In the beginning of my naturopathic medical practice in the late 80s, after graduating from John Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine (now Bastyr University) I was contracted by the Vancouver Archdiocese to treat sexual abuse.

As I treated PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) from sexual abuse including the symptoms of anxiety, depression, digestive disorders, fibromyalgia and other related concerns with natural medicine and creative techniques I saw clearly how the mind and body are connected, that unresolved psychological trauma can manifest in the physical. (This “phenomena” was termed at the time under the new science heading of psychoneuroimmunology.)

I never stop being fascinated by the body’s ability to tell a story. It waves memories around like a flag person at a race or as if it is the stage for our very own drama, which it is. With the mind in control, the body can hold onto memories that negatively affect us, manifesting for example in the muscle pain of fibromyalgia, the agony of the GI tract in Crohn’s Disease or in the many and varied pelvic messages, and so on.

Of course the physical reality can simply stem from poor nutrition, a toxic environment, chronic dehydration, food allergies and this affects the mind. But what about the mental/emotional aspect, the psychological trauma that is often buried?

Although Classical Homeopathy is excellent at bringing out the deeper cause of the condition or disease I sensed early on that people who had been abused needed something more. They need to have a hand in their healing, something they could actively participate in, to feel empowered by the experience, a way to pinpoint the mental/emotional source in order to lead to thorough healing.

I have always loved to move, to dance, sing and write myself but it was after an Omega workshop outside NYC with the legendary Wavy Gravy in the 80s that I realized how powerful comedy as well narrative dance can be for transformation. I was able to express my grief for my father’s recent death in a creative and supportive atmosphere that freed my inner pain.

In time, with patients who had been traumatized by a priest or stepfather (or ritually abused or felt medically abused by overzealous interns) and were left with physical and/or psychological symptoms I developed “Moving the Pelvis to Healing.” At a friend’s waterfront home for a weekend or week off Vancouver BC women experienced deep and long-lasting healing by channeling their pain through writing, sound, song, movement, dance and drama along with learning the principles of natural healing.

Years later, now in Los Angeles, my weekly class is called, “Moving to Healing” where again Meditation, Imagery, Writing, Movement, Drama and Sound ensure that a chronic condition or disease can be interpreted positively. To flesh out and chronicle the personal narrative while surrounded by group support, these defined tools and techniques generate a path to a happy ending.

Please join us.