Bach Flower Essences are unrivalled in family therapy for a number of reasons. Firstly, you need not be equipped with theories of child psychology and development to use this modality. The Bach system offers a model based on human traits observable in any child or adult; traits so universal we can all recognize them with minimal training because they are part of our daily human experience. With some education and practice, a person can identify the appropriate essences for their situation and readily help themselves and others.
Secondly, the theories and models used in counseling appeal primarily to the conscious self, the part that exercises volition. For this reason, it is not always fully successful. Clients who are psychotherapists and have worked extensively on themselves in their professional and personal development, acknowledge the inner struggles that still come up on old issues.
This shortcoming is particularly evident in cases of young children. Parents may send their 10-year-old child to a psychiatrist to deal with her panic attacks or temper outbursts. But how do you talk a child out of fear, anger or depression? Why should adults demand that children be able to choose and control how they think, feel and act when they themselves can fail so miserably at times. So many parents' frustration, irritation and despair come simply from setting unrealistic expectations. This work is different in that it directs therapy at the energetic source of the problem by releasing it with the essences.
Thirdly, this method acknowledges the interdependence of family dynamics on the energetic level, and offers a true path to dissolve the negative vibrations that hold a family at odds with each other. It similarly allows the entire family to use essences concurrently, to bring about a painless dissolution of issues that prevent family members from enjoying mutually satisfying relationships.
The Loss of Emotional Freedom
A lack of individuality (i.e.: allowing interference with our individual unique nature) is of great importance in the genesis of disease. This interference begins early in life: after-affects are extremely profound, and in most instances stretch into the rest of one's life. So many problems we face as adults can be traced back to a conscious or unconscious decision made in the earlier period of our lives. My work with clients has impressed this deeply upon me, and I have often wished I had gotten to the person while they were still a child and saved them years of suffering.
Dr. Bach used the term "moulding" to describe the family's interference with a child's natural state. Family dynamics are exceptionally complex. In a family unit, there is intense interaction amongst a group of people. The intensity is greatest immediately after birth, and decreases as soon as the child grows and moves into expanded circles of influence. For most of us, the most intense and profound interaction would be with our mothers, albeit there are instances where children grow up with a single father, grandparents, relatives such as aunts and uncles or, in some cases, adopted, fostered or raised in orphanages.
In each moment of interaction, something very profound happens for the child. The child draws conclusions about the adult, experiences him or her in a certain way, feels for and develops an attitude about that person. All these experiences -- whether it is a belief about the mother, a conclusion about oneself, or an experience of an emotion, a perception about life in general -- are energy forms. They are energy forms that become lodged in our energy body. They remain even after the experience is over, and will not go away until we actually release their vibrations from our system. Over time, you can imagine the multitude of impressions created with each adult. For every person involved, there is a specific set remaining with the child. On top of these, the child also layers on their decisions on how to respond to each person and in each situation.
You can now begin to understand why so few of us possess the emotional freedom to help another member of the family. Each time we are in their presence, this storehouse of impressions is activated, and colors our experience and therefore reaction to them. They are trapped by past emotional imprints, bound by old beliefs and chained to previous perceptions of the other. It is no wonder that when it comes to helping family, we often get ourselves into a sticky tangle and tie ourselves into knots. Despite our good intentions, frustration, anger and discouragement run high whenever we try to pull someone out of a rut.
In this state, you cannot provide a safe and nurturing environment for another to address their problems. Your past issues with the person have reared their ugly heads and become a stumbling block to your aid. No one responds well to a helper who despises, disparages or scolds them. Such behavior only turns them off to your good intent and the situation, instead of improving, may degenerate further. If you find yourself in this dilemma, the best option is to use the essences to achieve some degree of emotional balance and mental clarity. It helps to do this before and during your efforts to be of service. Of course, it may take a while to rebalance yourself from years of unhealthy habits, and you may find that even after much work, you are still not the most effective candidate to go to someone's aid. It takes humility and love to accept this, and allow others to step in at this point.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Soo Hwa Yeo, M.Sc.(Pharmacy) is a trained pharmacist with a research background in pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacology. In USA, she pursued her interest in the healing arts to become a Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner and Assessor, Practitioner-Teacher and Mentor with the Bach International Education Program. She is also a Certified Quantum-Touch Practitioner and founded The SomEsse Method, an approach unique to her practice. Soo Hwa currently teaches and practices in California, and periodically in Asia. See Soo Hwa's website here; email her here.
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The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies above. This article is provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products offered above. This article is not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment.
