Get to know Heather

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Heather Arelliano-Robles journey to study Traditional Chinese Medicine started in her youth growing up around a very diverse population with many facets of life, while also working with her mother in the garden. Heather’s love of plants fostered her undergraduate studies from American College of Healthcare Sciences in Herbal Medicine and Wellness Consulting. Heather decided to pursue and further her education by attended the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM), receiving a Diplomat of Acupuncture from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Heather shined at working in Providence hospital’s oncology department with patients having chemotherapy and radiation for numerous cancerous conditions. She has worked with many diversified health conditions ranging from neurological, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, vision, TMD, behavioral health, and seasonal changes. 

Heather’s style of practice is to provide pain relief, comfort, compassion, and balance between mind, body, and soul. This is done through what she believes is the best approach for each individual’s treatment experience, by offering a varied modality approach such as traditional Chinese acupuncture, Japanese acupuncture, Teishin for needle sensitivity patients, energetic, tuina, shiatsu, cupping, gua sha, and herbal liniments or formulas. 

In her free time, she loves working in the garden, harvesting medicinal plants for food consumption or preparing remedies, hiking, kayaking, crafting, dancing, qigong, and spending time with family and friends.

I have worked in the mental health field for over 30 years.  My interest in non-ordinary states of consciousness began in 2015, when I took a 6-day course in Heart Centered Hypnotherapy at The Wellness Institute.  I was so impressed with the effectiveness of this modality that I went on to study hypnotherapy and breathwork for the next 6 years. I have found hypnotherapy to be effective in decreasing stress, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improving pain tolerance.  I believe in the mind’s inner healing intelligence.  Sometimes we need assistance from the subconscious mind to get clarity about beliefs that limit us and to access our ability to heal.   

I am also a Yoga Nidra facilitator.  Yoga Nidra is a meditation practice that allows individuals to be guided to a place between wakefulness and sleep.  Yoga Nidra is much like a power nap and provides deep rest and relaxation.  

I am a native of the Pacific Northwest and have made my home in Vancouver for the last 11 years. In my time away from work I enjoy travel, gardening, knitting, and live music.  

From Psychology Today:

“Hypnotherapy (sometimes called hypnotic suggestion) is a therapeutic

practice that uses guided hypnosis to help a client reach a trance-like state of

focus, concentration, diminished peripheral awareness, and heightened

suggestibility. This state is similar to being completely absorbed in a book,

movie, music, or even one’s own thoughts or meditations. In it, a person

is unusually responsive to an idea or image, but they are not under anyone’s

“control.” Instead, a trained clinical hypnotherapist can help clients in this state

relax and turn their attention inward to discover and utilize resources within

themselves that can help them achieve desired behavioral changes or better

manage pain or other physical concerns. Eventually, a client learns how to

address their states of awareness on their own and in doing so, gain greater

control of their physical and psychological responses.

The American Psychological Association and American Medical Association

have recognized hypnotherapy as a valid procedure since 1958, and the

National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recommended it as a treatment

for chronic pain since 1995.”

We hear a lot about Mindfulness Meditation. You can find books about it, teachers of mindfulness on YouTube, and meditation apps for your cell phone. All this may be very helpful, but it is often best to learn and practice with a group of people. Discover Balance is generously providing a time and place for a group to gather on Saturday mornings beginning in May. The group will be facilitated by Mark Johnson, who has many decades of experience in mindfulness and other aspects of meditation which he learned from some of the best teachers in the world. Mark will provide instruction on how to practice mindfulness and thee will be discussion and feedback at the end of the session so people can have the opportunity to ask questions and share their experience. 

*We will explore the basics of sitting meditation, either sitting in a chair or on a cushion on the floor, and will also learn to apply mindfulness to standing, walking, and simple movements of the body. Mark has written up some instructions which can be read at leisure and will reinforce the understanding of the main aspects of the practice. Other people who attend who might have previous  meditation experience will be invited to share their methods or experience with the group.

*Wear loose, comfortable clothing. There will be a few chairs available. There are also yoga mats available which can be used for those who chose to sit on the floor. It may be helpful to bring a small pillow like a couch pillow to sit on if you are on the floor. Bathroom facilities are nearby. The room is kept at a nice temperature, but feel free to bring a shawl or other wrap if you want to be toasty.

*We will practice early Saturday morning and be done in time for you to then go out and have a wonderful, full day. Doors will open at 7:30 AM and we will begin introductory talk and sitting around 7:45. We will finish at 9. We have scheduled sessions for every Saturday in June(at 7:30 AM).