Articles

Center for Integrated Health and Healing Opens in Brevard

Transylvania Times, February, 2006

A new sign is coming to Medical Park Drive at the hospital: "The Center for Integrated Health and Healing," at the office of Dr. Charles Lefler.

This sign announces the integration of conventional and alternative healing approaches into a complementary healing practice on the campus of Transylvania Community Hospital. Dr. Lefler who is a board certified Internal Medicine specialist with a life long interest in integrated medicine directs the center. The Center for Integrated Health and Healing brings together under one roof Internal and Integrated Medicine, Clinical Psychology, Stress Management, Acupuncture, Reiki, Massage, Nutritional counseling, Reflexology, Feng Shui consultation, Yoga, Scenar TENS and healing touch, and art for health.

The concept for a Center for Integrated Health and Healing evolved over a ten year period. First came the development of the non-profit Foundation for Integrated Healing also located at Dr. Lefler's office. The work of the Foundation led to the idea for a Center.

For years medical doctors have understood that there are many approaches to health not under the umbrella of "traditional or conventional medicine." The Foundation sought to learn much more about alternative healing approaches available in our community as well as making that information available to patients and the medical community, and developing financial resources for patients to utilize services not covered by insurance.

Dr. Lefler found that although many of his patients were seeing both medical and alternative providers there was little or no communication among the providers. Patients were reluctant to discuss their use of alternative approaches with their medical doctor. In addition, patients were not aware that their providers could be working together to develop complimentary approaches.

The Center's practitioners offer their services individually or as part of an integrated approach. For example, a patient with Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome could have sessions with any of the Center's practitioners individually, based on their own perception of their needs, or have an integrated approach initiated through Dr. Lefler's practice.

A typical integrated approach to a problem such as Chronic Fatigue/Fibromyalgia would include a comprehensive exam with laboratory tests to make sure that the patient's tentative diagnosis met diagnostic criteria. Hormonal and nutritional deficiencies, sleep problems, and known stresses would be addressed. Although the initial evaluation and recommendations often lead to significant improvement of the patient, this is not the end of the process. Patients with Chronic Fatigue/Fibromyalgia usually need help in addressing their approaches to life and stress. James Nourse, PhD, clinical psychologist, acupuncturist, and stress counselor will often be called on for stress reduction and pain relief skills. He offers group and individual approaches to stress reduction. The patient may also elect to use the healing practice of Reflexology by Judith Nourse, RN, LMBT, the services of Martha Gale, Reiki Master, or take part in yoga classes sponsored by the Center. Massage is also available as well as specialized pain relief modalities such as Scenar TENS and Therapeutic Touch.

Art enablement therapy or "creative expression for healing," documented in the Work of Samuels and Lane will soon round out available services. These activities encourage the expressing of personal creativity. It has been observed that expressing one's innate creativity in drawing, painting, gardening, or other creative activities serves to integrate mind, body, spirit and this has healing potential. The Center will offer "art for health." We hope to grow this aspect of our Center dramatically over time.

The Center for Integrated Health and Healing is still a work in progress. It is exciting to have diverse healing traditions working together and we think that the over all health of our patients will be improved. You can find and learn more about us on the web at http://www.cihh-brevard.com .

In March, the Center will sponsor a series of group sessions on dealing with the stresses of Fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome, lead by Dr. Nourse. People may sign up for these sessions by calling the Foundation for Integrated Health and Healing at 828-884-2636.

The Foundation for Integrated Healing welcomes donations which may be used as noted above to assist patients in need. The Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible.