HEALING WORDS
By Barbara Dahl, BSN, RN, CHTI
How can I glorify the program in words? If only I were a poet. Poetry is the program at Shands hospital, University of Florida
Poetry is one way of communicating. Another way is Hakomi, “often described as
assisted self-discovery.” Roxanne
Peterson, assisted by Lynn Accetta, led attendees at the Healing Touch Regional
Meeting in Olympia in Hakomi exercises designed to deepen awareness. Both the poetry program and Hakomi stress the
communication skill of active listening.
The “Hand on the Back” exercise allowed words to surface. These were then repeated back and
participants described the value of feeling listened to.
The PBS film, HEALING WORDS: Poetry & Medicine,
featured Dr. John Graham-Pole whose vision resulted in bringing the arts into
Medicine at Shands, and John Fox, founder of the Institute of Poetic
Medicine Vietnam
vet who, because of what was required of him in the line of duty, didn’t feel
worthy to receive treatment. His poetry
brought it out, brought his anguish to the surface and, as in the case of so
many others, dramatically changed his life and moved him into healing. The film “affirms that art can build
compassion between doctor and patient and facilitate healing among the most
critically ill.” This 60-minute
documentary is an emotional experience for all involved including the viewer.
Healing Touch can be a powerful communication tool in
accessing the deeper story. The
practitioner has a responsibility to actively listen and acknowledge what
they’ve heard. Hakomi and poetry provide
practitioners with skills to become better, more compassionate listeners.
Side bar: Sharon
Fletcher, RN, CHTI, Spokane , has been accepted
into the Institute
of Poetic Medicine
Nursing
once was a physical thing.
Full of
endless tasks, timelines, and tedious details.
They taught
us the delivery of care.
The Doing.
So afraid
of making mistakes, losing control, feeling.
Somewhere,
after countless hours of doing,
I
discovered the need, the joy, the power
of Being.
A touch, a
word, a smile, a fear, a moment
connecting
us heart to heart,
collapsing the space between
doing and being.
Sacred caring delivered.
Sharon Fletcher
11/03/07
Read John Fox’s poem, When
Someone Deeply Listens to You, on his website:
www.healingwordsproductions.com
for PBS site to purchase DVD.
More about Hakomi at www.seattlehakomi.com
Read Barb’s Blog on the Aging Adventure
