I sat on the couch opposite Dr. Maria Broderick in her new offices. The red and brown earth tones in the room released my concerns of the day. The room glowed in the hue of the light of the setting sun. It was an appropriate setting to discuss Dr. Broderick’s approach to health and healing, in which she adds alternative therapies to more traditional ones.
I was interested in Dr. Broderick’s work at the Reservoir Family Wellness Center. Dr. Broderick directs the art of acupuncture and herbal medicine for families. She focuses especially on families and their children with disabilities.
An integrative approach that works
From the beginning of a child’s life, if that child is born with a disability, parents often receive mixed messages. Dr. Broderick has dedicated her life to helping these families and children by using an integrative approach to caring.
Dr. Broderick specializes in working with children on the autism spectrum and has been successful in addressing a common issue with these children: sensory impairment. One of the ways she treats sensory impairment is through a method called Qigong.
Qigong offers a new method of healing
Years of research show that Qigong Sensory Training can reduce sensory impairment. It can also improve adaptive behaviors in children. Dr. Broderick explains.
“Through Qigong Sensory Training, parents can realize the opportunity to direct their love for their children and their desire for closeness into an intervention that requires only their hands, their heart, their persistence and a few simple instructions to deliver.”
Very simply, qigong provides a way of touching that is not corrective or punitive. Caregiver and child do specific exercises together as a way to expend energy, bond more deeply and grow beyond the developmental delay. This method of healing helps parents learn how they can contribute, through their healing touch, to the health of their child.
Making life more joyful
“My purpose in life is to help anyone whose life is touched by autism and special needs…I want to help find the latest and greatest information available. There are so many ways to save time, money and frustration while making life easier, better and more joyful.”
Dr. Broderick is someone you can count on to help you to support the best vision of the healthy development of our children; all of our children.