Malaysia Star June 2009

A Chance For Change.

Article by Travel Journalist Mark Lean.

At a crossroads in life? Who do you call? Try the Life Change People. 

Mark on his Change Holiday

 

I am at the arrival hall of Chiang Mai airport looking for The Life Change People, who may possibly help to change my life.

Over a period of five days, I go through their unique Change Therapy Programme. As the days progress in the tranquil garden pool setting of the Puripunn Baby Grand Hotel, I learn a crucial fact: my thoughts shape the person I become.

I am presented with  diagrams, demonstrating how I unconsciously but effectively set mental traps and create dilemmas ; I get a clearer picture of myself.

My job is to break the negative patterns at decisive points. Throughout the five days, The Life Change People use a unique combination of change therapy and counselling based upon recent advances in motivational psychology.Not only am I shown ways in which to recognise the different types of traps we create for ourselves, I also learn to transform my feelings about unpleasant situations.

I realize that I often identify and react to what seems to be similar negative situations even when the reality is far from it.

During the next few sessions, I work through some irrational fears — turbulent air travel and imaginary love handles, for example. Other people might want to determine the reasons for their smoking habit,anxiety, depression, over-eating or alcohol abuse.

The a unique mixture of counselling, life-coaching and change therapy The Life Change People help individuals realise that there’s always a better option if they know where to look.

Fear busters

“We don’t tell you that you must change. We show you how and go through the techniques where you can make improvements,”. Over numerous glasses of iced tea to soothe the nerves, I learn to overcome my fear of change.

Goal-setting is another piece of the puzzel. I’m told to visualise in detail my immediate goals to make them as realistic as possible.

The change therapy doesn’t end once participants leave Chiang Mai.

An integral part is the ongoing online counselling and coaching, which reinforce the freshly acquired thought patterns and behaviours. Two weeks after my return from Chiang Mai, I’m thrown into the deep end, so to speak and the skills I learnt are given a real test. My father passes away after a protracted illness.

It isn’t sudden, but is still a shocking blow. I find myself using the techniques that I worked through. Acknowledging fear yet being free to move on is one that sticks vividly in my mind. As with all sad occasions, the tears do fall.

Nonetheless, I am able though to find an option — how I react to the situation alters the emotional landscape in a positive manner quite profoundly.

“People embark on a change holiday or counselling retreat for different reasons — starting a new life after being in a dead-end relationship, wanting a new career direction, coping with the loss of a family member. We teach the skills that people need to implement these changes,”

Personally, I have found a new and effective way of coping. I find myself reshaping my thought patterns during the days before and after Dad’s funeral. The experience is difficult to forget.

The Change Therapy Programme, works on different levels, which include dealing with grief and learning how to cut free from paralysing fear.

Here’s to the future. Thank you.

The Life Change People run Change Holidays, Counselling Retreats and Spa and Wellness Health Retreats. Contact them at info@thelifechangepeople.com for a full range of counselling, therapy services and counselling holidays.