The vision of Barbara’s Holistic Nursing Consultants private practice is to care for the whole person, mind-body-spirit. Board Certified as an Advanced Holistic Nurse (AHN-BC), she draws on nursing knowledge, theories, expertise and intuition to guide her in becoming a therapeutic partner with her clients. Her authentic caring approach and calm presence is the foundation of a more than 30-year nursing career. She believes integrating complementary and conventional practices is the key for helping many people regain health.

Barbara has a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Clinical Nurse Specialty (CNS) in Adult Health and Illness and is licensed as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP). Partnering with the client she develops an individualized plan of care for health. Programs are consultative and educational and can be structured for groups as well as individuals.

Her holistic services include: Holistic Health Consultations, including nutritional assessment and recommendations,Therapeutic Touch, mindfulness practices such as learning the relaxation response, imagery, meditation, cognitive restructuring, coaching for lifestyle changes. Individual comprehensive pain management and cardiovascular programs are available, including the option for Advanced Cardiovascular Lipid Profile testing by a research laboratory.

Barbara’s conventional clinical nursing practice areas included expertise in critical care, cardiovascular surgical nursing, care of persons who had suffered strokes and case management for persons involved in physical trauma. Between 1996-2000, she played a pivotal role in the development of a Complementary Healing Services program within Via Christi Regional Medical Center. She was also Director of Clinical Subtle Energy Research at The Center’s Bio-Communications Research Institute in Wichita in 2002. She continues to work part-time in critical care at a specialty heart hospital in Wichita since 2003.

Therapeutic Touch is a gentle procedure that uses the hands with intention to promote relaxation and comfort. Touch may or may not be used as this process primarily helps restore balance within an individual at a subtle energetic level. Anyone experiencing stress, anxiety, pain, wounds or infections, immune system disorders or end of life can benefit from TT. There is nursing research supporting its usefulness to help decrease pain, anxiety and promote wound healing and immune system function. A deep sense of peace is often experienced with TT and each person has a unique response. TT may influence all aspects of an individual: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

Barbara studied annually since 1986 with the co-founders of Therapeutic Touch, Dolores Krieger PhD, RN, and Dora Kunz, a natural healer. For additional information visit her website: bdenison.sbcusa.com or visit the official organization of Therapeutic Touch, Nurse Healers-Professional Associates International, Inc.’s website: www.therapeutic-touch.org. Barbara is credentialed as a Qualified Therapeutic Touch Teacher/Practitioner (QTTT/P).

Barbara has conducted research in complementary alternative practices, in particular Therapeutic Touch, and has taught numerous Therapeutic Touch programs in the U.S. and internationally. An article describing her research thesis about the use of Therapeutic Touch for the experience of pain and quality of life for persons with fibromyalgia has been published. The reference for this article is: Denison, B. (2004). Touch the Pain Away New Research on Therapeutic Touch and Persons with Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Holistic Nursing Practice, 18:3, May/June, 142-151.