Dr Jeremy Geffen's Seven Levels of Healing
Medical oncologist Jeremy Geffen, MD bases his approach to care on The Seven Levels of Healing, which he discovered while caring for thousands of people with cancer and their loved ones. Read our interview with him.
Dr Geffen says, 'The Seven Levels of Healing apply to all dimensions of life, not just cancer or other illnesses. We each have a physical body that needs and deserves care and attention. It’s great to be able to care for our physical bodies - to eat well, exercise, receive good medical care when we need it, and experience the benefits of many complementary or alternative therapies. But we must never forget that we are multidimensional beings. We also have a mind, a heart, and a spiritual dimension that need and deserve care and attention - as much as the physical body does. The Seven Levels of Healing is a map that shows how we can skillfully and effectively care for the whole person - body, mind, heart, and spirit - within the context of modern medicine and modern life.'
Level One: Education and Information provides basic knowledge and information about cancer and the latest treatment options. This empowers patients to actively participate in and obtain the greatest possible benefit from their medical care.
Level Two: Connection With Others explores the importance and benefits of finding support and connection with others on the journey through cancer.
Level Three: The Body as Garden explores the safe and effective use of complementary therapies, and invites patients and family members to regard the body as a sacred and wondrously complex garden rather than a machine.
Level Four: Emotional Healing enters the inner realm of the human heart. It explores the transformative power of releasing fear, pain, and anger - and embraces the healing power of self-love, forgiveness, and acceptance of all parts of one's self.
Level Five: The Nature of Mind explores how our entire experience of life - including life with cancer - is profoundly influenced by our thoughts, beliefs, and the meanings we give to events. It also shows how we can consciously escape the tyranny of the mind and move forward on our healing path.
Level Six: Life Assessment assists patients and family members to discover the deepest meaning and purpose of their lives, and their most important goals. What do we want to accomplish, experience, and share with others?
Level Seven: The Nature of Spirit embraces the profoundly healing spiritual dimension of life that we all share, and explores the non-physical dimension of our being that is whole and complete, regardless of our circumstances.
