• June, 2010 - Zak Martin-Kilgour
• October, 2009 - Shulamit Day Berlevtov
• September, 2009 - Nancy Leach
• May, 2009 - Deeni Wagner
• April, 2009 - Barbara Ford
• March, 2009 - Leanne Wierzbicki
• February, 2009 - Isabella D'Alessandro, H.E.T.
• January, 2009 - Rhonda Lee Stetsko
• December, 2008 - Jane Booth-Robertson
• November, 2008 - Lee Pryke
• October, 2008 - Bonny Rochford
• September, 2008 - Karen Egoff

Nancy Leach

September, 2009

What brought you to the realization that you are a healer?

There were three distinct experiences that all happened within less than a year, back in the mid-80’s. The first was a very powerful workshop, which helped me finally heal a trauma from my early life. About a month later I heard about a month-long intensive being offered by Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, founder of Body Mind Centering and herself an extraordinary healer. I knew intuitively that this was my next step. The following summer I experienced a spiritual opening that quite literally lifted me out of the life I knew and into the beginning of a whole new way of being. I had found my work.

What obstacles have you found in considering yourself a success in this field?

There have been external obstacles connected with peoples’ inability to pay for my work as well as a certain degree of conservatism around anything beyond traditional counselling.

I tend to move between my commitment to doing the work as spiritual practice – and scrambling to find “real jobs” to pay the bills.

What schooling or training have you completed?

Two Master’s degrees, one in psychology, one in teaching. The Advanced Training of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, DC (www.cmbm.org). Professional training in the Mindful Way through Depression, Faculty of Social Work, U of Toronto. EMDR Level 2, Reiki, personal meditation practice, etc.

Do you find group gathering to be helpful in supporting you on your journey?

I recognize community and group process as incredibly useful for most people, but tend to work on my own.

Does networking with others assist you in achieving your goals?

Definitely.

Is there advice you would offer to someone starting on this path?

If you want to do healing as a professional you will need clinical training that makes you “legitimate” in the eyes of those who are looking for services. And answering to a professional organization keeps us all honest and grounded in best practices.

What type of advertising has worked best for you? What has been your best resource for building a client base?

Best resource has been word of mouth. I’ve done very little advertising or marketing, mostly because of the cost. I promise myself I will get into web marketing but it doesn’t come naturally, so it hasn’t happened. Could definitely use some help with this.

Where do you see yourself in a year? 5 years? Do you have any particular goals that you would like to achieve in the near future?

I’m contemplating writing a workbook on embodiment. Next Spring I’m starting a two-year mentorship program on teaching meditation that I’m excited about, so expect that to support and enhance my current involvement. More and more people are suddenly realizing that “body consciousness” is real. I believe that if we’re going to survive as a species we have to evolve our consciousness and that moving out of Cartesian duality is fundamental. I want to be a part of that.