by Abby Wynne
Counselling: talking with someone to help you gain perspective on your life situation, this is non-directive, no advice is given and it is driven by the client i.e. the client chooses what to talk about. Counselling usually takes about four to six sessions to work through an issue.
Psychotherapy: this can be more directive, in that once it is clear what the client is looking to do, the therapist takes a more active role; they can suggest techniques and a direction to work in, using different processes to help create transformation. There may be homework in the form of tasks to do (such as keeping a journal), so for this reason several sessions may be required.
Psychoanalysis: very intensive, where the psychoanalyst studies your thought patterns and history and makes a diagnosis over many sessions. You do most of the talking, the therapist asks questions and traditionally sits behind you, out of eye contact. This may involve going back to trauma and childhood events, talking about dreams, etc.
Bereavement Counselling: a specialized form of counselling that helps you move on from a loss in your life – any kind of loss, not just the loss of a loved one.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: this psychotherapeutic process concentrates on looking at your thought patterns and teaching you ways to change them to more healthy ones.
Gestalt: a process that uses talking and feeling to work through problems. This type of therapy works on a holistic approach, working with the emotional body; it can be very powerful and at times it may feel like the mindfulness Energy Healing exercises.
Human Givens: a type of psychotherapy that works on a framework based on the idea that people have a set of needs that have to be met.
Transpersonal Therapy: psychotherapy that works with a belief in God or something greater than us to help manage life situations.
Other forms of therapy may include: positive psychology, art therapy, brief therapy, family therapy, group therapy, play therapy, transactional therapy. You can see there are many different forms!
Therapy is really more about the relationship you create with the therapist than the type of therapy they are offering. So you do need to make an emotional connection with your therapist. Many psychotherapists use an integrative approach, which means that they are versed in several different modes of therapy and they blend them together as needed in a session. The number of sessions that are required for psychotherapy/counselling are set between you and the therapist, and it can be decided up-front or on a session-by-session basis. However, if you feel you are not enjoying the process, are not connecting with, or not comfortable with the therapist, you can end the sessions at any time.
It’s very useful to talk about the therapy process with the therapist i.e. check in and tell the therapist you’re really benefitting from the sessions, or let them know if you’re not happy. Talking about the therapy process with the therapist can dramatically improve the results as both of you are more aware of what is going on. Remember, sometimes it can be your resistance to the work making you unhappy with therapy, rather than anything the therapist is doing.
Keep in mind that a one-to-one session may be what you need if you’re feeling fragile. Group therapy is when a group of people go into process together, and not always at the same time. This means that you will become exposed to other people’s processes. If you pick up on their energies as well as the ones you are already trying to work with, it can really make things more difficult for you if you’re not ready for it.
Questions to ask a psychotherapist/counsellor
How long have you been in practice?
Are you a member of an accrediting body? / Do you have a licence?
Where did you get your degree?
How much do you charge for your sessions?
Do I need to sign up for a certain number of sessions?
Do you have a cancellation policy?
Do you accept personal health insurance?
Energy therapies
When receiving Energy Healing there is no need for you to remove your clothing. You will typically lie down and the therapist will place their hands on or over your body, drawing down the Universal Life Force Energy into your biofield. These therapies can work over plaster casts if you have a broken limb, they can also work over distance if you cannot make it into the therapist’s office for a treatment.
Types of energy therapies include:
Bioenergy healing
Crystal healing
EmoTrance
Hands of light holistic healing
Integrated energy therapy (IET)
Johrei
Life alignment therapy
Past life regression
Pranic healing
Quantum touch
Rahinni
Reconnection healing
Reiki (there are many forms – Usui, Karuna, Tibetan, Angelic, Tera Mai, Rainbow, Dragon, Kundalini – all of which have different methods to access the Universal Life Force Energy)
Restorative touch
Sakara
Seichem
ThetaHealing®
You can research each type of healing, if you wish to know more about it. I would also suggest that you look for a recommendation from someone who has been to the healer before. Remember, this is more about the healer than about the modality of healing; some people are born to be healers and may not even have trained formally, so they may simply offer you ‘spiritual healing’. Others who have trained for years may not be natural healers but may do a great job helping you release energies and acting as a witness for you. You will only know if you try it.
Many therapists tend to mix several therapies together and don’t usually tell the client in advance, so ask when booking if it’s pure Reiki, for example, or if they combine it with something else.
Remember everyone is different, and the training is different too. Each Reiki Master Teacher will teach in their own way, so Reiki students will all receive a different training. When looking for a therapist do your homework first – look at their website, read their blog, get a feel for their energy. Nowadays, there is online training available for Energy Healers, and you can complete the masters’ programme over a very short period of time. This does not make you a master therapist. However, some people call themselves that regardless. You need to be sure that you are going to a well-practiced professional. It’s useful to ask some, or all, of the following questions.
Questions to ask an energy therapist
How long have you been providing Energy Healing treatments?
How much do you charge for a session?
What level of training do you have?
Where did you train? / Was your training in person with a teacher in a hands-on setting, or online?
When did you complete your training?
How many client hours have you completed?
Have you got full public liability insurance?
Can I contact one of your clients for a reference?
What should I expect in a session?
Do you practise healing on yourself every day?
If the therapist gets worried or angry with you for asking these questions, they might not be the right person for you. The last question, about self-healing and self-care, is very important – as a therapist, they will be seeing many people, and if they do not look after themselves, clear and raise their own vibrations, they may be passing their clients’ energy over to you, and you don’t want that.
Psychic readings are not part of an Energy Healing session. After the session, if the therapist has information for you based on what they read in your energies, treat it as information that is true for that therapist, in that moment.
Nothing has to be set in stone. Everything can change. Sometimes additional information from a therapist is useful, such as ‘You are not really grounded in your body, perhaps you should spend some time doing that for yourself, and you’ll feel better.’ Do not deeply embrace everything you hear; only pay attention to it if it resonates with you. As you do your work, you get c
learer on what your work is, and will be more empowered to decide yourself what you need to do.
Therapies that combine both talking and Energy Healing
The following therapies combine talking with energetic healing:
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): uses tapping on energy points and affirmations in a set framework to shift energy and work with thought patterns.
Shamanism: Shamanic methods vary dramatically depending on the training and background of the practitioner. You really need to investigate the therapist before you book a Shamanic healing session, do find out where they trained and how long they have been in practice. Consider getting a recommendation before booking, as this therapy really does depend on the individual practitioner.
Hypnotherapy: the therapist goes into your subconscious mind and inserts a script or a programme to change a behaviour, or transform an irrational fear. It can involve energy work or not, depending on the therapist.
Energy Coaching: there are many coaches out there offering energy work; be clear, however, that coaching is not always therapeutic. (Imagine a coach on a running field shouting at an athlete!) Coaching can help you set goals and get more confident, while therapy is something that I believe should be loving, gentle and transformational.
Therapies that work with the body
Even though they are focused directly on the physical body, bodywork therapies can really help release blocked emotions and are a great complement to any energy work or psychotherapeutic work you may be doing.
Massage: there are many different types of massage depending on how deep and strong a treatment you wish to receive.
Shiatsu: a type of massage where the therapist can release trapped energies from the muscles, as well as working with the physical muscles in the body.
Reflexology: using pressure points on the feet to heal the whole body energetically.
Reiki massage: the therapist combines Reiki with physical massage.
Rolfing: releasing energies within the connecting fibres and tissues in the body.
The questions to ask before booking a bodywork treatment are similar to the ones already listed above.
Combining bodywork with Energy Healing
You can incorporate Energy Healing into body movements to create a strong, grounding practice that will keep you healthy. Healing may not always be the intention behind the class, but sometimes you will find it ‘sneaks’ its own way in. Make sure the facilitator is experienced, and you feel safe within the group. Try a drop-in class before you sign up for a whole term. This type of practice would be more about maintenance of a good energetic state, rather than a portal into doing deep transformational work. However, people have been known to experience deep healing during this type of work, even though it’s not necessarily the intention behind the class.
Biodanza
Chakra dancing
Qigong
Seven rhythms dancing
Tai chi
Yoga: there are many traditional forms of Yoga such as Hatha, Astanga, Kundalini, Raja, etc., and many new non-traditional forms such as Bikram, Iyengar, Anti-Gravity and Laughter, to name a few.
Therapies for the environment
You might find after doing energy work that you want to change the energies in your house, or in your place of work.
Feng shui: the practitioner will come and survey your building and give recommendations around where to put particular types of furniture, what colours to use and how to position items for the optimum energy flow.
House/Land Clearing: there are land healers who are Shamans, they can come to your house/workplace and work directly with energy blocks in the land. If the energy is being disrupted by a power line, they can help you work around it to improve the general energy flow in the space.
Further reading
You can heal yourself and then harness the power of the energy around you to create the life you’ve always wanted. Don’t take my word for it, go read what these other people say and try it for yourself! These are some of my favourite books that have helped me on my own healing journey. There are lots more out there too, so choose something that resonates with you.
E-Squared, Pam Grout (Hay House, 2013) Nine energy experiments that you can use to work with the Universal Life Force Energy for manifestation.
Frequency, Penny Peirce (Beyond Words/Atria, Simon & Schuster 2009) Getting bearings on your personal energy frequency and how to raise your vibration.
The Game of Life and How to Play It, Florence Scovel-Shinn (Waiting in the Other Room Productions, 2014) The original book on manifestation and energy.
The Heart’s Note, Stewart Pearce (Findhorn Press, 2010) There are some wonderful practical exercises in here to help you open your heart and connect more deeply to the vibration of your soul.
The Lightworker’s Way, Doreen Virtue (Hay House, 2005) A wonderful story about what it means to discover you are a healer and how it can impact your life.
Power vs Force, David R. Hawkins MD, PhD (Hay House, 2014) This book is a wonderful explanation of the vibrations of different emotional energies.
A Return to Love, Marianne Williamson (Thorsons, 1996) The story of Marianne’s journey of healing, interspersed with the philosophy of A Course in Miracles.
Shaman, Healer, Sage, Alberto Villoldo (Bantam, 2001) Full of ways to work with energy, as well as a different perspective on life.
Soul Retrieval, Sandra Ingerman (HarperOne, 2010) A remarkable book about our Life Force Energy and the Shamanic technique of Soul Retrieval.
You Can Heal Your Life, Louise Hay (Hay House, 2004) Reviews the different parts of the body and what it means when there is illness, dis-ease or blocks in them.
Why People Don’t Heal and How They Can, Caroline Myss (Bantam, 1998) This book may help explain any resistance you may be having to the healing process. Lots to think about here.
Zero Limits, Joe Vitale (John Wiley & Sons, 2009) How energy clearing can transform your life and change the world.
How I can help you
I have some free resources that you can claim right away as a reader of this book, so do come and have a look. My mission is ‘to heal the world by teaching people how to heal themselves,’ and to that end my website has many resources to help further your Energy Healing journey. Visit www.abby-wynne.com for more information.
My other books
Energy Healing for Everyone: A Practical Guide to Self-Healing (Balboa Press, 2012) Exercises and practical ideas to help you bring Energy Healing into your life.
Spiritual Tips for Enlightenment: Practical Spirituality for Every Week of the Year (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013) Practical ways to bring spirituality into your life.
Healing meditations
I have recorded several healing meditations and healing sessions to help you as you work. Some of them are similar to the exercises included in this book, and they may enable you to work through blocks and help you to reach a deeper level. Let my voice guide you through the session, and you can experience healing wherever and whenever you feel you need extra support.
I also offer online classes, one-to-one Skype sessions and a healing circle, which you can join and then receive Energy Healing from me twice a month. Visit www.abby-wynne.com for more information.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
www.circusphotography.com
Abby Wynne is a Shamanic Psychotherapist and Energy Healer working in private practice. She teaches people how to reconnect to their hearts and become empowered in their healing process. She has four beautiful children and lives with her family in Dublin, Ireland.
For information about how to work with Abby, or for her other books, worksheets and recorded meditations, visit her website:
abby-wynne.com