Diagnosis versus Assessment

I have chosen to use the term intuitive assessment instead of diagnosis. Diagnosis is a term that, usually, relates to a logical analysis based on questions and answers, (patient or client interview), physical examination, laboratory data, and the use of categories of diseases to determine what is wrong with a person. It is a part of the allopathic view of medicine. That certainly is important and helpful. One can use the term, intuitive diagnosis, if one is a doctor, has other medical training, or is working with someone who has medical training. Otherwise, the situation can get into legally murky waters.

The term assessment means evalution based on observation, which is also a part of making a diagnosis, but requires no medical training. Assessment does not have to be based on categories of disease and laboratory data etc. Therefore, assessment has broader applications. One can make a behavioral assessment or an assessment of one's emotional or mental state without making a diagnosis.

There is such a term as, "nursing diagnosis", that was developed by nurses in the early 1980's, but is not being used as much in current nursing practice. Nurses and other health professionals also do various types of assessments.

For more about assessment, as it relates to intuitive healing, go to Dr. Daniel Benor's website, (www.holistichealingresearch.com), or WHR. His discussion about intuitive healers and healing is interesting and informative.

What is an Empath?

An empath is one who has the natural born ability to experience true otherness be it physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, or a combination of these. It is going beyond one's usual boundaries to explore a completely different way of being.

Unconscious or unskilled empathy often feels like a curse and can be confusing until one realizes what is happening. That is why it is very helpful to be a conscious and skilled empath. If one is a natural born empath just ignoring it won't make it go away. It is a wonderful form of spiritual service when used in a skilled manner.

The only author I know of that specifically defines the different types of empathic experience is Rose Rosetree whose book and audio book, "Empowered by Empathy", really helped me accept and understand my own empathic nature and, better yet, how to use it in a conscious way. According to Rose, there are the gifts of emotional intuition, emotional oneness, physical intuition, physical oneness, intellectual empathy, and spiritual oneness. Spiritual oneness is the one gift of empathy that is available to everyone who is spiritually awakened.

There are other, more rare, forms of empathy that Rose talks about in her book. The book is available at her website, (www.rose-rosetree.com), and on Amazon.com. I would encourage anyone who is curious about their own gifts for empathy to check out her website and the book.