What is Project Hope?

Project Hope is a charitable arm of Shanti Mission dedicated to helping those suffering from trauma and depression.

From offering holistic aid to those affected by disaster, to offering regular healing for those with depression, the services offered by Project Hope are unique to each person and situation.

Guided by the pillars and virtues of Shanti Mission, those seeking assistance are offered:

• Energy healing
• Meditation
• Music
• Mentoring
• Personal development programs
• Retreats

and more, as a means of finding peace within, creating healthier bodies and minds, and becoming empowered to find direction and move forward mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially.

What help is currently available?

We are currently inviting those experiencing depression to participate in our research study.          

As part of the study, you will receive 8 FREE Ignite Your Spirit Therapy sessions (energy healing) to help bring joy, hope, good health and meaning back into your life.

The study aims to evaluate the effects of Ignite Your Spirit Therapy on the symptoms of depression, as well as on general mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and social wellbeing.

This project has been created after noticing what a remarkable difference Ignite Your Spirit Therapy has made for many people who have suffered depression. It is currently funded by the donations of the community who believe in the charitable work of Shanti Mission.

Testimonials

How do I apply?

You can pick up an application form at one of the Shanti Mission Harmony Centres: in Sydney, Newcastle, Cooranbong or Canyonleigh or at Ahisma Natural Therapies at Belmont. We can also fax, post or email one to you. Once you have returned this, an IYS therapist from the location you wish to receive treatment from will contact you and discuss your application. If your application is successful, the therapist will then book you in for the 8 healings (spread over 12 weeks).

There are certain criteria you must meet in order to be accepted for the study. Please read the following information:.

Criteria

1.  You must have a clinical diagnosis of depression as per DSM IV criteria. You will need to present a letter from your doctor or psychologist stating so, and it needs to have been written within the last 2 months.
2.  All levels of income earners are welcome to apply; however, please be aware that low-income earners will be given preference into the program, and higher income earners are encouraged to make a donation.  If you are a low-income earner or are experiencing current financial hardship and hence cannot afford to pay for regular healings, you will need to validate this e.g. Healthcare card or provide details of your current financial situation on the application form.
3.  You must be willing to commit to 8 IYS therapy sessions over 12 weeks and allow us to gather information that may be used in research.
4.  You need to confirm that you have a history free from psychotic disorder, psychotic episode, bipolar disorder or manic episode.
5.  You need to confirm that you have not been hospitalised for a psychiatric condition within the last 12 months.
6.  If you are on medication for depression, it needs to have stayed the same  for the last 8 weeks.

What is involved?

You will be required to attend 8 Ignite Your Spirit Therapy sessions. Sessions are weekly for weeks 1-4, then fortnightly for weeks 5-12.

Each session is approximately 45 minutes long.

If you are unable to make a session, you will be required to give 24 hours notice and reschedule the appointment so it is within that week, subject to the availability of the therapist.

You will be required to fill out an application form, sign a conditions form and fill out two questionnaires prior to starting the treatments. After week 4 you will be required to fill out one questionnaire, and then 2 questionnaires at the end of the treatments. It should take no longer than 20 minutes to fill out both questionnaires. You will also be required to fill out a questionnaire 3 months after your last treatment.

What is Ignite Your Spirit Therapy and how does it work?

Ignite Your Spirit Therapy is a holistic healing modality that promotes good health of the physical, mental, emotional, energetic and spiritual aspects of the self.  Whilst Ignite Your Spirit Therapy is classified as an energetic healing modality and uses techniques not dissimilar to other energetic healing therapies, it also combines counselling, visualisation, affirmations, and sometimes sound therapy.

Ignite Your Spirit Therapy could also be regarded as spiritual healing; however, the client may seek out the modality for purely mental, emotional or physical reasons and need not have any spiritual beliefs for it to be effective. Your therapist will only work with belief systems that are helpful and you are comfortable with.

Ignite Your Spirit therapists primarily work with the energy field and energy centres of the client. As this is the interface between the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical aspects of the self, it is the fastest and most effective means of creating healing and means that issues can be cleared without having to revisit any emotional or mental experiences.

In a 45 min interactive session seated in a chair, your therapist will give you feedback about your energy field and how its state may be affecting your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health. By understanding, and working on the changes in one’s energy field that take place in depression, it can be treated quite simply and without any side effects.

Whilst energy healing has been practised for thousands of years by cultures around the world, it is only now being recognised by modern science. Technology such as the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) and Gas Discharge Visualisation (GDV) are able to measure the energy field and demonstrate what perceptive healers have been describing for thousands of years. This technology shows correspondences between the energy field and the physical body and is even being used by some medical practitioners to assist with diagnosis. Hospitals around the world use energy healing as an adjunct to treatment, and in India some hospital wards are designated for energy (pranic) healing.

All Ignite Your Spirit Therapists undertake rigorous training, are insured and are accredited with either the International Institute of Complimentary Therapists or Energetic Healers Association. More information about the science, standard of training and ethics can be found on the Shanti Mission Website.

Are there any risks or benefits of participating?

There are no known risks or side effects of Ignite Your Spirit Therapy. As mentioned above, some people may feel emotional; however, this is a healthy part of the healing process and you will never be left in a situation where you feel unable to manage this.

Recent research conducted by Shakti Durga and clinical psychologist Dr Jagatambe Renay Greig demonstrates the profound effects of an Ignite Your Spirit program and healing on people with moderate to severe depression. Over an 8-week period, participants attended weekly 2-hour sessions where they discussed the multidimensional nature of depression and wellbeing and experienced meditation. Each participant also experienced one Ignite Your Spirit Therapy session. Results were clinically and statistically significant, effectively reducing levels of depression, anxiety, stress and dysfunctional thinking patterns held among the study group. Participants also displayed significant improvements in self-esteem and life satisfaction.  

For more information on this study and testimonials, please visit: http://shantimission.org/shantimission/iys-path-ease-and-grace-depression-study

Due to lack of studies or anecdotal evidence in the use of Ignite Your Spirit Therapy with people suffering acute mental health disorders, this study will not be including people with such conditions at this time. Therapists will cease IYS therapy treatments for anyone who develops symptoms of any acute mental health disorder and refer them to an appropriate professional.

Privacy and Rights

Your personal details will not be on any document used as information in the study. Therefore, all information used in the study is completely anonymous. If you choose to discontinue with the study, you can elect for the information you have provided to be discarded. You can also ask your therapist to not take notes about particular sensitive issues during the IYS treatment if you wish.

Disclaimer

Ignite Your Spirit Therapy is a safe adjunct to the treatment of depression; however, it should not replace medical treatment. You will always be advised to consult your treating health practitioner regarding your depression and treatment. At no stage will you be asked to change your current treatment from your practitioner.

Your treating Ignite Your Spirit therapist has the right to contact your treating health professional if they have questions or concerns regarding your condition.

First appointment

You will need to allow 90 minutes for your first appointment so that your therapist can talk to you about the program, answer any questions you may have and allow time to fill out the questionnaires before you commence the healing. Sessions at weeks 4 and 12 will require 60 minutes to allow for a short questionnaire. All other sessions are 45 minutes long.

Emotions

If you are feeling anxious or emotional prior to your first, or any, IYS therapy session, understand that this is simply a transient state and is likely to pass during your session. It is simply that as you take more awareness to your state of being, emotions and thoughts become more evident. IYS therapy helps the individual recognise that they are more than their thoughts, emotions and experiences and assists the individual to let go of unhelpful thoughts, experiences and emotions. Your therapist will always ensure you are emotionally stable and feeling secure by the end of the session. Most people feel a deep sense of peace, and sometimes even bliss after their IYS therapy sessions. Whilst this cannot be guaranteed, clients usually feel significantly more uplifted and positive than when the healing began. Shanti Mission has a strong support network, referral system and staff who are highly trained to deal with emotional issues. You will always be given techniques or products to use, support from our staff or referral to another health professional so that you are not left feeling emotionally vulnerable. At the end of the 8 sessions, mentoring may be available at certain centres for ongoing support.

If you are considering not coming to an appointment due to feeling particularly emotional, please understand this is the time that the appointment is needed the most and you are likely to feel quite different by the end of the session. Please call your closest centre and get your therapist to contact you if you are having difficulty.

What if I am not accepted into the study?

You need never go without support as Shanti Mission offers a huge range of activities and products that assist people to find peace and healing. The community at Shanti Mission in itself is a rich resource for support and if you feel you need to talk to someone, please feel free to call any of the centres.

Resources for support you might like to try:

Satsang- An enjoyable guided meditation that works to create peace by cleaning out the energy field and topping up with positive energy, often accompanied by live musicians who are trained in using music for healing.

Healing Clinic- Ignite Your Spirit Therapy from trainee therapists. Run by donation.

Path of Ease and Grace Seminars- A life changing series of seminars that open you up to a whole new way of understanding yourself and life and which teach you tools that empower you to create peace and meaning in all dimensions of your life. (Run by donation).

Healings with accredited healers- A quick and powerful way to let go of old blockages and create healing and the kind of life you want. (Charge varies according to the therapist).

Guided meditation CDs- Great way to get some peace and guidance, any time, any place. Some are as short as 8 minutes- a great practical tool that you can use everyday. Prices start at $10.

Books and other products- Shanti Mission Harmony Centres have a huge range of books and CDs on personal development, spirituality, health and more. There is also a great selection of uplifting music. Shakti Durga is the author of Ignite Your Spirit, Child of God, Dimensions of Wealth, Spiritual Mastery, Letters to Initiates and more to come - all powerful reading that will change your life.

Contact

For further inquiries or to contact our Project Hope Manager or Project Hope Ignite Your Spirit therapists. 

Please call:

Cooranbong Shanti Mission Harmony Centre on: (02) 4977 3300

Newcastle Shanti Mission Harmony Centre on: (02) 4927 8686

Sydney Shanti Mission Harmony Centre on: (02) 9550 5449

Canyonleigh Shanti Mission Harmony Centre on: (02) 48789424

Belmont Ahimsa Natural Therapies Centre on: (02) 49459734

Or email: Project.Hope@shantimission.org

Giving to those with Depression

Did you know that Project Hope is run entirely by donations and much
of the healing and administration is done by volunteers?
If you feel a call in your heart to help uplift those in our community
affected by depression then please consider any of the following ways
of serving:

(1) Financial contribution: 

See Donations Section for full bank details.
(2) Offering healings: 

      If you are a fully certified and insured IYS therapist please consider applying as a case manager where you will be giving clients 8 IYS sessions over 12 weeks.

      If you have your IYS Practitioners completion certificate but still need supervision please consider our supervised healing times to get your required hours up.
(3) Administration duties
(4) Data entry
(5) Research
(6) Ethics and legal compliance
(7) Marketing, promotions and funding

DONATIONS

You may donate by leaving money or cheque (made to Shanti Mission Harmony Centres) in an envelope labeled “Project Hope” at any Harmony
Centre or see anyone in the office if you wish to donate by EFTPOS or credit card.

You can also donate directly into an account in person at any Commonwealth Australia Bank or by internet banking, using the
following details:

Account Name: Shanti Mission Harmony Centres Gift Account
BSB: 10138000
Account Number: 1013800

Please identify gift as PROJECT HOPE.  

You may also add your name if you wish.