by Annette Hinkle
Tough stories of tough times abound these days. In the face of ongoing economic difficulties nationwide, stories of friends and neighbors with faltering businesses or disappearing jobs are, regrettably, part of the daily dialogue.
Often part of that downturn equation includes an increase in stress and the loss of health coverage. Recognizing the hardships that many are facing financially, physically and emotionally, this Friday and Saturday, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork will open up their meetinghouse for a two-day holistic healing clinic. People with limited means, chronic health problems or those just seeking to experience a new type of treatment are encouraged to come for a free session of acupuncture, massage, Reiki or a host of other modalities offered courtesy of practitioners who are volunteering their services for the event.
“This is a tool that should be utilized and tried,” says Jeanne Hoenig, a member of the UU congregation and one of the organizers of the clinic. “I hope someone comes out and says, ‘I’ve always wanted to try that – I’ve never been able to.”
Hoenig explains that the idea for the clinic grew out of a series of four meetings on health care led by the congregation last October.
“We viewed films, heard guest speakers and had group discussions all focused on the need for health care reform and where we go from here,” explains Hoenig. “As a result, when we had our final gathering, we felt there was a need to give something back to the community.”
“We could sense the level of frustration about the situation,” adds Hoenig. “There were several individuals who didn’t have insurance. We talked about what the Guild used to offer at the Old Whalers’ Church, and thought, ‘Why can’t we do that here?’”
The Guild of Wholistic Practitioners was an East End organization that, from 1997 through 2001, offered free holistic clinics at the First Presbyterian Church in Sag Harbor. Though it was eventually discontinued due to the time and energy required to keep it going, Karin Auwaerter, a CranioSacral therapist and a founder of the clinic, has long seen the need for it.
“I felt we had to do it here,” explains Auwaerter who got the idea from a similar clinic in Vermont. “People think of the Hamptons as being one type of population, but it’s very diverse. We all run into times when we need help.”
“I think there’s still a call for it in this area,” adds Auwaerter. “In my own practice, I’m seeing a lot of people with high-end stress related problems – also it’s simply the worry. They may not have lost the job yet, but the worry is there of ‘What if, what will happen?’”
Auwaerter will be among those volunteering her services at the clinic on Friday and she recalls that clients who frequented the Old Whalers’ clinic did so for a variety of reasons.
“Some people wanted to try different modalities that they weren’t familiar with,” recalls Auwaerter. “There were quite a few, too, who couldn’t afford to have consistent health care, but had pretty strong health problems like Lupus. This was a way they could support their systems in a different way.”
Things have changed since the early days of the Guild’s clinic. Not only is there now more of a year round presence in need of services on the East End, but Auwaerter notes that holistic modalities are viewed less as alternative medicine by the medical community and more as complimentary treatments that work in concert with what they are doing.
“Often a couple modalities can help,” explains Auwaerter. “That’s why the clinic can be a good thing. People can combine things when they might not even think to do that. Then they may decide to get a couple of these treatments on their own.”
“I’m happy the Unitarians are doing this,” she adds. “I think it’s an important thing.”
The Holistic Healing Clinic will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, February 19 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 20. Modalities offered by eight practitioners will include acupuncture, massage therapy, Reiki, CranioSacral therapy, chair massage and Pranic Healing. The Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse is at 977 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike. For more information, email jkhoenig@optonline.net.
Top: CranioSacral Therapist Karin Auwaerter treats a patient in her office.
