1. What I Do
Patients consult with me when they are in distress (suffering with symptoms)
I understand human suffering taking a Biopsychosocial Spiritual approach.
Healing interventions (treatments) are revealed through an understanding of
whether or not problems exist in these four areas.
What Biopsychosocial Spiritual means
1. Bio = biology. Is the suffering related to disease (a disorder of structure or
function of the human body)? The brain is a functioning organ. About 25%
of people have a disease of functioning of the human brain or a mental
illness. Illness here will adversely affect the other areas.
2. Psycho = our personality. Our personality is defined by the fixed an
inflexible ways that we think, experience emotions and our body, and behave
(experience our reality). These patterns form and become fixed over the first
two decades of our life. They are formed through the nurturing (teaching) of
our families, society and culture. If they work adequately in the present
(adaptive) they help relieve suffering. If they work maladaptively they
promote suffering.
3. Social = our relationships. If we are able to form and maintain healthy
interdependent relationships with others they mitigate suffering. We could
also be isolated or not know how to form and maintain healthy relationships.
4. Spiritual. This has nothing to do with the belief in a Higher Power beyond
the human experience (although that belief can expand spirituality for some
people). Spiritual refers to:
a) having learned and fully accepting that all humans are imperfect and
therefore I am imperfect.
b) being able to admit without self-judgment or fear when you need the help
of another person.
c) forming relationships with people who are able, willing and ready to help.
d) asking for help and guidance.
e) following the help and guidance to discover solutions that are not
available to you.