In witnessing the ongoing worldwide environmental events taking place, it is difficult for anyone to deny at this point, that the immediate living and global catastrophes are having a direct negative impact on the state of mind, body and spirit of the people of all societies.

A.T.I. has taken action about this current state of mind by developing techniques within its clinical therapeutic protocols that include bringing its clients’ perceptions about their mind, body, spirit and environment to the conscious level. Part of the therapeutic goal at A.T.I. is to examine these perceptions and how they have created the current thinking which has led people to their current situations. Perception Therapy® reviews those perceptions throughout the therapeutic process, and as those perceptions change, we witness transformations in thinking as well as renewed hope. When a change in thinking produces a new point of view, all things are possible including lifestyle change, recovery, happiness, success and peace of mind.

The time has come for the Mind-Body-Spirit-Environment® connection to be recognized so that healing may begin to take place on an individual and global level. In truth, if each individual was dedicated to raising his/her consciousness in terms of healing their living and global surroundings, they would then be in a better position to heal their own mind, body and spirit.

A.T.I. believes that as part of the total healing process, people must have a clear understanding of the possible toxic contents affecting mental and physical health in their personal living and work settings. These could include, air filtration, water, paint, bedding, carpeting, insulation, molds, toxic fumes, pest control, lawn chemicals, etc. Additionally, A.T.I. encourages the building of awareness regarding healthy eating practices which must include the elimination of harmful food additives such as preservatives, high fat, sugar and salt contents, utensils/cookware, food refrigeration and storage.

The perception of one’s immediate living environment as well as the more global environment and how this perception may or may not impact on his/her healing and healing process is an area that may be overlooked or not recognized by many. A change in perception about viewing the environment as another part of the healing process needs to occur because the environment directly impacts everyone and everyone’s health. At A.T.I., clients will learn to perceive how healing the environment can help to heal their “self”. The goal of our Perception Therapy® and Mind-Body-Spirit-Environment^® approaches are to produce perception changes, raise the level of thinking and ultimately change behaviors. When perceptions about the environment or impact on the environment change, the thinking about these will change and the resulting behaviors toward or involving the environment begins to change. This assists the clients in their total healing process through a raised level of awareness.

Within the psychotherapeutic and programmatic protocols, A.T.I. applies a wide variety of techniques to the treatment planning process to incorporate the environmental aspect along with the Mind, Body and Spirit connection to include:

Applying various methods such as design psychology and Feng Shui to heal the environment in which one lives as part of the essential combination of therapy techniques necessary to promote the most effective, long-term healing for addictive and psycho-emotional disorders. A.T.I. also provides Art Therapy to bring about perceived environmental healing through creative expression.

Applying techniques and educational methods to improve one’s awareness of the environment and raise consciousness on how these techniques may aide in the self healing process. Some methods of raising consciousness about one’s environment may include using non-toxic body and cleaning products, buying from and supporting companies that demonstrate environmentally safe practices, and caring for and being concerned of one’s own living environment. Through this mindful practice of purchasing and using non-toxic products, the body benefits in improved health and well-being.

A major determinant in recovery and relapse prevention is training the mind to be constantly aware of making good choices. One of the techniques that A.T.I. teaches to help raise awareness is to be mindful about one’s environment. Being mindful about the environment helps to be mindful about oneself and the recovery process. Through the practice of raising one’s level of awareness, relapse never has to occur. The environment, meaning a person’s immediate living space and the global environment as well, and how he/she perceives and thinks about these, plays an important role in the way one behaves and chooses to live. Practicing a positive way of perceiving one’s environment and taking the necessary steps to heal that environment, can result in a change of thinking and in turn a change of behavior.

Implementing positive choices and behaviors to make an impact on one’s immediate environment as well as the global environment in order to help to heal oneself might include:

• keeping the air that one breathes clean
• purchasing environmentally safe products for daily necessities
• disposing of waste by composting or recycling
• not polluting the environment and the earth
• conserving water used for daily living
• purchasing local, natural, organic foods
• supporting causes that are environmentally friendly or ones that conserve resources
• practicing conservation methods as they relate to energy, transportation, pollutants in the air/sea/land
• researching and implementing Feng Shui techniques

By learning and practicing these concepts, philosophies and behaviors in regard to environment, people suffering from addictions and/or psycho-emotional disorders can learn to move beyond their limited awareness, expand their minds and change their perceptions about healing methods to include healing the environment.

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Society has continued to alter and destroy the environment with the attitude that it can be treated without regard for future consequences. (i.e., “the world will always be here”, “only the government can rectify environmental issues”, etc.) (perceptions) These perceptions produced a lack of concern for preserving the environment in a healthy way now and for future generations. (thinking) The results of this way of thinking reflect pollution of rivers, damaged ozone layer, elimination of animal and plant life, toxic waste in landfills, global warming, and harmful additions to food, land and homes. (behaviors)

The outcome of society’s perceptions, thinking and behaviors has produced sickness, diseases, and catastrophic world environmental events. The severe environmental disasters are creating a devastated society that demonstrates an increase in psychological issues including fear, anxiety, stress, depression, and despair. A result of the catastrophic environmental events have produced societies that are increasingly seeking out spiritual guidance to allay the fear, hopelessness and worthlessness they experience from these destructive environmental events.

RESOURCES for Information about Environmental Protection and Healing