Monthly Archives: February 2021
-
Posted: February 23, 2021Categories: Hot Research
The databases for mind-body research on guided imagery and meditation just keep on growing, I’m happy to report. There’s a steady growth of well designed, randomized clinical trials that yield promising-to-robust results.
And – be still my heart! - there’s now enough of a cache of respectable research to generate systematic reviews, meta-analyses, scoping reviews, bubble maps, the works. This, people, is a significant step up.
-
Back in the late 80’s, when I was writing our first batch of 7 illness-specific guided imagery audiotapes, I felt I was on pretty solid ground with the psychological and emotional impact of a disease, but I needed expert, seasoned medical consultation on how each disease behaved in the body, all the way down to the cellular level – what got it started and how the body instinctively worked to heal it, as well as the symptoms involved, and dynamics of the treatment process.
I knew I had to get it right, and independent research was only going to take me so far. But I had a terrible time getting physicians to talk to me about this
-
So, now, it’s 1988, and the Chemo guided imagery tape is still a smash hit at University Hospitals of Cleveland. By now, I’ve moved my private practice from Washington DC to NE Ohio. My husband is Dean of Case Western Reserve’s Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, and I’m quietly seeing clients and doing my part as “The Lovely Mrs. Dean”, hosting many, many, many dinner parties and receptions.
-
Posted: February 16, 2021Categories: Update from Health Journeys
Has it really been 30 years since we got this mind-body audio adventure rolling? I’ve been reminiscing about our very humble beginnings. And making what eventually became the first Health Journeys cassette tape.
Sometime around 1986-7, a woman I’m going to call Bonnie booked an appointment with my psychotherapy practice. She was looking for help with fighting stage 4 breast cancer and gearing up for chemotherapy.
-
Posted: February 08, 2021Categories: Partner Spotlight
This week, we’re putting the spotlight on University Hospitals of Cleveland and their major initiative to thank employees for the effort, dedication, and self-sacrifices made month over month.
It all started in 1988: UHHS was the very first major institution to request a calming, reassuring guided imagery tape for chemotherapy patients in the waiting room — they took a chance on us, and in effect, launched us and gave us legitimacy in the world of traditional health care.
And in August 2018, the launched a customized streaming page of a dozen stress-relieving, empowering, procedure-easing meditations for providers, staff, patients, and their very own selves.
-
Posted: February 01, 2021Categories: Update from Health Journeys
Panic attacks are pretty common – the National Institute of Mental Health estimates they affect about 6 million adults in the US alone.
But knowing that doesn’t make it any less disturbing when your body starts acting like you’re suddenly under a life-or-death threat, even though you’re in no imminent danger.
One minute you’re talking to a friend or making dinner or climbing into bed for the night, and the next minute you’re shaking and sweating while your stomach and heart fight over which one gets to jump out of your body first.