Artwork by Kurtis

The Whole Family Benefits

Kurtis’ Story

First encounter
We saw Kurtis, age seven, for the first time just before Christmas 2001. Initially diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay with Autistic tendencies, that diagnosis was changed to autistic at the age of six. Our first encounter was memorable. Accompanied by his parents and older brother, Kurtis was visibly upset. He pulled at his father’s hand indicating he wanted to leave. He cried, bit his father (very unusual behaviour for Kurtis) and crawled underneath the carpet.

The usual first meeting with a client involves taking the client’s history, establishing goals for our sessions, doing a seven-point assessment and explaining the process. We do not do a treatment. Kurtis was so upset that I suggested we do some exploring to see if we could alleviate his stress. There was no question of my working directly on Kurtis since he wouldn’t let me near him, much less touch him. Having used the surrogate¹ process successfully in the past, I suggested that the father surrogate for his son. At this point Kurtis was still hiding under the carpet. The first thing that came up was an electrical correction for the immune system. I had the father lie down next to Kurtis as I began using a tapping procedure on Spleen 21 and Kidney 27(acupuncture points). Kurtis immediately lay across his father’s chest and began to relax. I knew then that we would be able to work together.

Interview
Kurtis came for a total of 20 sessions from January to December 2002. We continue to work with him today. What follows is information gathered from a recent interview with his parents.

Why did you decide to bring Kurtis for sessions?
We had gone to see several Medical Specialists in the area and the United States and we were getting nowhere. We were looking for anything to help our son when we heard from a friend of the family, who had been to a seminar of yours. She was quite convinced that you would be able to work with Kurtis using Brian Gym®² movements.

Can you describe Kurtis's level of functioning at the start of our sessions?
Our son Kurtis was 7 years old when we began to see Joan. Kurtis was functioning at a 1 ½ - 2 years of age. He is Autistic and is non-verbal, very short attention plan, high anxiety level and hyper active. Kurtis had very sensitive skin and also a very weak immune system.

What sort of improvements were you anticipating?
We actually were not sure what results we would have when we started to see Joan. We hoped that using Brain Gym would increase his brain stimulation, and daily function. We also hoped to address his anxiety and hyperactivity.

What improvements did you notice first?
Kurtis seemed calmer with every session, and he had more eye contact. Kurtis’s immune system is stronger as he does not get sick as often. Now when he gets sick he recovers more quickly. His anxiety and hyperactivity have also noticeably diminished. His attention span has improved slightly, he has a little more interest then he did previously, and he now has more eye contact with you when you are talking to him. Kurtis is still non-verbal but he makes more sounds. He still has out breaks with his skin, but they are less often and less severe.

What improvements did you notice after 10 sessions? (completed June 6, 2002)
After 10 sessions we noticed a major shift in his hyper activity and anxiety level; he was a different child. At school they noticed a great improvement in his daily tasks, also more eye contact and more interaction.

Can you give specific examples of those improvements, both at school and at home?
At school Kurtis can sit at circle time for about 30 minutes, whereas previously he could not sit for more a few minutes. Kurtis is more aware of his classmates and participates and gets involved in group activities.

You committed to another 10 sessions after the first series was completed. What further improvements did you anticipate? What has your main focus been in this series?
We were very impressed with what Joan was able to accomplish with Kurtis in such a short time. By controlling his diet, vitamin supplements and homeopathic treatments we wanted to gain further improvements in Kurtis’s general health.

How is Kurtis today in relationship to when we first started?
It is a difference between "Night and Day". He is totally a "NEW" Child.
We don’t have the outbursts as often as before. We can take him on errands with the whole family. It’s less of a struggle. Our home life seems to be more relaxed.

You had mentioned that Gerhart feels he has also benefited from coming to the sessions. (Gerhart answers)
In Kurtis’s sessions I was acting as a median between Kurtis and Joan. I noticed improvements in myself, as I was very involved and interacting in the sessions. I noticed at home and at work that I was calmer and more focused when doing tasks. I also have a more positive outlook toward Kurtis.

Jennifer has also started sessions for herself. Would you like to comment? (Jennifer answers)
I have been so very excited in seeing the positive changes in my son that have taken place in a short time, that I wanted to see if Joan might be able to help me. I have suffered for many years with severe anxiety problems and depression needing medication and therapy. I needed a way to release the pain and unresolved feelings that were the basis of my problems. Knowing the negative effects of stress on your body and living with it for many years, I am trying to minimise it in my life so I can enjoy my life to it’s full potential. With Joan’s help I’m growing closer to my goal. I have started only recently with Joan and I have noticed a difference within myself already.

What, if anything, has changed for you?
Kurtis and I have fewer conflicts together and he is more responsive to me. We seem to be more tuned into each other. My energy level has improved slightly, and my immune system has also improved due to the vitamin supplements.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
The changes that we have noticed with Kurtis over the last year, is more then we have seen dealing with Specialists and Medical Doctors in the last 7 years. Our family is greatly appreciative that we have crossed paths with Joan and she has brought more hope and happiness into our lives.

Notes on the sessions:
The goals initially set for Kurtis were: increase mental capacity, reduce hyperactivity, and improve his overall well being.

We saw Kurtis on an average of twice a month for the next year.

Supporting the immune system
We began by making dietary changes, detoxifying the system for candidiasis (yeastlike fungus found most often in the intestines) and adding high-quality supplements including vitamin C and amino acids. As part of the detoxification, sugar was eliminated from his diet. The results were dramatic: Kurtis’s itchy eczema began to clear almost immediately. Priority then became energy balance through the subtle energy system of the meridians³ with special emphasis on the Spleen⁴ meridian. Little by little Kurtis’s immune system became stronger. He would continue to get infections, but they were no longer as frequent nor as pronounced. Up until then, his very severe symptoms would put the whole family on high alert and create a lot of stress for everyone.

Emotional clearing
Next in order was emotional clearing. It has been our experience that an emotional component is present in all healing. How do our emotions translate into physical symptoms? Emotions are the language of our body. Our body does not speak to us through words, but through our emotions. Listening to our emotions means to acknowledge the feelings and identify the message. What is the meaning behind the emotions we are feelings? What is our body trying to tell us? Staying tuned to our emotions give us information about what is important to us. They let us know when we have been trespassed upon. They let us know when we are not honouring ourselves and or values, when we have set ourselves aside. There are no "good" or "bad" emotions, although many of us have been taught otherwise. Emotions just are.

When we acknowledge our emotions, they have served their purpose and are automatically released. Any unacknowledged emotion stays lodged in the system until at which point the message has been received. Those unacknowledged emotions eventually become frozen into some part of the body. At this point we begin to experience symptoms. That lower back pain holds underlying fears of not having enough money to survive. That arthritis carries years of resentment and criticism. That insomnia issues from our feelings of guilt and our inability to trust the process of life⁵.At what point emotional clearing is appropriate varies from one person to another. Sometimes we start with emotions; other times, structural⁶ or energy balance is required first. Muscle checking allows us to identify the sequencing of our work for optimal results.

Noticeable changes
For Kurtis the order was: support his biochemistry, bring about energy balance, clear emotions, then go to structural corrections. In the third session we taught the parents how to repattern Kurtis using the Dennison Laterality Repatterning⁷ technique. We suggested they perform the repatterning twice each day⁸. At our sixth session there were two indicators of improvement: Kurtis sat in the chair in our office for the first time and he was able to make eye contact.

Spiritual Balances
Although the spiritual⁹ aspect of our work had been present throughout, it was during the sixth session that we noticed a greater emphasis on spiritual balances on the sessoins to follow. The element of "spirit" is always present in our work. I open a coning¹⁰ at the start of each session. You have noticed that I never refer to myself as "I" when discussing this work. That is because I work with a team that includes, the client, myself (and in this case the client’s parent), my guides, angels as well as those of my client. I am aware of the presence and guidance of our team as we do this work.

Conclusion
As we continued to work with Kurtis, we support him by making appropriate changes in his diet and supplementation. Further vitamins and minerals have been added as well as homeopathic treatments. Kurtis continues to improve in his ability to adapt to change: changes in the weather, changes in routines. His hyperactivity has greatly improved and he is participating more at school. Recently he started horseback riding which he very much enjoys.

Our emphasis is now on verbal expression and Kurtis being able to go to the bathroom on his own. We have noticed some improvement in both areas and are optimistic that Kurtis will continue to make progress.

Kurtis’s gentleness, playfulness and curiosity shine through at every session. It is obvious that he is a child who is loved, supported, desired and accepted. It is our privilege to be a part of his life.