Michelle Haley DHHP, DMH principledmedicine@telus.net Bio
Michelle frequently is asked the following two questions by clients: First, “How do you pronounce the name of the work you do?” and second, “How did you come to do this type of work?” In answer to the first question, Heilkunst, (pronounced Hile-koonst) is a German term with a two-fold meaning, making it difficult to translate directly into the English language without the loss of its meaning. Heilkunst is the “art and science” (kunst) of making one “sound or whole” (Heil), from a holistic standpoint. The second question of how she came to this work is really a building up of life experiences.
As a child, teen and young adult, Michelle had a number of health challenges. It was the blessing of these challenges and experiences that sent her in search of better and lasting health, and to understand the meaning of illness and disease. She remembers her self-directed search starting in her early teens, beginning with elimination diets and fitness. With the state of her physical and emotional health “yo-yo-ing” in her early adult years while being in the workforce, she began dabbling in different natural therapies including the study of nutrition, herbal medicine and later Reflexology, which she became certified to practice in 1997. When her daughter was born in 2000, her desire to lead a healthier lifestyle and find solutions to her chronic health issues increased even more. In search of childhood disease prevention alternatives to the injectable versions, Michelle was guided to Homeopathic medicine, and ended up finding a deeper acting and principled approach to treating both acute and chronic disease within the system of Heilkunst and Homeopathy. She began treatment for both herself and her daughter and within a few months, Michelle was pleased to have found in the art of Heilkunst, a non-suppressive means of relief with severe allergies she was having at the time. Even more, she was gaining an understanding of the multi-faceted issues behind her numerous health concerns. She began studying the system of medicine shortly after beginning her treatment because of the positive shifts she was feeling both physically and emotionally.
Michelle continues to study new developments in Heilkunst and she enjoys furthering her exploration and study of Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy. It brings her great joy to be able to raise her daughter in a natural, holistic and non-suppressive way. Michelle has been practicing Heilkunst in Grande Prairie, Alberta since graduating in 2006, and she is available for consultation by phone and Skype. She works with clients of all ages and holds a special interest in children’s health issues.