Ph: 0408 096 387
Email: contact_lifexl.com.au
Clinical Hypnotherapy
Reiki
Cancer Mentoring
Gawler Foundation
Energy Sessions
Life is a gift but many people become overwhelmed with problems
such as illness, depression, relationship difficulties and fears.
Life XL empowers people through mentoring, hypnotherapy, Reiki
and life skill courses - to change their lives and create
the happy, healthy and abundant life they deserve.
And as Albert Einstein said:
There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle.
Within the subconscious mind resides our imagination, emotions, memories, our automatic body responses, habit patterns, and our most deeply held beliefs about ourselves and what we believe is possible for us.
It is these deeply held patterns and beliefs that drive our decisions and shape our lives and the quality of our perceptions. When we desire to make a lasting, positive change in our lives, it is these subconscious patterns that we must identify and change.
Clinical hypnotherapy is a safe, proven, and effective tool for directly accessing the power or the subconscious mind. Modern hypnotherapy is a collaborative effort wherein the client and Hypnotherapist interact and work together to bring about positive changes, identified by the client as desirable.
The Subconscious Mind
Imagine that you have a very powerful ally, one that has infinite potential, creativity, wisdom, knowledge, compassion and strength. This ally remembers everything that you have done, protects you every moment of every day, has 100% trust and belief in you and is there to help you achieve virtually anything you desirea perfect companion.
This ally is your subconscious mind. It controls the systems in your body: like the beating of your heart, digestion, releasing of the hormones, metabolism and the like. Its contribution to your body is something you don't think about, it is just there and it happens. It stores all information from your past and contributes to your feelings, emotions, thoughts and decisions, sometimes without your full awareness. Most importantly, your subconscious mind should be there to help you.
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a natural and pleasant state of the human mind. It involves focused attention, concentration on an object, an idea or an activity with full involvement, while attention to anything else is temporarily suspended. We naturally experience this state in everyday living. For example, becoming totally involved watching a movie or a sports game, driving on a familiar route where you do not quite remember part of the journey, waking minutes before an alarm clock on a significant day, daydreaming, reading an absorbing book, noticing a smell or hearing a song which takes you back in time reminding you of an event which has been stored in your memory. Hypnosis is a relaxed state of mind where one can focus on an idea, an aspect of life, a dilemma or a challenge. It is used by sports people and corporate management for motivation, in advertising to attract you to certain ideas, by public speakers and politicians to captivate their audiences and by many therapists to effectively change or improve any aspect of their clients life.
How Does It Work?
Simply put, it is therapy, during hypnosis. The body and conscious mind are in a relaxed, natural state, while the subconscious mind remains awake and receptive to suggestion. Hypnosis is an education-communication process that allows the conscious and subconscious mind to believe the same message.
When given a new suggestion that is within the bounds of a person's belief system and moral orientation, the subconscious mind accepts literally this new reality. The ability to re-program emotional attitudes and reactions is a latent talent within every human being. Hypnosis is the most functional and reasonable way to build new behaviors, create new patterns and find alternate ways of dealing with situations, thereby enforcing positive change and restoring well-being of mind and body.
What Can Hypnosis Be Used For?
What Does Clinical Hypnotherapy Involve?
Clinical hypnotherapy is a two way partnership between the therapist and the client. A person cannot be hypnotised unless they agree and cooperate. Whilst hypnotised, nobody can make a person do anything which they do not want to do. It must be emphasised that what hypnotherapists do is, by definition, therapeutic. Stage hypnosis is very different. It is a form of entertainment. Even those people on television eating raw onions and pretending to be Madonna are doing it because they want to. They have chosen to participate.
A Hypnotherapists Job Is To Help People
The first stage of a hypnotherapy consultation will generally involve an informal chat and some questions from the therapist to ascertain the nature of the issue and the necessary route to overcoming or dealing with it. The next stage is hypnosis.
You are led, by means of the hypnotherapist's gently guiding voice, into a state where your body and mind are relaxed and nearly asleep. To an onlooker it might seem as if you were totally asleep but in fact, though you will normally feel very relaxed, you will remain awake enough to be aware. Those parts of your mind which the therapist is working with to induce beneficial changes will also be awake. This may mean that you will be picturing, as in a daydream, the things which are being spoken of and that you may experience the associated pleasant feelings.
Remember that if at any time you feel uncomfortable and want to terminate the session, then you will be perfectly capable of doing so. After this, there is always time left for you to ask questions, or to discuss any experiences you had during the session.
Results of hypnotherapy are a credit entirely to the mind of the receiver. The hypnotherapist merely helps to unleash that incredible hidden power.
Your wellness starts today - contact Life XL to make an appointment
Cathryn Brown
Member: PHWA, CCH, NRCH
Cert Hypnotherapy, Cert Advanced Hypnotherapy, Cert IV - Clinical Hypnotherapy
The Cancer Mentoring Program
Empowering people who are experiencing cancer
Learning that you have cancer can be an overwhelming experience, one that leaves you frightened, vulnerable and feeling alone. The Cancer Mentoring Program offers confidential, one-on-one, outreach and support, from someone who has successfully made the same journey you are about to begin the holistic journey towards wellness.
This Cancer Mentoring Program offers:
Cancer affects the entire family, not just the patient. Those who are caring for family or friends diagnosed with cancer, have special needs which are often overlooked. It is important for the carers to have some time and support for themselves, to enable them to cope with their own life changes.
How Does the Program Work?
The Mentor provides encouragement, direction and support in a way that no one else can. Learnt from their own personal cancer experience, the mentor will share healthful and positive strategies to help you cope during this very difficult time.
Anyone with cancer or caring for a person with cancer is eligible to be matched with a mentor.
Please contact Life XL for details.
The Cancer Mentoring Program is funded by The Brady Cancer Support Foundation.
The Gawler Foundation 12 week Cancer Self-Help Program: Cancer, Healing and Wellbeing
This program was developed after Ian Gawler recovered from a very difficult cancer. It was based on the notion that people could be helped to learn key lifestyle and self help techniques to improve their experience of cancer and extend their life.
The program is essentially a self-help group. Each of the 12 weeks has its own theme which establishes a structure for the sharing of participants experiences, reinforcing hope, providing health education, clarifying choices and supporting participants decisions. There is the ongoing effect of establishing a level of peace of mind which many participants experience to be both profound and sustainable.
The program is run over twelve weeks in a two and a half hour session. These sessions cover a range of topics that build upon each other and continue to reinforce health and wellbeing through an integrated approach to healing. Each session aims to impart knowledge about the subject of its focus, to form positive attitudes, to cultivate and support participants motivation to be well, and to provide opportunity for active participation and the learning and practice of new skills and behaviours.
Each session focuses upon a specific self-help theme based on a chapter from Ian Gawlers book You Can Conquer Cancer. There is plenty of time to practice techniques as well as discussions and questions. Meditation instruction and practice is continuous in this program, consolidating knowledge and skills, as a twenty minute meditation practice is built into each weekly session.
Each session is based on the principles of mind body healing. Our bodies have a natural inherent capacity to heal themselves. The principles presented in the program will enable the participants to activate and develop their own healing power, maximizing their bodys potential to restore its natural state of balance and vitality. The program is complementary to any mainstream medical treatment.
Weekly Topics
Week 1: Introduction and Meditation 1 - Participants introduce themselves to the group and then the purpose, value and preparatory techniques of meditation are discussed and experienced.
Week 2: Meditation 2 This session provides an in-depth theoretical and practical framework for understanding and practicing meditation. It examines the different types of meditation and introduces the three major pathways covered in the program Health, Insight and Creative meditation.
Week 3: Mind Training 1 This session explores the power of the mind, specifically in relation to the connection between positive thinking and healing. This is contextualized within a detailed explanation of how cancer develops, how the body defends itself and how it can heal.
Week 4: Food 1 This session explains and promotes the principles of good nutrition and a healthy diet appropriate to the healing of cancer and the maintenance of ongoing health and wellbeing. It clarifies peoples motivations, attitudes and intentions around eating, examining them within several key contexts. The principles of a healthy diet specific to healing cancer are then expounded and linked to the capacity of the immune system to fight cancer and other illness.
Week 5: Food 2 After reviewing the key principles of good nutrition, participants study a handout on anti-cancer properties in foods which leads into an explanation of how metabolically creating a cancer unfriendly environment can stimulate healing. Practical concerns around food availability and preparation are discussed as part of the guidelines on how to implement major dietary change.
Week 6: Pain Management This session explores with participants the nature, reality and purpose of pain. It analyses the challenges and choices a person has in managing pain, including orthodox medical pain management, complementary and meditative treatment options. Three meditative options for pain management (both physical and emotional) are taught: relaxing into the pain (PMR), distraction (passive scene imagery) and directly exploring the pain using imagery and self-dialogue questions.
Week 7: Healing This session focuses on integrative healing body, mind, emotions and spirit. It delivers an overview of orthodox medical treatments and explores lifestyle and complementary healing options relevant to cancer. Participants are encouraged to think about the spiritual dimensions of illness and healing and to question how their spiritual view informs their healing and purpose in life.
Week 8: Causes and Solutions for Cancer This session aims to help participants understand the physical, psychological and spiritual causes of cancer and to realize that making changes in attitudes and behaviour can increase their ability to heal themselves. It begins by addressing the questions Why me? and Is a diagnosis of cancer bad luck or lifestyle related? A distinction is made between blame and responsibility, avoiding guilt and emphasizing understanding.
Week 9: Mind Training 2 The purpose of this session is to continue on from the first Mind Training session and particularly to examine the nature and power of the mind for healing and to equip people with strategies to use this power more effectively. The session reinforces the principles of positive thinking, exploring ways in which people sabotage their personal power and how the use of goals can create and support change.
Week 10: Living and Dying This session explores attitudes and cultural beliefs around death and dying to counter the associated fear and to improve participants chances of healing. Through a series of questions, participants are encouraged to contemplate and to talk about attitudes to their own mortality as a means of overcoming fears. Basic attitudes to healing are reviewed and emphasis is placed on the process of living well in preference to the goal of not dying.
Week 11: Healthy Emotions This session examines the connection between emotions and our physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. The impact of emotions on the immune system is studied within the framework of Psychoneuroimmunology i.e. what happens in our body/mind when we experience and express different emotions. Destructive emotions are clearly identified and healthy emotions such as joy, laughter, humour and gratitude are promoted in order to improve healing and quality of life.
Week 12: Philosophy of Health and Wellbeing This final session of the program summarizes and reinforces the key principles, techniques and strategies and addresses the question Where to from here?
So, come and join us and enjoy being part of an active and inspirational group of people who are on a journey of self-discovery and reclaiming hope in achieving profound healing and sustainable wellbeing.
Please contact Life XLfor details.
Life XL Energy Sessions
The Life XL Energy Sessions combine many powerful modalities of energy medicine to assist you to release, resolve and cut the energetic ties that bind you to the past. These energetic ties are holding you back from living the happy, healthy and abundant life you deserve.
There are many levels of the mind and it is important for people to tap into this extraordinary resource. There is an old saying, There are many pathways up the mountain. Reiki and hypnotherapy, combined in a Life XL Energy Session, provide an incredibly powerful pathway up that mountain, in which people often experience profound revelations.
Healing is not only about the body, it is also important to heal emotions, feelings, thoughts and unresolved issues from the past. Energetically we are still connected and bound to these situations in our life and if unresolved, can make us feel depleted, fearful and unable to move forward in life.
The aim of Life XL Energy Sessions is to empower you to become the best that you can be.
Please contact Cathy for an appointment.
What is Reiki
Reiki (pronounced Ray-key) is a Japanese name consisting of 2 words Rei and Ki meaning life energy, an energy which animates us all and is found all around us. Reiki helps to harmonize body, mind and spirit for yourself or anyone you want to help.
Reiki Sessions
A Reiki session lasts approximately an hour, depending on the treatment required. In the western world many practitioners use the standard hand positions and commonly a full treatment is given covering all the important organs of the body.
There is no pressure on the body making it ideal for treating all ages and conditions, sometimes hands are even held away from the body. The energy flows wherever it is required and can normally be felt as a vibration, warm sensation or tingling in the body. Receiving Reiki is a very relaxing and soothing experience!
There is no belief system attached to Reiki so anyone can receive Reiki or a Reiki attunement. As in any healing the first step towards a healthier life is a desire to be healed.
Benefits of Receiving Reiki
Reiki can be used for many ailments i.e. reducing stress, relieving pain, headaches, stomach upsets, back problems, asthma, respiratory problems, menstrual problems, sinus, anxiety and many more.
Please note that Reiki should never be used instead of medical treatment, but rather, a compliment and a way to become and remain healthy.
Reiki Course
Anyone can learn Reiki. The word learn is not quite right as most of us cannot just read about Reiki and do it. The ability to use Reiki is normally given via an attunement or initiation. There are 3 levels of Reiki: Reiki 1 and 2 and the Master level. Once attuned Reiki is easy to use and your ability to use Reiki will never leave you!
Benefits of Giving Reiki
There are not only benefits of receiving Reiki, a powerful and gentle healer may achieve the following results:
Cathy learnt Reiki 1 and 2 in 1991 and has been teaching Reiki since becoming a Reiki Master/Teacher in 1996.
Contact Life XL to book an Energy Session, Reiki Session or Reiki Course
Cathy's Story
It is hard to imagine that in 1989, a tiny red dot on my arm could have changed my life so dramatically. I had always been very careful with my skin and very aware of melanoma. Over the years I had several dark moles removed from my body just in case.
When a small pimple-like spot appeared on my arm, initially I was not worried. It didnt look anything like the typical warning photos in skin cancer brochures. I knocked it a couple of times and it really stung, so I went to the doctor and showed it to him. His comment was No, thats alright, dont worry about it. For some unknown reason, I insisted on having the spot removed. Im not sure why, but I just knew I would be happier without it. His comment to this was Oh alright, if it will keep you happy.
The following day the doctor rang me up to ask if I could go and see him in his surgery, as he had just been contacted by the laboratory saying that the biopsy was malignant. What a shock! When I saw him, he had already made an appointment with a plastic surgeon for the following day to remove a greater excision, just to make sure that they had got it all. After visiting the surgeon, the results confirmed, that as far as the doctors were concerned, they had removed all of the offending melanoma.
Life went on pretty normally for another six months until I had an uncomfortable feeling under my arm. After getting this examined by the doctor, I was assured that there were no lumps and that it might have been a pinched nerve reacting from my previous operation. I accepted this and carried on quite happily for a further four months until I broke out in the most disturbing blisters, all over my legs.
Back to the doctors, I was placed on antibiotics on one visit, steroid cream on another and finally on the third visit, two other doctors were called in to inspect the blisters. They hadnt seen anything like it before, so they suggested that I should visit a dermatologist. The following day, I went to the dermatologist and questioned whether this problem may be linked to my melanoma. The same question I had previously posed to all of the other doctors. The dermatologist assured me that there was no connection. Although he wasnt sure what they were, so he cut one out, and sent it off to be examined.
When I was phoned with the results, I was told it is a condition called Bullis Pemphigoid, but dont worry, it wont kill you. It is extremely rare, although normally it is only seen in very old people. Why I might have this condition at the age of 33there was no answer.
After a couple of weeks the spots started to disappear, I was glad to see the end of them. I was told if they reappeared, that steroids would be used for treatment. About the same time that the spots disappeared, I noticed that the tightness under my arm was getting worse and I wasnt sure whether or not I could feel some swelling or not. Within a week or so I was certain that it was not my imagination. When I lifted up my arm, a golf ball size lump would appear. When I put my arm down, it would disappear.
I was having another small skin cancer removed by the same plastic surgeon, so I asked him about the lump. He suggested that I return to my GP who examined me and referred me to a surgeon at Fremantle Hospital. After the surgeon examined me, he confirmed that I did have a large mass under my right arm and that it must be removed immediately. He spoke to another surgeon who informed him that the operating list was full. He replied, Get rid of someone!
It gives you the mostly sinking, horrible feeling to look down at your file and see a big red URGENT sticker on it. This is when I knew things were starting to go very wrong for me. I mentioned the Bullis Pemphigoid and asked for his opinion. He told me that my immune system was so locked into fighting the tumours that it had broken down. The Bullis Pemphigoid was a reflection of this. At least I had an answer now, although I was certainly not thrilled with the reason.
On the 3rd May 1990 I had the operation. I was in hospital for the 5 days following. It was very challenging to stay optimistic during these days, but always in the back of my mind I was waiting for someone to walk in and say, Sorry, this has all been a big mistake and there is nothing wrong with you. Unfortunately, that person never turned up.
When I went back, the following Friday, for the official results, it was like being sent before a judge to hear the verdict. Guilty or not guilty? What had I done wrong in my life to deserve this treatment? Why me? The anger was starting to surface at the injustice of it all. My children were only six and eight years old. It just wasnt fair. After waiting for the doctor, for over two hours, my nerves were shot. Finally, the results were delivered.
The report stated that, from the group of lymph nodes removed from my right axillary, metastatic tumour was present extensively in two of them. The largest mass was 5cm in diameter. A third node was having mild reactive changes only. Most of the following conversation was a blur. The few words I registered became etched into my mind.
My first question was how long do I have to live? He replied, Im not sure, maybe a couple of months, perhaps a couple of years. Then I asked what would finally finish me off? It will go to either your liver or your lungs. You will be referred to an Oncologist. They will monitor your progress. In your situation chemotherapy is unlikely to help. Since you are young, with a young family, you would be better off going home and enjoying whatever time you have left.
Two days later it was Mothers Day, and one of the hardest days of my life. Facing my children and not knowing whether this was my last Mothers Day with them. What would they do next year when everyone at school was preparing gifts for their mothers? The pain in my heart was incredible.
I woke up during the night shaking. The images flashing through my mind can only be understood by someone who has been in this situation. No words can accurately describe what I went through. I went to see my GP for help. He prescribed me Serapax, a sedative for my nerves, and told me to send in the rest of the family to see him if they needed anything to help them cope.
When I went to see the Oncologist, he looked at my file, shook his had, clicked his tongue in a disapproving manner and simply said, Youre in the hands of fate. As fate would have it, I am thankful to those doctors for being so blunt with me and triggering off something inside of me that said If fate has anything to do with this, Im going to give it all the help it needs!
I received a wonderful letter from a lady who had heard of my story from my aunty. Her husband was given a 50/50 chance of surviving melanoma 2 ½ years previously and after taking responsibility for the management of his own illness, he was now happy and well. She advised me to contact the Cancer Support Association (CSA) where she assured me that I would find the most loving and wonderful group of people who would be able to understand what I was going through. She also suggested that I see a Naturopath, and read Ian Gawlers book You Can Conquer Cancer, and Louise Hays book You Can Heal Your Life. This is exactly what I needed. I rang the CSA immediately and was invited to attend their group. My next phone call was to the naturopath and I managed to get an appointment for the following week.
I was willing to eat cabbage leaves for the rest on my life, or stand on my head three times a day, if that was deemed necessary. I was greatly relieved when I met the Naturopath. I was given a wonderful array of foods from which I could choose. Body brushing, castor oil packs, magnetic treatment and vitamin therapy were the order of the day. His accuracy with iridology was incredible. It was almost as though he had read my medical history from when I was a baby. I was so encouraged by his incredible understanding that I was determined to follow his instructions exactly and without any deviations. For the first twelve months of my recovery, not one thing passed my lips that wasnt on my food list. It really wasnt that hard because my desire to live was far greater than my desire for anything else.
I attend the CSA with a friend and received some counseling. Although I had originally had felt that I wouldnt need it, the counseling gave me an incredible insight. It revealed to me, my emotions which had allowed the cancer to develop inside of me. This revelation was tremendously beneficial. During meeting with other cancer clients, it was wonderful to be able to relate to people who knew exactly how I was feeling. They could give me empathy, instead of sympathy. The mediation was fantastic, and to find a library full of books about healing was like finding a gold mine. I meditated every day and will do so for the rest of my life.
Through the CSA and also the Naturopath, I was informed about a Cancer Patients Retreat to be held in one week. This was also a very large aspect of my recovery process. We were taught the Silva Method of Mind Control and in between sessions, we learnt about other methods of complimentary medicine. This I found very interesting. There was a guest speaker about Bach Flowers, allergy testing, diet and also a Reiki Channel.
Reiki is hands-on healing and when the channel did a session on me, I felt as though she had touched more than just my arm, I felt so at peace. I had seven more Reiki sessions and finally decided to become a Reiki Channel myself. I find this to be a very important part of my life now and it helps me continue to be positive about all aspects of my life.
I felt like a sponge, willing to read everything and anything which could help me. There was a mountain of books by my bed. After reading several of these books I said to my husband, I could be doing some pretty weird things in the next twelve months to which he replied I dont care what you do, as long as you get well. Not necessarily understanding what I was doing, but giving me the freedom to try anything without criticism, was the perfect support. Another piece of my recovery puzzle was my attitude. I wouldnt have succeeded if I had merely just tried. I viewed it as a challenge. I was 110% committed to conquering the cancer. It became my reason to make all of those changes in my life that I had always been going to do. I became open to new things that I had never been willing to explore previously.
Several check-ups later, 22 months after having the secondary tumours removed from under my arm, my Oncologist informed me that he didnt need to see me anymore. At every opportunity I told him of the complementary therapies I was exploring. As I left his office he said to me, Dont think that its because of anything youve done, there is such a thing as spontaneous remission. I was highly offended. He was not interested in anything that I had explored and was completely oblivious of the dedication and commitment I had made towards my own recovery.
The last two decades have been exciting years in my life and I find it hard to believe it all happened because of a little red dot on my arm. I felt that because I had received so much from the Cancer Support Association, it was time for me to give back to the organization and to the amazing people I had met on my healing journey. In 1991 I completed a course as a Volunteer Carer and spent considerable time in providing telephone support, making visits to CSA clients in hospitals, supporting group participants and I also giving Reiki regularly on a one to one basis to clients of the CSA.
I attended the support group for five years as both a participant and a carer, so in 1995, when the Group Facilitator went on long service leave, I was asked to stand-in for her during this time. At first I was very apprehensive but during the three months she was away, I gained confidence and absolutely loved it. The original facilitator decided to resign, and not return from long service leave, so I was employed by the CSA to work as a Group Facilitator.
This was a huge opportunity for me and I knew I needed further education and professional development. I approached the Wasley Institute and was fortunate to be accepted into their two year training course as a Groupwork Leader. This course was fantastic and explored many aspects of the responsibility of being a group facilitator. It gave me to confidence to know that whatever happened in a group, I was capable of handling it. I also went to the Gawler Foundation in the Yarra Valley and trained as a Cancer Support Leader. This training enabled me to facilitate the CSA Open Forum, the 12 Week Wellness Course, the Womens Support Group and CSA Volunteer Carers Support Meetings. In 1996 I started the Rockingham Cancer Support Group. I facilitated this group for the following five years.
In 1996 I initiated the development of Reiki clinics. I had found Reiki to be an integral part of my healing and felt that a clinic would be appreciated by members of the group if it were made available. I spoke to the CSA Director and was given approval to buy several massage tables so that we could help as many people as possible in a short time. These clinics were very well received and expanded rapidly. With the support of an average of 10 Reiki practitioners, we were able to help many people relax and allow them to enjoy some very peaceful and healing time after the support meetings.
I enjoyed representing the CSA as a Speaker, and gave many presentations at a variety of different forums including conferences, schools, Rotary Clubs, health centres, as well as to hospital and allied health professionals. I was always pleased when people came up to me at the end of the presentations and shared their personal experiences with cancer, either as someone who had experienced it themselves or as a close family member or friend. This reinforced the value of having someone to listen to their storyeveryone has a story.
In 1999, it became apparent for the need of a one day seminar for people newly diagnosed with cancer. I specifically designed the inaugural Meeting the Challenge seminars to introduce various holistic options, to better manage treatment and the recovery phase, and also sustain an improved sense of health and well-being.
After leaving the CSA, I decided that I wanted to reach people earlier with this message about health and well-being, so I created and presented corporate wellness programs for the following four years. I have always had a fascination for the power of the mind. In 2005 I decided to nourish this fascination, and I commenced training as a Clinical Hypnotherapist. It seemed to be a natural extension of my previous work, only now, purposefully utilising the power of the subconscious mind. I now use Hypnotherapy for healing, as well as, for the many other physical and emotional challenges in life.
Life XL amalgamates all of the skills and knowledge that I have learnt, since that tiny red dot first appeared on my arm, to assist people to empower themselves to live and extraordinary life.
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Image courtesy of Greg Evans, Scenic Solitude
