What Makes Me Different from Other Practitioners

In the past few weeks, I've been asked a variety of questions that clearly showed I've done a poor job of explaining who I am and what I do. This post is an attempt to clarify that.

Following is a list of points that I believe positively distinguish me from other practitioners. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions!

1. Not opposed to mainstream medicine: Many people incorrectly believe I am opposed to all forms of mainstream medicine and pharmaceuticals. That is not true. There are many situations where mainstream treatments are necessary. What I am opposed to are violations of the first tenet of the Hippocratic Oath: "Do no harm." I see evidence of serious damage caused by medical doctors and/or pharmaceutical medications every single day in my office. THAT is what I'm opposed to. There are many situations where mainstream treatments are needed and are a huge blessing. It's the times they are used incorrectly or in ways that harm the patient that I'm opposed to. I embrace an approach where mainstream treatments are seamlessly combined with holistic approaches. I am blessed to work in a practice owned and operated by an MD (The Logan Institute) specializing in Internal Medicine which combines the best of both worlds in terms of (safe) mainstream treatments and holistic alternatives. For my private clients, I consult with their doctors to request blood work, recommend medication alternatives, provide information on non-invasive test procedures, etc. Many of my clients bring their test results and blood work results with them to every appointment so that I can review their results in a holistic fashion, explain the potential causes of abnormal results, and explain what the results mean in a way that's easily understood.
    
   
2. Belief in the body's ability to heal itself: I am a firm believer that all health conditions can be reversed and that the body is capable of healing itself of all conditions if given the support it requires. However, healing of extreme, chronic, long-term issues does not occur rapidly. Most chronic conditions require extreme dedication and commitment to changes in lifestyle, dietary habits and negative thought patterns to achieve wellness. Right now some of you are thinking, "What about ______? That CAN'T be healed!" I do not believe that. If you remove the blockages that are preventing healing, your body will heal. The "trick" is to dig deep enough to find all the blockages. I personally have had diabetes for almost 50 years, but still believe I can support my body so that it can heal itself. So far I've gone from taking 80+ units of insulin daily to needing less than 20. My pancreas has gone from not producing any insulin to producing insulin in small amounts. I'm not there ... yet ... but I'm on my way. The bottom line is that if you believe you cannot heal, you can't. Reversing the emotional blockages that make us cling to illness is essential for healing. My job is to help identify nutritional deficiencies, cellular damage, systemic weaknesses, toxic overloads, and negative thought patterns that are preventing the body from healing itself. I then work with you to create a plan to slowly but surely reverse those issues.
    
3. Dedication to finding the cause instead of masking the symptoms: I was in the corporate world during the "root cause analysis" phase of the continuous improvement movement. I apply this same approach to health care. Instead of trying to solely minimize your symptoms, I use a variety of assessment techniques to find the CAUSE of your issues. I then work with you to create a plan to address and reverse the cause, thereby eliminating the issue. Although I try to focus more on the cause than the symptoms, I will also recommend supplements and therapies to alleviate any symptoms which are negatively affecting your daily life and ability to function.
    
4. Compassion - I've been there: I can honestly give thanks that I spent ten years almost bedridden due to illness because it helps me relate to a very wide variety of symptoms and health conditions. It also provided exposure to a wide range of medical specialties and procedures. During my illness, I dealt with diabetes, hypo- and hyperthyroidism, depression, adrenal fatigue, chronic sinus problems, extreme food allergies, multiple autoimmune disorders, severe neurological disorders, cardiac abnormalities, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, debilitating anemia requiring IV therapy, malnourishment caused by malabsorption, environmental sensitivities, liver disease, poor kidney function, hormonal imbalances, GERD, hypertension, and more. I was incorrectly diagnosed with MS three times and cancer once. When a patient or client sits across from me and breaks down crying because he or she is frustrated and discouraged beyond the breaking point, I often cry with them because I've been there. I understand. I KNOW what it's like to be ill, to be sick and tired of being sick and tired, to do all the right things and get no results, to be too ill to function yet have "normal" test results, and what it's like to deal with doctors who ignore your symptoms, treat you disrespectfully or imply it's all in your head. I deeply feel their pain because I lived it. But ... I also know what it's like to heal. Of all the issues I listed above, I now only deal a few very minor ones. Healing happens. My goal during a consultation is to listen more than I talk, to address every single concern or symptom you have, and to provide encouragement and support. In the midst of that, my goal is to empower you with the knowledge you need to achieve wellness and the support you need to be successful in pursuing your goals. (I cover more about this in my post, Why I Do What I DO.)
    
5. Truly holistic approach: I work with my patients and clients to address any and all imbalances in body, mind and spirit. Wellness is not solely a physical issue, and most physical issues have a spiritual and/or emotional component. Solely addressing the physical side of an issue is similar to chopping off two legs of a three-legged stool. True balance cannot occur unless all three legs of the stool are healthy and whole. I use a variety of non-invasive but very effective techniques to help identify and address any issues that may be impeding healing.
    
6. Comprehensive remedies: After assessing the issues you are working on, I will work with you to create a holistic plan to address them. One of the things I believe sets me apart from others is that I work with you to create a plan instead of dictating a long list of do's and don'ts and then sending you on your way to do them. You are responsible for allowing your body to heal, I'm merely a support tool. I will meet you where you are. I will not overwhelm you with changes but will create a plan that allows you to make changes at your own pace while providing support and encouragement every step of the way. YOU are the only person responsible for your health. My job is to educate and empower you to make the right choices to improve your health on a daily basis. The remedies I recommend will be comprehensive and may include any (but not all) of the following: lifestyle changes, modifications to eating habits, supplements, hypnosis or EFT to address harmful habits, lymphatic therapies to boost immunity and speed healing, massage, acupuncture, Jin Shin Jyutsu (a Japanese art used to bring balance to body and mind), detoxification, balneotherapy, aromatherapy, Bach Flower Remedies, or specific protocols for health conditions that I customize to fit your needs. I NEVER use a "cookie cutter" approach. If you want an allopathic approach where the exact same supplement protocol is used to treat every condition, I will not be a good fit. I will work with you to create a very customized, very personal plan. What is right for you may not be right for anyone else, and that's ok. I also don't believe there is one, single dietary approach that is correct for everyone, nor do I believe extreme dietary habits are good. Again, I will work with you to develop a realistic eating plan that allows you to get the nutrition you need while providing your body with the building blocks it needs to heal itself. (For the record, I'm not raw or vegan. I support those lifestyles but typically encourage a more balanced approach.) On what may be an unrelated side note, I want to express to my Christian readers that I have no concern with the therapies I use being occult or satanic. Please ask me if you have any concerns with the origins or spiritual connections of any therapy. I'm happy to share the research I did that led me to accept the therapies.
    
7. Education, education, education: My role is to teach and equip you to help your body heal itself. I do that by working one-on-one with you, providing hand outs and resources you can refer to after our appointment, and by holding frequent classes and seminars to provide education on specific topics. If needed, I will schedule a grocery shopping consultation with you and will go grocery shopping with you to help educate you on label reading and how to make good choices while shopping. If you leave a consultation without having learned anything new or gained new insight into an issue, I've failed. I also assume I've failed if you leave without feeling encouraged and uplifted. I feel so strongly about the value of education that I travel nationwide speaking on natural health topics. I also speak locally and lead corporate wellness programs. If I can teach you enough about wellness to ensure you never need to schedule an appointment with me, I've succeeded. I may be in the only profession in the world whose primary goal is to put myself out of business. I'm ok with that. (Please feel free to contact me if you'd like more information on scheduling me to speak.)
    
   
8. Unique assessment techniques: I use a variety of unique assessment techniques to identify and assess systemic weaknesses, nutritional deficiencies, and blockages that prevent nerve flow and physiological energy from freely circulating. In addition to reviewing blood work and test results (and recommending any I believe would be beneficial), I use any or all of the following to identify other issues:

• Bio-Impedance Analysis (BIA) Testing: To assess metabolic function
• ElectroDermal Scan (EDS): EDS measures nerve flow through acupuncture points in the body to identify systemic weaknesses, nutritional deficiencies and more. I can also use the EDS unit to assess your current supplements to determine if they are right for you or not.
• Fingernail and tongue analysis
• Iridology
• Saliva hormone testing (more accurate than blood tests)
• Food allergy testing

If you would like to receive additional information about scheduling a consultation in person or via telephone, please feel free to call my office at The Logan Institute for Health & Wellness at 317.598.4325. Please join their newsletter to receive up to date information about classes, seminars and webinars I teach: Sign Up for Newsletter.