Sunday, January 11, 2015

Consumer Guide to Steamboat Bodyworks-Structural Integration

Rolf Structural Integration
Kristina Johnson, MA, CPSI

Rolf Structural Integration is a physical manipulation technique developed by Ida Pauline Rolf who named the practice after herself.

MA is Master of Arts. CPSI stands for Certified Practitioner of Structural Integration. The other credentials listed, GSI and IASI, stand for Guild of Structural Integration and International Association for Structural Integrators, respectively.

The physical manipulation techniques of Rolfing are much the same as massage techniques.

There is no evidence that Rolfing is effective for any health conditions.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Consumer Guide to Steamboat Bodyworks-Spiritual Health


Individuals that try to sell spiritual health should always be considered as scam artists. There are no education or training requirements, no set standards of the practice, and no laws for consumer protection. The scam is that consumers will be subjected to an unhealthy dose of cold reading.

Cold reading is a series of techniques used by mentalistspsychicsfortune-tellersmediums and illusionists to determine or express details about another person, often in order to convince them that the reader knows much more about a subject than they actually do.[1] Without prior knowledge of a person, a practiced cold reader can still quickly obtain a great deal of information about the subject by analyzing the person's body languageageclothing or fashionhairstylegendersexual orientationreligionrace or ethnicity, level of education, manner of speech, place of origin, etc. Cold readers commonly employ high probability guesses about the subject, quickly picking up on signals from their subjects as to whether their guesses are in the right direction or not, and then emphasizing and reinforcing any chance connections the subjects acknowledge while quickly moving on from missed guesses.


Worst case scenario of a spiritual health scam is that in the case of a mentally ill client, the spiritual consultant is not able to discern mental illness and will not refer the client to an appropriate health care provider. Spiritual health is not psychotherapy or counseling and those that are seeking help will not get it.  But spiritual consultants do not tell clients that and happily take their money in exchange for some personal inquiry and guesswork. 

Spiritual health is more appropriate for party entertainment.   
  

There are three individuals under this listing. All three are attempting to sell a scam and one is violating the laws regarding the profession of LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. 

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Creating Healthy Lives
Valerie McCarthy, LCSW

Valerie McCarthy's credentials after her name, LCSW, stand for Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and she is licensed with the State of Colorado as such, CSW.00992230.

The listing for this business offers three things for which consumers should have a healthy dose of skepticism; archetypes, astrology, and accutonics.

Archetype theory usually refers to literary works, but in this case refers to an unscientific concept, claimed to have some use in counseling, that we all have archetypes or aspects of our personalities, that need to be worked on, with the help of a paid coach, of course. As the practice is theoretical, any results or references would only be theoretical as well. There are no facts to back up this theory, however, if that is not enough to induce skepticism there is this: archetypal theory is not an accredited course taught through accredited schools, rather it is coached in a brief seminar. There are a number of companies that sell archetypal theory seminars, interestingly, there appears to be no accepted number of archetypes: some companies say there are four, some eight, others twelve. Some even advertise that archetypal therapy is an ideal follow-up to an astrological reading.

Astrology theory is another unscientific concept. Astrology uses the locations of the planets, moon, sun, and stars, to discern some influence on human beings, along with a big dose of cold reading.

Acutonics® is a registered trademark, usually presented with a capitalized A, and is correctly spelled with one c instead of the two c's in the directory listing. The theory is solely based on applying Acutonic® tuning forks to certain points on the body.

These three theories, archetypes, astrology, and Acutonics®, are not only at odds with the offering of counseling, they are also at odds with Colorado law that governs Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 12, Professions and Occupations, Article 43, Mental Health.

12-43-222. Prohibited activities-related provisions

(1) A person licensed, registered, or certified under this article violates this article if the person:

      (t) Has engaged in any of the following activities and practices:

           (III) Ordering or performing any service or treatment that is contrary to the generally accepted
                   standards of the person's practice and without clinical justification.


Colorado laws regarding Licensed Clinical Social Workers are intended to ensure reasonable skill and safety to consumers. In this instance, consumers are not ensured of reasonable safety and skill, as they are misled by letters after a name that would indicate a qualified practitioner. Consumers trust the practitioner will use proven, safe, effective, and accepted standards of health care, but instead, their mental health concerns are treated with theories, fortunetelling, and tuning forks, by a practitioner that is either ignorant of the law or flagrantly operating outside of the law.

Practitioners that operate in violation of the law are not a good choice for coaching, counseling, or mental health care.

However, consumers that might consider this type of coaching or counseling can ensure their own safety.

Colorado Revised Statutes provide for mandatory disclosure of information to patients from every licensee, registrant, or certificate holder, including:

Name, business address, business phone number

Explanation of levels of regulation

Listing of education, degrees, credentials, certification, training

Contact information of the regulating board

Information about methods and techniques used

This is the most important one

Notice that the client may seek an outside opinion

This is another area where the law is not always followed by practitioners, but consumers can ask for the disclosure information, which they can discuss with another therapist, family doctor, or other trusted source to make an informed decision about their mental health care.

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Sacred Sister Healing Arts
Shelli Niedens

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Zoe Ann Finnoff
Insights Unlimited

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Friday, January 2, 2015

Consumer Guide to Steamboat Bodyworks-Spas

All Season Wellness Day Spa

The Grand Spa

Life Essentials Day Spa

Steamboat Independent Spa

Trappeur's Crossing Resort Spa


None of these establishments list the names of the practitioners, although web addresses are listed and some information can be found there. However, consumers can ensure they are getting services from licensed practitioners by accessing the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies website.

http://cdn.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DORA/CBON/DORA/1251628238000 

From there, a profession can be chosen, and then a search box that even allows a search using a last name only reveals whether an individual is licensed and clicking on a details button reveals any disciplinary issues.

This search is free, easy, and helpful for consumers who want to be sure the services they are paying for are provided by licensed professionals.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Consumer Guide to Steamboat Bodyworks-Salons

Steamboat Hair Company

The owner/stylist listed for this business, Lisa Beck, is licensed through the State of Colorado, COS.0046013. The business itself is registered through the State of Colorado, REG.0000002377.


Wildhorse Salon

No names are listed for this business, however, the business is registered through the State of Colorado, REG.0100036280, as required by law.

Colorado state law requires salons to be registered, which means the state can check these businesses to enforce established standard methods and procedures that ensure a sanitary environment for consumers.

Barbers, estheticians, hair stylists, manicurists, and cosmetologists are all required to be licensed with the state.

https://www.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx




Barber and Cosmetology Consumer Guide

Consumer Guide to Steamboat Bodyworks-Reflexology


Alternative Bodywork by Colleen

The State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies does not require licensing for the practice of reflexology. 

Reflexology is based on the notion, which has not been proven and actually doesn't make sense, that certain points on the hands and feet correspond to and can somehow manipulate internal organs.

Reflexology can feel good, much like a massage, for which this individual is licensed, MT.0002119, however, there are no benefits beyond massage and any claims regarding internal organs and such are not only unsubstantiated, but disingenuous to clients.  

Monday, October 27, 2014

Consumer Guide to Steamboat Bodyworks-Psychic Medium

Feeding the Body Feeding the Soul, LLC
Nancy Cohen

Psychic mediums pretend to provide "readings", usually to connect clients with loved ones, which is what is offered in this listing along with "messages of love from Spirit". What psychic mediums really do is take advantage of people.

This individual also has two other listings in Steamboat Bodyworks, Energy Work and Nutrition and Diet, with RDN, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist as a credential. The knowledge and skills of registered dietitians comes from years of education based on scientific principles. Energy work and psychic medium don't.

A psychic medium energy worker dietitian is just not a good combination for consumers.


Cold reading is a series of techniques used by mentalistspsychicsfortune-tellersmediums and illusionists to determine or express details about another person, often in order to convince them that the reader knows much more about a subject than they actually do.[1] Without prior knowledge of a person, a practiced cold reader can still quickly obtain a great deal of information about the subject by analyzing the person's body languageageclothing or fashionhairstylegendersexual orientationreligionrace or ethnicity, level of education, manner of speech, place of origin, etc. Cold readers commonly employ high probability guesses about the subject, quickly picking up on signals from their subjects as to whether their guesses are in the right direction or not, and then emphasizing and reinforcing any chance connections the subjects acknowledge while quickly moving on from missed guesses.

Consumer Guide to Steamboat Bodyworks-Pregnancy Wellness

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains


Selah


Because of the nature of the health services of these two organizations, they refrain from listing names of employees. This is for the safety and confidentiality for clients as well as employees, however, clients can and should ask questions about credentials, procedures, and all health related issues in order to make informed decisions about their health care.