Frequently Asked Questions 

WHAT EXACTLY IS 'ENERGY WORK'?

Think of your body as having not just physical anatomy, but also an energetic anatomy that flows through and extends around your physical body. Acupuncture works with the meridians, which are one part of this energetic anatomy. Reiki often works with the chakras, another part of this anatomy. Other energetic healing modalities work with auric fields around the body, which you can see represented in images of saints or other holy persons. We all have these fields, even if we don’t seem to ourselves to glow as much as the saints do. I work with all these anatomies, but I also work with the energy of the physical structures themselves—the organs, the bones, the blood vessels, etc. When I enter into a session, these structures present themselves to me as vibrations I can touch, just as they would if they were under my physical hands, with you next to me on a traditional massage table. 

HOW CAN IT POSSIBLY WORK IF YOU'RE NOT PHYSICALLY TOUCHING ME?

That's a very understandable question. While traditional bodywork like massage relies on physical touch, Physical Language works with the energetic systems of your body, which are not limited by physical distance. Think of how prayer can impact someone far away – the connection is through a different realm. Similarly, through focused intention and energetic sensitivity, I can connect with your energetic field remotely. This field informs and influences your physical body, and by working within it, we can facilitate shifts and healing in your body, mind, and spirit.

IS IT JUST A PHONE CALL? WHAT AM I ACTUALLY PAYING FOR?

While the phone provides the crucial connection for our dialogue, a session is not just a conversation. The conversation connects your conscious awareness to the changes that are happening, and so facilitates and deepens the work. But the work itself is energetic bodywork, based in the principles of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, which recognizes a three-step process to every healing change:

  1. Identify the pattern. Whether the pattern is the relationship between pelvic bone and iliac artery that contributes to scoliosis or habit of tearing yourself apart with negative internal dialogue, the energy of that pattern is there to be felt, noticed, observed, changed.

  2. Ask the pattern to pause. Just like every hurricane has an eye, every pattern of experience has a center around which it pivots and is organized. I have trained for years in the art of helping a pattern find its center, and pause. It is a tactile feeling in my hands, a balance of forces much like truing a bicycle wheel, when a professional balances the tensions of hub, spokes, and rim against each other to allow the wheel to spin free and straight around a still, stabilized center.

  3. Let the pattern reorganize. This is the “hands off” part of healing: only you know the best way to be the best version of yourself. The innate wisdom of your being will reorganize as much as you can, as best you can, in that moment. Reorganization is often almost instantaneous; the work and art of healing is in getting the pattern to notice itself and pause. Once reorganization is complete, we will move on to the next pattern your system wants to address, and start that three-step process again.

IS IT SAFE? HOW DO I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

Yes. Safety and trust are paramount. I have trained extensively in Polyvagal Theory and related research & modalities, from both psychological and physiological/anatomical perspectives. We simply cannot heal if we do not feel safe. I have invested in building a distance bodywork practice in part because it does increase client safety so much. The work is gentle and non-invasive. You are in your own space, in a place you feel comfortable, and my hands are touching your energy but not your physical body. A key purpose for the phone call is also to ensure you remain in control of your experience. I verbalize every hand placement and perception, so that you know, at every point of the session, where my hands are and what I am working on. You can communication any discomfort or questions at any time.

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

The overall sensation is often very pleasant and restorative, like taking a bath. You may experience subtle sensations like warmth, tingling, a sense of release, a shift in your general well-being or mental clarity, a twitch or unconscious kick of the legs, tummy gurgles and sounds of fluids moving, a short nap as your body works on something deep and unconscious. All of these are normal. Having your energy held and supported to heal is deeply revitalizing, and soothing. Many clients directly feel my hands working where we are focused at the time, and feel the changes happening right then. Sometimes the changes happen over the next couple days. Your body knows best how to transform so you don’t get overwhelmed. Sometimes the changes are so subtle and integrate so easily it is hard to notice the lack of a pain that has been bothering you. You are just freer to get about the business of being yourself. Sometimes during a session, things may become sharp and intense for a period, or have a sudden shift. I will guide you through trusting the wisdom of your system and allowing the release to happen gently and smoothly.

WHAT DOES A 'DISTANCE BODYWORK SESSION' ACTUALLY INVOLVE? HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM JUST TALKING TO A THERAPIST OR COUNSELOR?

While verbal communication is a key component of Physical Language, the primary focus is on the energetic dimension of your being. Talk therapy primarily addresses the mental and emotional aspects through dialogue and cognitive strategies. Physical Language works directly with the energetic system, which can have profound effects on the physical, emotional, and even spiritual levels. The dialogue in Physical Language serves to illuminate the energetic shifts and their connection to your physical experience, rather than solely focusing on emotional processing or cognitive restructuring. It's a different approach that can complement other therapies.

HOW CAN YOU UNDERSTAND MY ANATOMY OVER THE PHONE?

My understanding of anatomy is foundational to my practice. Through energetic sensitivity, I can perceive patterns and imbalances in your energetic field that often correlate with specific anatomical structures and physiological processes. The dialogue allows me to share these perceptions and explain the potential anatomical connections to you, helping you understand what might be occurring in your body on an energetic and physical level. It's a process of 'reading' the energetic language of your body through my training and then translating it into understandable terms for you.

My aim is to communicate in a clear and accessible way. I will tailor my explanations to your level of understanding, avoiding overly technical jargon. The goal is to provide helpful insights into how the energetic shifts we are working with relate to your physical body, empowering you with greater awareness and understanding of your own healing process. You are always welcome to ask questions if anything is unclear.