Practitioner Perspectives
Practitioners and students of Integrative Manual Therapy has so many powerful stories to tell about how this work has changed their lives and those of their patients and families. Each month, we'll spotlight one of this stories. This month's story is from Janice Case, P.T., I.M.P.,C..
Janice Case—One Therapist's Dream Come True
I held the dream of becoming a therapist for ten years
before I had the opportunity. I graduated from Sutherland Chan massage therapy
program in 1985. While there is value in the comfort of traditional Swedish
massage, I longed to effect change on a deeper level. I was attracted to continuing
education in hopes of finding more effective, efficient, gentler approaches.
I held a conviction that if there was a physical pathway into the body that
there had to be physical pathways to recovery.
I took at least 25 courses hoping to find a model of treatment
that could resonate with my dream. It was not until 1990 that I took my first
class in Integrative Manual Therapy from Sharon Weiselfish-Giammatteo.There
was so much information presented over four days that I struggled to keep
pace—and I loved the experience. Since that time I have taken over 75
classes from DCR. The art and science of diagnostics combined with gentle,
specific techniques helped me realize my dream.
The Therapeutic Horizon classes resulting from the collaborative
efforts of Sharon Weiselfish-Giammatteo and Frank Lowen took my dream further.
Not only are their techniques for addressing physical problems in all systems
of the body, there are also treatments for cognitive, emotional, spiritual
and energetic issues as well.
This therapy has been transformational for both my family
and myself. It has been a gift to be able to use techniques that have literally
been life saving. My father was dying with congestive heart failure, chronic
asthma and bronchitis as well had stage three prostate cancer. He had been
steadily
deteriorating and his life had become a series of hospitalizations and regular
doctor visits. He was on multiple medications, bronchial dilators, prednisone,
antibiotics, heart medications, anti-inflammatories, diuretics and gout medications.
In April, 1996 he had deteriorated to a point that he could not walk ten feet
without gasping and was placed on oxygen 24 hours a day.
In September of that year I took a class that was to change
my father’s life. At this point my father had been on 24-hour oxygen
for six months. When I came home from DCR's heart class, Biologic Analogs
for Circulation, I treated him for six hours one day. He stopped using oxygen
that night and never went back on it.Much to the surprise of his physician,
respiratory therapist and numerous specialists he is healthier and more robust
than he had been for the last fifteen years. In September of 2000, a pulmonary
specialist said his lungs were normal and he hoped his lungs would function
as well at age seventy-two. Recent electrical conduction studies on his heart
showed his best-ever readings.
My family has no doubt that without IMT treatment my father
would not be here. This alone would make a good story but there is more. I
have another family member that was diagnosed ten years ago with Myasthenia
Gravis. This is an auto-immune disease that is progressively degenerative.
There are numerous symptoms that accompany this disorder. People eventually
die of asphyxiation as the muscles that assist respiration fail.
One of the earliest symptoms was profound weakness and
fatigue with double, often triple, vision. This was particularly frustrating
for a musician and teacher. Increasing headaches and muscle wasting convinced
her to agree to a surgical removal of her thymus. While this surgery can sometimes
arrest the progress of the disease but it had no effect for her.
As a mother of a six- and eight-year old it was becoming
more challenging trying to meet the daily demands of parenting and teaching
at a fine arts school. By October 2000 she was unable to climb stairs and
it was apparent that applying for permanent disability was imminent. Taking
over one hundred Advil per month to control pain and headaches, she was also
diagnosed as having Fibromyalgias.
Finally feeling that she had exhausted her options with
a traditional medical approach she decided to try Integrated Manual Therapy.
After ten weeks of treatment—a combined total of thirty hours of therapy—there
was a remarkable transformation. The problems with double and triple vision
totally disappeared. Her pain, headaches and weakness were greatly diminished.
Her energy and vitality levels returned and she resumed activities she had
not pursued for years. She and her family have such hope and joy now and it
gladdens my heart.
My heart’s dream in becoming a therapist was to assist people in transitions to health and wellness. Integrated Manual Therapy and related courses through DCR, Therapeutic Horizon and Illuminatis have actualized the dream. This work gives me great joy. It is wondrous to witness the changes in clients, friends and family. It is a privilege to be part of the faculty for DCR.
Janice Case, P.T., I.M.P.,C.
London, Ontario
