The TOOLS of my Craft (BioDynamic Osteopathy)
I spent years honing different Osteopathic Manipulation techniques, some of which I still use intermittently. I had treated thousands of patients with good success. But, it wasn’t until I took Dr. Jealous’ Phase I Course, about 15 years ago, that I really began to fully understand the relationship between the patient and the provider and more importantly my role as the FACILITATOR and NOT the FIXER. It was truly a humbling experience to hear Dr. Jealous repeatedly telling us, in his deep soothing voice, to take everything we had learned and put it on the shelf. The most important characteristic he gently demanded we shelve, was our intent, especially our intention to help or heal the patient. We had to completely change our perspective. He wanted us to approach each encounter with each patient as if we were the student. We learned to re-evaluate preconceived notions of palpation and sensation and to become the physician – student to the patient – teacher. This is where I learned to leave all of my intentions “at your desk” and let the patient reveal the treatment. If I were to tell you that this complete adaptation of perspective was a difficult course I would be grossly understating the reality. Over the next 15 years, I have continued studying Dr. Jealous’s Phases (I-IX)with both Dr. Jealous and Dr. Hankinson. It has certainly been a long course and I continue to learn with every breath I draw, but I would never change the path that I have been blessed to have been shown. Osteopathy has afforded me the honor of being able to serve my patients and have such a positive impact on so many people’s lives.
I consider myself a Jealous/Hankinson Osteopath of the James Jealous, D.O. & Donald Hankinson, D.O. variety.