Who founded Osteopathy?
Dr. Andrew Taylor Still is often referred to as the "Founder" of Osteopathy but I believe it is more accurate to say that he was the "Revealer" of Osteopathy.
Dr. Still was trained in the 1850s under the tutelage of his father who was a physician and a Methodist minister-missionary but Still seriously questioned both God and the medicine of his day when several of his family members died from spinal menningitis. Devastated, he went on a search to discover and develop a new system of healing. In the end he came to a realization that, as he says, God was not a guessing God but a God of Truth. He came to believe that the body of man was God's drugstore and that it had in it the Wisdom necessary for Peace, Happiness and Health.
On June 22, 1874 in Baldwin, Kansas Dr. Still had an epiphany. He describes a prophetic vision where he was shot “not in the heart, but in the dome of reason.” In an instant, like a burst of sunshine, he relates, the whole Truth dawned upon his mind. He called this new science "Osteopathy." A very spiritual man, who overcame several life challenges, Dr. Still always lived very close to nature and he taught that Osteopathy is the expression of the natural world. Being a philosophy as well as a sacred science, it is a holistic form of hands-on medicine which recognizes that Spirit, Soul and Body are a whole. It supports the wholeness of the person, not sacrificing the whole to treat just a part.
Can you describe a Biodynamic Osteopathic approach?
Biodynamic Osteopathy is a unique clinical philosophy that recognizes the holistic nature of a person and the subtle movements of health in the fluids and tissues of the body as well as areas where subtle movements are restricted. The goal is to discover where in the deep and subtle layers of the body-mind-soul integration the flow of inner Health and Peace is restricted and to assist in "opening the gates" for Health to flow. The restricted areas then become portals to the inherent Health that resides within a person. The aim is to bring the body to its neutral point - a state where the autonomic nervous system is in balance - so that free of tensions its fluids and tissues are ready to react to therapeutic forces. A Biodynamic Osteopathic approach enables a person to reach a point where Body and Soul are more in unity and where then holistic healing at a deep level is possible. You might think of this as a "reset" aiming to untangle problem patterns.
A Traditional, also sometimes called "Classical" Osteopathic Practitioner, relies not on highly sophisticated medical tests and instruments, but solely on observation, intense listening, and the trained and developed sensitivity of the hands. This is coupled with gentle touch and intuition. The goal is to discover where in the deep and subtle layers of the body-mind-soul integration the flow of inner Health and Peace is restricted and to assist in "opening the gates" for Health to flow. In this sense Osteopathy at this level of practice is not about focusing on and treating a particular disease or a particular pain problem. The focus is shifted to a focus on the Health that is yet inherent within a person and enabling its maximum expression. In this sense it is not an alternative to conventional medicine but rather something that can be used to compliment conventional medicine.
Who might particularly benefit from a Biodynamic Osteopathic session?
I find the Biodynamic Osteopathic principles and approach to finding "the Health" to be ideally suited for individuals who are spiritually oriented and experiencing such things as:
- Serious disease conditions, including those having a terminal diagnosis or being in Palliative or Holistic Care
- Emotional and psychological stress factors that are affecting health
- An inner sense of suffering
- An inner experience of shock
- Psychological
- Emotional
- Physical
- A sense of spiritual distress
What is the purpose of hands-on Biodynamic treatment?
The aim of a Biodynamic Cranial Approach to Healing is to bring the body to a neutral point, a state where the autonomic nervous system is in balance and a person can experience a sense of unity and harmony. Free of tensions and restrictions the body and its tissues are able to react to therapeutic influences and forces. This approach enables a person to reach a point where body, spirit and soul are in unity and where holistic healing is possible.
What should I wear to an appointment? Loose fitting comfortable clothing should be worn to allow for easier and more sensitive palpation. You may undress to the level of your comfort. You may be asked to remove or rearrange some clothing to facilitate assessment and treatment. Draping will be used as needed.
What is the Initial Session like?
There are 2 parts to an initial session. One part involves history taking and might well be considered "Narrative Medicine." Included in this are traditional health history questions but more importantly is looking for and pointing out body movements, voice inflections, etc that may have certain implications for you. This part of assessment may also include palpation along your spine, feeling your pulses, and listening to your heartbeat with a stethoscope. This listening is not to diagnose heart disease or disturbance but can be useful in determining vitality in the autonomic nervous system. A further description of "hands-on" is described in the answer to the next question.
What are "hands-on" sessions like?
During hands-on sessions you will feel what may best be described as a light to medium touch and embrace, as well as massage movements, around varying areas of your body and these areas may be anyplace from your head to your feet. You may feel my hands shifting as I palpate and flow with the deep rhythms within you. You may or may not experience subtle shifts in your body or in your awareness as well as sudden more noticeable and dramatic shifts and movements. None of this should be painful or alarming. It is simply the release and surrender of various stuck patterns. I may also use a vibrating instrument that is tuned to the harmonic vibration at various areas to aid in this process.
Do you take insurance? I do not take insurance or fill out insurance papers.
Do you make any special allowances for payments?
Yes. Allowances for modification of fees is possible. Please feel free to discuss your particular circumstances.
