What is mind/body medicine?

"Numerous studies published since 1960 demonstrate the efficacy of mind-body medicine techniques in lowering blood pressure and stress hormone levels, relieving pain and improving immune functioning, as well as improvements in clinical conditions such as HIV, cancer, insomnia, anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) "- The Center for Mind/Body Medicine


Mind/Body Medicine is an approach to health and healing that honors the connection between the mind and body. Mind/Body medicine harnesses the power of an individual's thoughts, attention, somatic (body) awareness, and emotions to positively influence health, thereby tapping into the natural healing force within each person. Mind/body medicine is based on the recognition of the body's innate healing potential, and the partnership of patient and facilitator in restoring the body to health.


Mind/Body practices include:

  • Mindfulness
  • Guided Imagery
  • Self-Hypnosis
  • Meditation
  • Mind/body movement (chi kung)


Mind/Body practices are an excellent adjunct to bodywork/manual therapy and other healing modalities. They help develop self-regulation and brain-body awareness, which are an important component of healing chronic illness, managing stress, relieving chronic pain, and thriving in the world.

Self Regulation:

Self regulation is our ability to control our thoughts, emotions, and arousal levels in response to environment stimuli. This is one of the most important aspects of healing as well as our ability to thrive in all areas of life.  The development of self-regulation starts at birth or in utero.  There are many factors that can impact self-regulation including:  physical and emotional trauma, nutrition, food /environmental sensitivities, excessive noise in environment, stress, thoughts, beliefs, emotions, structural imbalances, exercise, environmental toxins etc..

Self-regulation skills allow a person to activate the body’s innate self-healing capacity, while inhibiting the stress response. Many experts believe that the stress response is responsible for 85% of all disease.  Self-regulation skills helps to inhibit the stress response, resolve old traumas, promote relaxation, improve social engagement, and balance the autonomic nervous system. Essentially, the self-regulation practices shift us from a symptom and disease producing state, to a state of repair, detoxification, and healing. Research emerging from such fields as cellular biology and epigenetics supports these practices.

Manual therapy, energy medicine, and mind/body practices combined with counseling or coaching can facilitate stress relief and promote self-regulation/self-healing.


Integrative Mind/Body Coaching: MBC brings an array of skills to help you discover how to lower your stress, break habits, maintain clarity in the midst of chaos, and achieve better performance in all areas of life. It is based on both Western and Eastern approaches, drawing from the fields of mind/body medicine, wellness coaching, positive psychology, mindfulness, imagery, self-hypnosis, somatic (body) therapies, martial arts, and energy psychology/medicine.

Coaching is not therapy. We work in the wellness model, focusing on wellness goals and outcomes. Focusing on the problem creates resistance. What you resist persists. Mind/Body Wellness coaching is based on the premise that personal responsibility, self-efficacy, and self-care are necessary to live a healthy abundant life.

In addition to being a manual therapist, Walter is certified in hypnosis and has studied neuro-linguistic programing (NLP), guided imagery, mindfulness, meditation, somatic experiencing, sensory integration, and many systems of energy medicine. He is trained in the Circle of Life mind/body wellness coaching system and Wellcoaches wellness coaching.

For more on mind/body coaching and training please visit: www.blickwellness.com


The information provided on this site is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as diagnosis, treatment or prescription for any disease or illness. The decision to use, or not to use, any of this information is the sole responsibility of the reader. Always consult with a licensed health care practitioner when dealing with as disease, illness, or health condition.





Mind/Body Medicine