Welcome to Alter-Native Healing!

We are all living a personal story, and every story has ups and downs, low points and high points. But what’s important is the theme that structures and guides our story.

When your story has positive, life-supporting themes, you have found the key to transformation. Changing your theme is more effective than trying to fix yourself one issue at a time. The most positive themes include lightness, worthiness, self-acceptance, evolution, and love.

Alter-Native Healing

Dawyn Cloud-Alter, B.S., M.S.M.F.T., C.F.H. Certified E.F.T. Practioner

 I am a Complementary Alternative Specialist,  I focus on healing the whole person.   I incorporate CBT, EFT, Herbalism, and CBTI modalities; based on the individual’s need, always connecting the healing of the body and the mind.  In dealing with mental/physical health we now have aware of the role that our autonomic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system, and sympathetic nervous system.  For over 27 years now,  I have experience in helping people of all ages with anxiety, panic, fear, trauma, and other challenges.

E.F.T. Discussion: EFT is an acronym for The Emotional Freedom Technique. It is also often called “tapping” or “tapping therapy.” EFT is acupuncture without using any needles.

Studies on EFT

The APA standards advocate that studies contain sufficient subjects to achieve a level of statistical significance of p < .05 or greater, which means that there is only one possibility in 20 that the results are due to chance. The status of EFT as an “evidence-based” practice is summarized in this statement published in the APA journal Review of General Psychology: “A literature search identified 51 peer-reviewed papers that report or investigate clinical outcomes following the tapping of acupuncture points to address psychological issues. The 18 randomized controlled trials in this sample were critically evaluated for design quality, leading to the conclusion that they consistently demonstrated strong effect sizes and other positive statistical results that far exceed chance after relatively few treatment sessions. Criteria for evidence-based treatments proposed by Division 12 of the American Psychological Association were also applied and found to be met for a number of conditions, including PTSD.” (Feinstein, 2012).  A number of studies using imaginal exposure while being paired with acupuncture as shown the following: When these meridian points or energy points are stimulated:

• • Regulates cortisol, Produces serotonin, Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

• • Reduction in heart rate

• • Regulates autonomic nervous system

• • Shuts off flight/fight/freeze response

• Hui, K. K. S, Liu, J., Makris, N., Gollub, R. W., Chen, A. J. W., Moore, C. I., . . . Kwong, K. K. (2000). Acupuncture modulates the limbic system and subcortical gray structures of the human brain: Evidence from fMRI studies in normal subjects. Human Brain Mapping, 9, 13-25. DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0193(2000)9:13.0.CO;2-F.  Hodge, P., & Jurgens, C. Y. (2011). A pilot study of the effects of Emotional Freedom Techniques in psoriasis. Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, & Treatment, 3(2), 13-24.

Herbalism:

Chinese herbalism:  Focus is placed on the concept of (Yin) and yang and of Qi energy.  (Yin herbs are often used for cooling and yang herbs used for stimulation and are often used in combination.

Western Herbalism:  Focus is placed on the body systems or organs of the body. I.e. inflammatory.

Ayurvedic:  In Sanskrit means the Science of Life”.  Like Chinese medicine it’s focused is placed on 3 types of energy.  Referred to as doshas: Vata: Pitta, and Kapha.

CBT Cognitive Behavior therapy:  Focuses on changing cognitive distortions and behaviors, and the development of personal coping strategies to focus on current problems.

Insomnia CBTI:  Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia:  It has been estimated that between 30-35% of adults have this complaint.  It is more common in women, and older adults, and others under stress or struggling with issues like depression.  National Institute of Health: “CBT is effective for treating insomnia when compared with medications and its effects may be more desirable than mediations.  Primary Care providers should consider CBTI as a first-line treatment option for insomnia.”