• June, 2010 - Zak Martin-Kilgour
• October, 2009 - Shulamit Day Berlevtov
• September, 2009 - Nancy Leach
• May, 2009 - Deeni Wagner
• April, 2009 - Barbara Ford
• March, 2009 - Leanne Wierzbicki
• February, 2009 - Isabella D'Alessandro, H.E.T.
• January, 2009 - Rhonda Lee Stetsko
• December, 2008 - Jane Booth-Robertson
• November, 2008 - Lee Pryke
• October, 2008 - Bonny Rochford
• September, 2008 - Karen Egoff

Barbara Ford

April, 2009

What brought you to the realization that you are a healer?

I always had a nurturing and caring personality and I find my greatest joy in helping others. At the young age of 23 I was diagnosed with a partially collapsed lung and a pulmonary embolism. If it moved it would kill me within minutes. The doctor couldn’t even look me in the face when he told me the news. As the months wore on, I suffered through treatment that seemed worse the diagnosis. It was through this process that I began to explore the world of alternative medicine and energy work. Discovering my gifts and finding the right modalities for me was a result from the ongoing support, encouragement and training from many other great healers.

What obstacles have you found in considering yourself a success in this field?

The biggest obstacle was overcoming self-imposed limitations and finding the confidence within myself to make the transition from doing this work part-time to work full-time. For many years I did this work part time in the evenings while maintaining a day job so this was a leap of faith that has turned out to be challenging but very very rewarding.

What schooling or training have you completed?

I really believe in continuing education and personal growth, so I am constantly working towards improving myself through formal training. I am currently completing my Akashic Records training and expect to be finished by the end of April 2009. In addition, here is an overview the training I have received:

• Reiki Master
• Touch for Health – Level 4
• Therapeutic Touch – Level 2
• Crystal Healing – Level 1
• Tibetan Energy Massage
• Ear Candling
• Past Life Regression
• Intuitive Development
• Making Amulets
• Early Childhood Education Diploma
• Pharmacology
• Working With The Dying

There are many other workshops and introductory courses that I have taken to help me along my path and I look forward to continuing my education in the field of holistic wellness.

Do you find group gathering to be helpful in supporting you on your journey?

Oh absolutely. Connecting with the right people has been very crucial and motivating on my journey to success. But I also have to say that meeting people who are unethical or provide services that they are not qualified to conduct has also helped me to establish exactly what I believe to be important as a practitioner. I take this knowledge and move forward always trying to be as positive, respectful and ethical as possible.

Does networking with others assist you in achieving your goals?

I think that networking is very helpful. We cannot be experts in all fields. We each have areas that we are knowledgeable and skilful and areas that we are not. So for me, its very helpful to have a good understanding of what other professionals do; so when a client comes to me for something that I personally can’t help them with, I am able to refer them to someone else whom I feel is competent and professional. In turn other professionals refer their clients to me. I think this is an important aspect of enhancing our individual relationships with our client; and more importantly – its gets them the help they need.

Is there advice you would offer to someone starting on this path?

The most important advice I can offer is to really investigate where you take your training. Unfortunately because most modalities of energy work are not yet regulated by the government, the door is left open for frauds to take advantage of the unsuspecting. I have met many people who have been swindled out of their money.

So look into the education of the person teaching as well as the business itself and make sure everything adds up. Do some research on the net about what you can expect to learn in the course as well as from other practitioners. Don’t just go by one brochure before handing over your money.

Also, I think its very important to do up a business plan and get help from experts. I have seen talented healers forced to give up this work because they didn’t have a workable plan.

What type of advertising has worked best for you? What has been your best resource for building a client base?

As I only recently made the transition to doing this full time, I am still researching advertising methods that might be a good fit. But so far I can honestly say the best resource for me has been word of mouth and referrals from other professionals. Its important to me that every client leaves my session feeling better then when they walked in. My competency and professionalism along with my comforting nature means that they in turn tell their friends and family about the experience. This has been the driving force for my business for many years.

Where do you see yourself in a year? 5 years? Do you have any particular goals that you would like to achieve in the near future?

Oh there are so many things I want to accomplish. To start, I want to increase my exposure so that I can reach more clients in need of my services. I also want to expand the InSpirit Bath and Body Products so that more products would be more accessible to more people in need.

I also wish to continue learning and evolving as a healer so that I can continue to make bigger and bigger impacts on the lives of my clients and help them to reach their own personal goals.