healing techniques. Upon discussing our methods, we discovered many similarities, and of course, a few differences. Many of my clients have been or are currently going through Dr. Schubiner’s online program, so we realized his program and my coaching make a great combination. His program is self-paced study, and my coaching is one-on-one personalized help with the concepts discussed in his program (with additional tools from my research and training). Some of my clients found they were still struggling after completing the program and wanted more help dealing with emotions, mind awareness techniques, and utilizing everything in their daily lives. Dr. Schubiner and I plan to collaborate much more in the future to try to help as many people as possible understand and use mind-body healing approaches.
Why am I telling you all of this? I intend to post this as a permanent page for people who are curious about TMS, Sarno, or other mind-body methods. I want everyone to understand that you CAN heal, regardless of whether you are following one method or mixing them together, whether or not you are doing it on your own, utilizing online resources, or working one-on-one with somebody like myself. There is much variety, and you are the best expert on what feels right to you.
After I read The Mindbody Prescription, I worried that I needed to find a psychologist who knew about TMS, or stop all of my physical therapy treatments or supplements. Also, some of the book didn’t ring true to me. So I followed what did feel right, I utilized other resources from other books, and I returned to health, all by myself. (No, I wasn’t one of those people who just read the book and got better.) When I became a Martha Beck Coach, I decided to help others bypass all the work I did (synthesizing a personal approach for myself through hours of research). I decided to be the coach I wished I’d had, during my struggle to become pain-free. When I was in pain, I wished I could talk to somebody who understood Sarno, understood other approaches, could talk science or could talk intuition, could help me sort out my own emotions and mind, and who would just listen to me. Now I am that person, for you, if you need it.
However, I also want to be a resource for you, too, because if coaching isn’t right for you right now, if you don’t feel like you can take Schubiner’s program right now, you still have everything it takes within you to heal, and I want you to know that. I want you to know that you can do it, and that I am here in blog-land, cheering you on!
I’m such a huge advocate of mind-body healing, and I want to spread the concept to more and more people. There’s so much freedom in it, because you get to take charge of your health and feel strong in body and mind. I am always available to answer emails or reply to comments here on the blog, even if it takes me a few days. Please consider me your resource and ask any questions you would like to ask.
On that note, let me share with you some of my favorite books/resources in a concise list format (these are in no particular order – I find them all helpful):
Finding Your Own North Star – Martha Beck
Steering by Starlight – Martha Beck
Coaching Revealed on How not to Hurt mp3 recording- Martha Beck (available at www.MarthaBeck.com )
The Mindbody Prescription – Dr. John Sarno
The Divided Mind – Dr. John Sarno
The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle
A New Earth – Eckhart Tolle
A Headache in the Pelvis – Dr. David Wise
Resources from Dr. Andrew Weil
Guided Imagery from Dr. Martin Rossman
Choosing Brilliant Health – Foster, Hicks, and Associates
www.yourpainisreal.com – Dr. Howard Schubiner
There are many more, and I am reading new ones regularly. (I’m currently reading several interesting books that might need to end up on this list, but I’m going to wait until I’ve finished them before I decide.) This should get you started!
Because so much of mind-body healing includes releasing suppressed emotion and cultivating mind awareness to prevent future emotion suppression, as well as releasing emotions such as fear that are creating a chronic fight or flight response in your body (which of course creates inflammation, tension, and a host of other issues) I include the following:
Loving What Is – Byron Katie
Self-Coaching 101 – Brooke Castillo
The 4-Day Win – Martha Beck (about weight loss, but really about your brain)
Writings/Recordings by Jack Kornfield
Books by Pema Chodron (they’re all good!)
I’m sure I forgot somebody important, but this is definitely plenty to work with for now. Happy healing!
