Excerpts taken from the book: The 12 Stages of Healing

By Dr. Donald M. Epstein

Healing has little to do with the removal of symptoms. Rather it is an intimate and integrative process that encompasses every aspect of our being. Healing involves the harmonious alignment of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of our being and how we relate to the world. Healing is often an uncomfortable process, but always empowering.

Curing on the other hand, implies that someone is trying to eliminate our disease, symptom, or crisis, most commonly thru medication, surgery, psychotherapy, or other modalities.

Curing has an important role. It offers us the gift of time so we might better understand the deeper significance of our symptoms. Curing can also offer us a greater degree of comfort to facilitate the process of realignment and redirection. When used as a steppingstone or rest stop to healing, curing can be beneficial.

Healing leaves in its wake a sense of accomplishment, fulfillment, and empowerment. Curing does not. Healing considers our uniqueness. Curing does not. Healing involves surrendering of our inner and outer experiences. Curing involves an attempt to control our internal and external environments. Healing promotes wholeness, an uninhibited expression of natural rhythms, and unprovoked forgiveness.