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Updated : 12/15/07
Modern homeopathy is currently going through a renaissance. There are
many strongly held opinions about which is the best, or the "truest"
way to practice homeopathy. In the interim, homeopathic students have
to decide what to study. One thing sadly overlooked is that our patients
are our best teachers. When a patient is cured for the long haul with
a particular remedy, they can tell us, reliably, what the most important
issues are for that Rx, because they've been living it.
Since there are such a vast and growing group of remedies, it is impossible
to know them all, so we'll use a "family" based grouping
system. This methodology is based on Massimo Mangialavori's pioneering
work. Massimo has been developing a sophisticated model of understanding
patients with modern psychology, along with understanding our remedies
using many world sources such as cured cases, mythology, psychology, legend,
toxicology, along with homeopathic knowledge.
Another important point is that education is retained best when the format
is interactive and clinically based. This is significant because homeopathy
is not only about memorizing facts. There are many important skills to
be learned if one is to prescribe and manage patients well.
Classroom & Learning Methodology:
In order for classroom education to generalize into clinical knowledge,
it's important to simulate the clinical setting as much as possible. In
addition, learning what most closely approximates the clinical setting
helps to hone and develop the same skills necessary to help patients consistently
in practice.
Therefore, the format of the class will be class work oriented. Students
will be given the transcripts of cured cases to study - no remedy solution
is given initially. Of course when in the clinic, we also don't yet know
the Rx our patients need. This approach helps to challenge the student
in the same way the clinical setting will. Of course in this instance,
the student will have support to work through to a viable solution.
After fully analyzing the case together, we'll then talk about differentials
and finally the Rx that worked. Talking about the Rx will then help us
to expand to the family the Rx belongs to. In this way, students can learn
with real cases how to recognize the important themes that can be seen
in several Rxs in the same family or group.
Modern psychological theory and Homeopathy:
Homeopathy, as an art and science, is over 200 years old. It began before
the advent of modern psychology. Integrating the two into a cohesive whole
is essential to be effective and efficient in practice. Therefore, the
class will also look at how modern psychology can be practically integrated
into all aspects of homeopathy; understanding materia medica, and understanding
patients. We'll be looking at developmental psychology and how archetypes
play a role in understanding the substances our Rxs are derived from.
Another important aspect is using a variety of psychological strategies
in the case management process. Issues such as rapport building will be
looked at thoroughly. Customizing case management relative to the ego
of individual patients will be discussed in depth. These and many other
psychological dynamics that apply to modern homeopathy will be covered.
The importance of Families of Rxs:
Several cured case examples of each family will be shown so students have
the opportunity to see how the family manifests in different age groups
and genders. For instance, when looking at Rxs from the sea, it can be
helpful to see several examples of patients who have done well for the
long term on Rxs from this family. For instance, by comparing the differences
and similarities between sepia (cuttlefish) and Limulus (horse shoe crab),
students can begin to grasp the individual Rxs and the themes of the entire
family they both belong to. By learning the themes of the family of those
Rxs derived from the sea, students can begin to recognize any sea Rx.
This is the great advantage of learning Rxs through their families instead
of learning one remedy at a time - a process that can be very slow and
inefficient. Each family can contain a great number of individual Rxs.
For instance, there are hundreds of trees in the conifer family. By learning
the main and reliable themes from patients cured with conifers, we can
potentially begin to recognize all the conifers - with some practical
limitations. By deeply studying animal, mineral, and plant Rxs in this
way, a student can learn a very large and reliable materia medica relatively
quickly. The best part of this is that the knowledge will come from actual
cured cases, NOT theoretical knowledge alone.
Source of this class, Dr. Massimo Mangialavori:
All classes will be derived from Dr. Shannon's clinical experience coupled
with the overview of Dr. Massimo Mangialavori. Massimo has endeavored
to develop a method of understanding Rxs using families for more than
20 years. He has rigorously documented more than six thousand of his own
long term cured cases.
His standard of a cure is that all major symptoms must be resolved with
one Rx for at least two years. In addition, the Rx must also work for
whatever acute arises in the course of treatment. Many of his cases have
more than 5 or 10 years of follow-up - all using the same constitutional
Rx. His web site is: http://www.mangialavori.com.
By studying exclusively from his successful cures, Massimo began to map
out the fundamental themes and structures that belonged to each of the
families, now numbering more than 20 families. Of course one person can't
see everything to be known about each family. However, by studying 4 or
more of his cases of each Rx, Massimo began to discern what the reliable
pointers were for each individual Rx and their included family.
This form of homeopathic education is not only more precise, but it's
also a great deal more enjoyable. Learning Rxs exclusively from dry provings,
materia medica, and repertory can be tedious and hard to translate into
practical knowledge. The idea of learning materia medica from living patients
cured of the Rxs is something that was pioneered and developed by Massimo.
This series of classes will borrow greatly from Massimo's knowledge, as
it was the beginning source of Dr. Shannon's clinical knowledge.
Here are two in-depth interviews with Massimo that give a better understanding
of his methods:
Interview with Massimo
Mangialavori : American Homeopath - Heather Knox
Interview
with Massimo - Nick Churchill
[ND CE'S APPLIED FOR]
Scope of this course of study & future classes:
There will be at least three full series of classes taught. Students can
expect to walk away from each class having learned 2 to 3 families. Therefore,
the entire series will cover from 6 to 9 families. The number of families
taught will be relative to the natural pace of the class. In addition
to learning Rxs and families, students will hone a great deal of other
fundamental skills; case taking, case management, & posology (dosage).
Another series of classes may be taught following the first three with
a more advanced point of view.
The first session of the first class will begin with an introduction to
this method of study, and then we'll start right off in learning families
via cases. The first class will deeply cover several families that are
commonly encountered in a modern practice; Kali's, Carbon's, Milks, Nightshades,
Reptiles, etc.
Another very important skill-set that students will come away with, will
be due to the fruits of their own class work - learning to recognize families
from real cases. No one can tell students how to learn this. It is an
internal endeavor that is individual to each student's learning style.
Learning to recognize and analyze cases on the spot, with the patient
in front of you, is an essential skill - one that is rarely taught. One
of the best ways, perhaps the only way to learn this, is the in-depth
study of cured cases. It is a realistic and essential goal for homeopathic
students - to be able to recognize the living materia medica in the patients
sitting across from them in real-time. This will save immeasurable time
in practice.
In essence, this series of classes will empower students on two fronts;
materia medica and grounded clinical skills. With both of these dynamics
growing in students, they will learn to become independent thinkers. At
first we start out by needing guidance. But eventually we must all develop
our own style, our own best wisdom and knowledge. We all become better
homeopaths when we learn to think for ourselves. This is especially true
if we've acquired the fundamental knowledge that grounds our thinking
first. This class will go a long way in helping students increase their
success in treating patients. It will also greatly increase the enjoyment
of having the privilege to practice this great healing art.
Schedule:
The first class of the series will be 11 weeks long. We'll meet one weeknight
each week, for 3 hours. The first few sessions will include methodology.
Then we'll begin working on cases. Each session will last approximately
3 months and will cover 2-3 homeopathic families, depending upon the pace
of the class. Our first class will be Monday, January 7th 2008 , from
6:30 until 9:30pm. The class is appropriate for beginners as well as more
advanced students.
Cost and Payment Details:
For those interested in the class, a $100 deposit is required ( $50 non-refundable)
at the time of registration. The remainder is due on or before the 1st
class. Payments may be made by PayPal or check. Credit card payments are
available through PayPal with a $7 surcharge (details on the registration
form). The registration deadline is December 31st, 2007.
The class will be held in the waiting room of Dr. Shannon's practice.
Because it is an intimate setting with limited seating, participants must
register with deposit by December 15th. Space will be given on a first
come, first serve basis.
To download Registration Form (PDF), click here.
* Keep an eye
on this web page as details about the class will be added as they develop*
Location & Time:
All classes will be held in the waiting room at Dr. Tim Shannon's Office:
(just come in the front door - that'll put you in the waiting room).
Dr. Tim Shannon
4405 SE Division Street
Portland, OR 97206
To view or download Printable Brochure (PDF), click here.
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