DS asks: “I was wondering if you would comment on the Unified Therapy approach to healing? As far as I can see there are no contradictions to what the Church teaches and it would be a viable mode of therapy. I had one session (won as a gift certificate) a few days ago that was pretty powerful to me. Here is the website of a Unified Therapist that I met with: http://www.jimfazioib.com/”
Unified Therapy (TM), at least the version developed by Dr. Paul Canali, a Miami chiropractor, and endorsed by the therapist you reference, is definitely questionable and I would caution you to let more than a powerful feeling be your guide in pursuing this any further.
For those who don’t understand what Unified Healing Therapy is, proponents say Canali discovered that humans possess an autonomic self-regulating or righting reflex. “He has discovered a specific Somatic Autonomic Balancing Reflex™ or (SABR™), which puts into motion a powerful systemic self-regulating system. We call this the Master System because of its systemic effects on the whole body and all its systems, from hormones to neurotransmitters. The Master System has the power to heal and change the negative implications of an imbalanced ANS (Dysregulation) such as those from Post Traumatic Stress, auto accidents and illness of all kinds.”
Canali claims that we can not only consciously interact with this spontaneous healing response, but that it can take us to higher levels of health and understanding than have been previously discovered.
“Balancing the Autonomic Nervous System, using mindfulness and somatic awareness techniques are just a few doors into this grand integrated healing event. The high levels of awareness that are generated by this integration bring people into what he [Canali] calls a ‘super conscious state’.”
As Canali himself explains: “The Autonomic Nervous System stabilizes and fear begins to evaporate. People experiencing this are no longer afraid of their physiology. Fear is replaced by deep mindful states, the body-mind when connected in this super conscious way allows individuals to be guided and directed in new and extraordinary ways.”
Canali claims that this super-conscious state is scientifically measurable, but there doesn’t appear to be much evidence of this. In fact, on the website of your therapist, after citing Canali’s work, he adds: “Such a discovery, when supported by larger research studies, will be known as a major breakthrough in the healing arts and sciences.”
By the way, Canali holds both a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and a BS in Human Biology from the National College of Chiropractic Medicine. He studied in Japan at the University of Nagoya Medical School Hospital and received a degree in Acupuncture and Complementary Medical Practices.
It’s important to point out that the idea of altering one’s consciousness is a basic tenet of the New Age, largely inspired by the work of the so-called Father of the New Age, Carl Jung, and achieved with a variety of eastern meditation and New Age mind-control techniques. The Pontifical document, Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of Life, is riddled with teachings about this aspect of the New Age.
Because of the emphasis on consciousness and holistic approaches to health, I was not surprised to find that Unified Healing Therapy was very much associated with New Age practitioners.
For instance, Canali’s work is applauded on websites such as the Oasis House which offers Reiki, Akashic record consultations, reflexology and other New Age practices.
The website of the Helen Graham Park Foundation also praises Canali’s work. The late Mrs. Parks “devoted herself to the study of cross-cultural models of consciousness with a particular interest in Buddhism, Jungian psychology, quantum physics, and the medical traditions of China, Persia, India and Tibet.”
Not long ago I read a book written by the famous clinical psychologist Margaret Singer entitled Crazy Therapies. She minces no words in discussing the grave harm that has come to people who subject themselves to these untested therapies, everything from depression to acute paranoia to psychotic breakdowns to destroyed families. Her book is filled with personal testimonies that are enough to make anyone think twice about participating in off-beat therapies, no matter how good they feel – at first.
Canali’s ideas may indeed bring you to a “super conscious state” but the question you need to ask yourself is what price you’re willing to pay for it.
Send your New Age question to newage@womenofgrace.com
