A 20-plus year proponent of holistic and alternative healing, Marlene Molay-Brown, PhD is a holistic health/wellness counselor based in the Chicago metropolitan area. She began writing about alternative remedies in 1990, has taught and practiced yoga since 1993 and became a Reiki Master/teacher in 1994.

Her practice, I Wish You Well, offers clients information, education and support for chronic and acute illnesses, immune system strengthening, allergies and nutrition with the ultimate goal of obtaining and maintaining a healthy body, mind and spirit. In addition to treating private clients and teaching classes, she also does Reiki work with patients at the Zion, Ill., location of Cancer Treatment Centers of America. “You can’t disconnect from the spiritual side; nature is proving it,” she says. “I'd love to wake up some day and see that every medical university is teaching every prospective doctor the ways of healing that can truly heal a patient.”

Ms. Molay-Brown holds a bachelor's degree in education from Northeastern Illinois State University. But career shifts including a five-year stint dealing with the politics of the "corporate world" combined with the discovery of a potentially cancerous lump led her to learn about holistic approaches and eventually to pursue and earn her doctorate from the American Institute of Holistic Theology (AIHT) in 2002 at the age of 64. It was a short leap from yoga and Reiki to holistic health and wellness counseling work Her AIHT studies included nutrition, food disorders, homeopathy, herbology, color and sound therapy, prayer, dream therapy, breathing techniques, reflexology, massage and energy healing. She is additionally an ordained Holistic Theologian (minister) authorized to perform weddings, baptisms, and funerals.

She is a member of the American Association of Holistic Health (AHHA), the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP) and the Association for Humanistic Psychology (AHP). She is recognized as an expert in the health field as a Holistic Health Practitioner, produced and markets a yoga instructional audio CD and DVD video and is listed in the 2006 Manchester Who's Who of Professionals and Executives.

The holistic healthcare field includes body, mind, emotion, and spirit. It is also the field of natural remedies. Everything I do, including the newest modalities of hypnotherapy, tuning fork therapy and emotional freedom technique (EFT), has to do with energy and the intention of helping to heal the total person. I am now writing a book on natural approaches to strengthening the immune system.

I had many, many chronic illnesses, from multiple allergies to cysts and from migraines and headaches to constipation. When my doctor told me he was certain (it was never clinically diagnosed) that I had a cancerous tumor, that was it. I changed my life right on that spot. And the "tumor" went away.

What we have done to Hippocrates' oath should be considered criminal! I'd love to wake up some day and see that every medical university is teaching every prospective doctor the ways of healing that can truly heal a patient. Yes, I believe that broken bones need to be "set" and I marvel at many of the miracles that happen in hospitals, but we know that prescriptions and surgeries are not always the way to go. There isn't one prescription drug that I would advise for anyone; short term, in case of life or death, yes; other than that, no. Drugs are, in my opinion, a band-aid. I very, very seldom hear about a doctor who wants to find out why a person has a condition. They see someone for 10 minutes, on average, and prescribe a medication, or yet another test. My consultations are two hours, and that is after the person completes a 10-page form so I can do research before the appointment. When I see the seniors with crippling arthritis (I'm a senior, too!) taking 14 pills a day and still miserable, I usually suggest that they take some flax seed as a "start". They tell this to their doctor, and their doctor tells them not to take anything except their prescriptions; it makes me want to cry.

I started teaching yoga when I was in the corporate world to the people with whom I worked. They were so tight and stressed that at the end of class they would sometimes fall asleep. People think that yoga is something mysterious that young skinny people do, and that they have to wrap their legs around their head. The whole thing about yoga is that the mind and the body are connected. That’s why I made the DVD. It’s easy to follow and non-intimidating. I try to get clients to accept what their condition is: If you can breathe, you can do yoga.

I teach three classes of yoga to seniors in retirement homes, which fits well with my practice. Some of the seniors have many limitations; some are in wheel chairs, some can’t move their arms, some can’t get out of their chairs. Others are more mobile. I also teach three classes to 'average' people, those of all sizes and levels of abilities. This is down from 14 classes a week. I also taught children from ages 2½ to 11 years for seven years; instead of meditation, I called it "using our imaginations."

At some point, I hope that people will wake up and realize that it's their body and their life, and that they should take responsibility for it. Many doctors are not very well-educated about nutrition, so they can't even help their patients with foods that would be so good for them. It's up to each person to gain knowledge or to seek someone who knows how to help them.

Titles and honors are fine, if it propels you and gives you credibility. Some people want to hear or know that "stuff" in order to trust you or even approach you. I guess it serves a purpose. My reputation should be one that shows that I can be trusted. That's what's important; recognition isn't a big deal. I want individuals to tell me that they're feeling better: that they have their life back, they sleep well, they have energy, they are off of their medications and life is good. Wow, who would want more than that? I have some testimonials that I treasure. It's humbling. It shows me that I made the right choice.

I never thought I'd do anything with that ordination, but I was wrong! When I do consultations, I always include affirmations and even prayers (if the person is open to that) that help with healing. Sometimes, when we discuss the illness or condition, it becomes apparent that some counseling will help the situation. I love doing weddings, baptisms and funerals. It gives me an opportunity to personalize a very sacred event. I am so honored when asked to do them, especially funerals. How wonderful to fill a service with love and cherished memories with meaningful words to get through grief. I work hard on all the things I do, and I think that I've learned a lot.

Organizations that promote natural healing and do research need to be supported, because many times the government or AMA-type institutions are threatened by the efficacy of our natural remedies and approach. If I can't offer support to the organizations in any other way, I'll do it financially. There is a benefit in having organizations’ links to my site for credibility, and another benefit is to be able to read the organizations’ publications.

Every day is different, but my weeks are full. I teach three or four classes in yoga on some days, and just one class on others. I usually have Reiki clients several times a week, I counsel clients, and I usually find some time to work on my book. Sometimes I teach Reiki on a weekend, and once a month we have what's called a Reiki share, where Reiki practitioners get together and share our experiences, raise questions, and do Reiki on one another We always end with a healing circle and put a lot of people in there (including the whole world) and send Reiki and prayers.

One day a week, I spend four or five hours at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion, Ill., doing Reiki with patients in the chemo infusion center, in ICU and so forth. They "found" me on the Internet, and I wasn't sure about doing this. It was a glorious day when I accepted the offer. It has changed my life. This is one hospital that doesn't even call itself a hospital. They take each person as a whole human being and offer many different types of healing services, from acupuncture to surgery to chemotherapy to laughter techniques. I wonder why all hospitals can't be like this one? In the near future I'll be teaching Reiki to the staff and patients and/or their caregivers (spouse, relative, friend, etc.) as well as a very gentle, easy yoga. Right now I'm working on the two "manuals" for those two projects. They will be made just for this type of class. We are hoping that if it goes over well, that it will be used as a prototype for the other Cancer Treatment Centers of America locations. We collect surveys after I visit the patient, and the decision to have Reiki in the other Cancer Treatment Centers will hinge on the results of the surveys. So far, there has been a very positive result to Reiki here.

Constant learning, never being "sure" (so doing research), skills in communication, stamina.... and I will say that having a good sense of humor is very, very helpful! It’s balance; it’s all about balance.

The rewards part is ego, and I do all I can to stomp on it. The challenges appear over and over: getting people to love themselves, accept themselves, allow themselves to heal, participate in their healing, be open to changing, face things that they have never faced (their fears) by releasing, letting go, laughing, forgiving. It goes on and on, you get the idea. Those are all challenges, and sometimes not unique at all. As for rewards: in a few words, when it happens!

My hands; it is such a blessing to be able to have energy go through the hands. My eyes; hopefully, I can express love and non-judgment and assurance along with trust by looking at someone. A big tool is prayer!

The massage table is really comfortable, it has layers of cushioning; a nice eye pillow, beautiful CDs; incense (if they like it) and candles (once again, if it's all right with them) are all good tools. As far as a gadget, if it could be called that, the tuning forks. They are not always used, but I do like them.

Some myths are true, to a degree, such as that when misused, certain herbs can have a damaging result, or unpleasant reaction. I’ll take that any day over the side effects of prescription drugs!

Another myth is that some practitioners are "quacks" that have you do some strange "stuff." I agree. They give "us" a bad name/reputation. Unfortunately, medical doctors (allopathic doctors) have their fair share of "quacks" as well – and even informed doctors prescribe dangerous drugs.

I’ve had two students whose husbands thought they were out shopping while they were taking instruction in Reiki. There is going to be that resistance by some people. Most of it is the same thing over and over: it's the "devil’s work" or "voodoo." That’s just not true. From time to time there have been clients who want to make sure that I’m not doing the "work of the Devil," and they are serious about that. We talk about it, and it usually has a happy ending of them being more comfortable with something about which they didn’t know.

Everyone has the capacity to heal, to change and to grow, and I am thrilled to be part of any transformation. The ability to "read" the person gets easier, and with guidance from powerful sources (God, etc.), there are some incredible results. A fun one at the Cancer Center was a response on a survey: "Can I take Marlene home with me?"

I went to a health expo near where I worked and they had info on some schools. I took a couple of brochures and thought about it and got it down to two schools. I just liked the offerings of courses at AIHT and the inclusion in Healtheology with the holistic bent; the classes were by mail. I thought the textbooks were well-chosen. At the time I was sure that spirituality of some sort had to do with the goal of total wellness…and I still am.

It’s important that the choices of classes fit your needs. Also consider the counseling available to help you, the prices of courses, the books used and the credentials you’ll have when completing the course of study.

Students should expect to learn more than they already know (I’m not kidding!), and to be challenged to think and to learn about learning and researching. Students should also expect help when needed.

It needs to get political. I mean it! Until insurance companies allow people to get reimbursed for natural health care services, which cost a fraction of what hospitals, clinics and doctors charge, we are in a field that we can only hope will serve people without having them decline our offerings because they can’t get "covered" by insurance. Statistic after statistic proves that our way of "prevention" and natural healing is far superior and far less expensive than "Western" medicine. The educational system for natural healing is teaching well, as far as I know, and for the most part turns out well-equipped people. I do think we need to show that we continue to learn, continue to stay abreast of new findings and stay responsible for what we "suggest."

I’m thrilled that people want to get into this field knowing that it might not be lucrative and will not be high-profile. This field attracts a certain type of person with a certain belief system, and I applaud those who choose this field.

Maybe in larger areas, there will be more for the holistic practitioner. I don’t see it coming really soon unless we can get some of our services covered by insurance. I think that connecting with a chiropractor or with a health food store can open up some doors.

I don’t know. I would love to think that our field will replace conventional medicine, or at least be part of what is termed complementary medicine, using the best that each of us has to offer. I would be delighted to work with an MD who is open to some natural healing. I have had clients who told their doctors about things I’ve suggested, and the doctors have gone along with it! Hooray! It happens once in a while.

I don’t know. I think that if the person is really good and can get out there and lecture, and maybe write a book and can get on TV, well, we all know people like that who are doing very well. For others, it might be a struggle for a while.

I think the Internet is great for holistic healthcare. Hopefully, it will continue to be a positive force.

I do think one must be passionate about natural healthcare to be successful. If you don’t feel this in your soul, get out!

Do all you can to get the field legitimized: do work on the governmental agencies all the way down to the lowest common denominator to take away the stigma of non-AMA (American Medical Association) members helping people toward wellness. The lobbyists are overwhelming and are destroying our rights to good healthcare, safe healthcare, and information that can increase the quality of our lives.

There’s a difference between healing and curing. Make no mistake: we help people heal – and it might be their attitude, not the body. This is important. I pray every day to be an instrument of God’s healing and peace. Those of us in the field should pray for guidance, and to be open to opportunities to help people heal. We need to heal ourselves so we can help others. Honor and respect your client. Earn his/her trust. Be honest. Do not betray any confidences. You want your clients to know that they are in a safe place, a place where they can release, let go and be able to tell you something that perhaps they never told another person. This could be their open door to healing.

When I teach Reiki there are many “dos and don’ts.” The first "do" is to put your ego aside. This applies to all healing modalities. We are here to serve. The first "don’t" is don’t tell someone you will heal them. I never call myself a healer. If someone wants to call me that, I usually correct him/her. We all are healers. When we say a kind word, or give someone a hug, we might be doing more healing than any prescription can do. If your client is "healed" it is because God (or the Universe, whatever you believe is a higher power) used you to heal that person. You helped that person use his/her own energy and God’s grace to heal. Let it make you grateful and humble, not "puffy."

Learn and keep on learning. Every day there’s "stuff" in my mailbox, "stuff" on e-mails and "stuff" in magazines, newspapers and TV that screams at me to pay attention. We need to pay attention. Be passionate about serving, helping, educating, informing, consulting, coaching, and suggesting. And be good to yourself. Take good care of yourself. You are of little good to someone if you’ve run out of energy!

Editor’s note: To contact Marlene Brown directly about this interview, click here or visit her website, IWishYouWell.com.