What makes you intuitive???

Well, I recently had an experience in my own practice that has led me to a question of... what makes you intuitive?
Intuition comes in many formats, and really, in the end, we are listening to our inner selves, our inner guides, our inner physicians. As a therapist, I have encountered some amazing clients and collegues who all have their own intuition, whether they recognize it or not.

I believe that an intuitive therapist is one who clears their mind, connects with their client, and allows the session to not be solely on the therapist's education, but allowing their client's body to guide them to the best course of treatment. Of course, this does not negate all of the education, training, and hands on experience that the therapist has gained throughout their career, it is just that the human body is smarter than we will ever give it credit. Who are we to say that we are more intelligent than the intricate workings of the human body?

I try my best to listen to my client's body throughout every session that I approach. I listen to the body's muscles (tightness and soreness), their circulatory system (pulse), their respiratory system (breathing), their lymphatic system (lymphatic pulse) and their CranioSacral system (craniosacral rhythm).  If you are not listening to your client, can you really help them? If I don't allow my client's body to guide me through those areas that are feeling distessed, aren't I just imposing my own beliefs and assumptions on their body?

I also understand that it is sometimes hard to client's to believe or accept that as therapists, we solely rely on our hands, and only allow that information to communicate with our intellectual brains. However, I think that all people have seen a massage therapist, chiropractor or physical therapist who were able to find the spot of tension, area of concern or trouble spot without having to look to hard, and sometimes it is just by placing their hands over the area.  You'll hear comments like.. "You seem to know just where to find the muscle tension" or "I completely forgot about that area.. how did you know to look there?". Now sometimes, this is by common sense and our previous training, but quite often, this is intuition. A therapist may feel drawn towards and area, or feel the need to work that arm, although it really isn't a main area of concern.  Is that voodoo? Or maybe I now see auras and feel tingles down my spine as spirits of your past enter my room?? No.  It is allowing you to heal, and to guide you through the healing, instead of pushing you through.

I have been reluctant to write on this topic, as it quite often is a heated topic. Who wants to discuss the touchy, feely subjects, let alone those topics that lead us to trust in something that we can see or necessarily understand.

I recently had a great CranioSacral Therapy session with a new client, and without divulging their information, I was told that it was creepy and un-imagineable to have a treatment where I followed my gut instinct and allowed their body to guide the session.  If I could not give clear reasons as to my treatment with full explanations, other than their body told me to, that it would not work.

I have met too many Massage Therapists, Reiki Masters, Acupuncturists, BodyTalk Practitioners, CranioSacral Therapists, Clinical Hypnotists and so on, who rely on their client's body telling them where to go and what to work.  Again.. who are we to deny the human body what it needs to heal???

And on that note.. I can go no further. This is such a difficult topic to discuss, let alone write about. I think that the old saying needs some adjusting.. "Don't talk about politics, religion, or the intuitive nature of therapists!!"