Guided Healing:
A Therapeutic Exploration of the Subconscious Mind and Subtle Energies
With Adam Okerblom, LAc, DAOM
Introduction to Guided Healing
Guided healing is a therapeutic technique integrating elements of hypnosis, meditation, and acupuncture theory. The practitioner guides the patient through a customized series of visualizations and psychological exercises to discover powerful insights and tools for healing and balance. Through this practice, we explore the immense and beautiful landscape of the subconscious mind and work directly with the profound therapeutic potential of our subtle energies, channels, and points.
There are many different techniques and approaches to hypnosis and guided meditation, represented in global cultures both historically and contemporarily. I developed this practice of guided healing over several years, in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. During that time, Dr. Anne and I temporarily closed our acupuncture office. I wanted to discover an effective method of working with my patients online or remotely.
With the advice of several of our elder mentors, extensive research, and professional training, I developed my own approach to guided healing. I quickly discovered the great therapeutic benefit of this practice and the immense potential for healing in working with patients using this guided healing technique.
Guided healing fits perfectly into my background of spiritual practice and work with healing ceremony. I have spent my entire adult life dedicated to working with spiritual practices and healing traditions from around the world. It has been my incredible honor to have worked with or learned from some of the world’s most revered spiritual teachers, and to have experienced many wonderful things. This is part of my personal background that led me to work with this powerful therapeutic practice of guided healing.
I have practiced Buddhist meditation and studied the philosophy of the Dharma for many years, primarily under the guidance of my root teacher, Chogyal Namkhai Norbu. When I was in my twenties, I had the honor of spending some years working and traveling with a full-blood Dakota ceremonial leader. With him, I gained firsthand experience of the rituals, songs, and ways of Indigenous American shamanic healing.
How Does Guided Healing Work?
My guided healing technique integrates hypnosis, guided meditation, and acupuncture theory. Each session includes several stages, with the practitioner guiding the patient through visualizations and techniques. Typically, we develop a treatment plan that includes 6-8 sessions, usually held weekly or twice weekly.
Each guided healing session is customized specifically for each patient and each session. As with acupuncture treatments, we adapt and update our treatment protocols to address the patient’s short- and long-term goals, progress, and specific circumstances.
Hypnotic Induction
Our session begins with a hypnotic trance induction. This preliminary stage activates the patient’s natural, self-generated therapeutic trance state. It draws us deep into our subconscious realm, activating a state of deep relaxation, profound calm, introspection, and clarity.
Guided Meditation
We use specific hypnotic visualization techniques to explore the patient’s innate healing capacity and work with psychological tools related to specific issues or therapeutic goals. These meditation techniques create space to discover insights into our own condition, the nature of our health challenges, and to inform the paths to our healing and growth.
Activation of Therapeutic Points
Each session includes applied activation of acupuncture channels and points. We develop a customized prescription of points for each session. The practitioner guides the patient through the therapeutic treatment. The point prescription addresses physical, emotional, and psychological concerns, according to the holistic principles of traditional Chinese medicine.
How Does It Help?
The results of guided healing are profound and deeply therapeutic. With just the application of our awareness through meditation, the points light up on the body. Our own healing intelligence expresses. We can experience the myriad sensations, neurochemical responses, and incredible insights that we usually associate with an acupuncture treatment.
In my clinical experience, these guided healing treatments have the potential to benefit any physiological system of the body. They are designed to activate our innate healing intelligence, help regulate our nervous system, and restore balance of the body, energy, and mind.
Practitioner Bio
Adam Okerblom has been a Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc) in the state of California since 2016. He holds a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) from Five Branches University in San Jose, California.
Dr. Adam is a certified practitioner and instructor of Tibetan Medicine, holding degrees and certificates from the Shang Shung School of Tibetan Medicine and the Tsho Ngon College of Tibetan Medicine at Qinghai University.
He is an Associate Member of the School of Natural Health Sciences (SNHS) in London, England, and holds a Certificate in Hypnotherapy from SNHS.
Dr. Adam practices Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, Tibetan Medicine, and guided healing at Ritual Health Acupuncture and Herbalism Clinic in Berkeley, California.