Craig Mealman:

I have been studying and living according to the principles and practices of Alternative and Complementary Health and Wellness for over 25 years.  In 1999 I completed a 600 hour professional educational training program in Therapeutic Massage at Northern Prairie School for Massage and Bodywork.  I am drawn to working with other health care providers who work from a holistic perspective and who assist clients in and with self-assessment and self-care under the guidance of health care practitioners.  It is my belief that all persons have the capacity to engage the natural healing processes within themselves.  They seek the support of others in their healing journeys.  I am aware of the concerns of some people who have environmental sensitivities and the role of massage therapy in a medical context for supporting recovery from injuries and supporting wellness.  Additionally, for the previous 30 years I have worked for National-Louis University as a teacher in the Adult and Continuing Education Department and Applied Behavioral Sciences in the College Psychology and Behavioral Sciences.  I earned a Bachelor’s Degree as a non-traditional student at Governor’s State University (GSU), focusing on adult and alternative education, human services, psychology and sociology. Also, at GSU, I earned the Master of Arts in Interpersonal Communication; Therapeutic Communication, with special concentration in Transpersonal Psychology.  In 1991, I earned the doctorate in Adult, Continuing Education from Northern Illinois University, with cognates in adult learning, human inquiry/research and transpersonal education. 

My journey during the last 30 years has also included an equally important series of non-formal, informal, incidental and self-directed learning ‘projects’ or in some cases ongoing learning projects.  I have been learning, experientially, or directly from the natural world and all of its elements.  In fact, my most important teacher has been and continues to be the interaction between me and the ecosystems that I find myself living in.  Additionally, over the years, I have taken a number of classes, seminars, and workshops from Tom Brown’s Tracking and Nature School, Teaching Drum Outdoor School, the Shavano Institute, Prescott College, and Northland College.  Additionally, many, many authors, through written materials, have spoken to me and engaged me at various levels.  The interaction and the relationships (which arise out of the stream of people whose path intersects with mine) provide an amazing connection to the web of life, to my very being.  I am grateful for my interactions with all aspects of the web of life.

Educational/Healing and Wellness Philosophy:  I believe in the integrity of the individual to participate and be directly involved in one’s own healing and learning, whether formal, informal, or incidental in nature.  Therefore, I take the role of co-facilitating healing and learning in formal learning and therapeutic contexts.  While I acknowledge my own substantive expertise, I value highly what each person brings to a given context; thereby drawing on the richness of those experiences in the planning, implementing and evaluating of healing and learning processes and strategies.  I value all dimensions of persons in the: intellectual, affective, spiritual, and physical.  Teaching and healing originates from the heart connection and honoring each person’s completeness and wholeness, I strive to establish and nurture healing and learning contexts/environments that support integration of the healing systems.  Healing and teaching are both an art and a science.  I have studied education and learning for over twenty-five years and complementary healing for 20 years and draw on my research, the theory available, my practical knowledge base and on my experiences.  In practice, I employ intuition to balance the art and science dimensions of my preparation and implementation of learning experiences.  I value all dimensions and phases of the learning process; somewhat like the seasons of a year, each phase calls for appropriate vision and unique strategies.
Personal Direction/Vocation: My vision involves working with individuals and groups of people who are in transition and who are engaged in healing processes through developing healthy wellness practices.  My role is to enter their lives, provide gentle guidance, offer what I can and allow them to leave in their own way and time, drawing what they will and co-create from our interaction.  I humbly serve for the benefit of all living creatures on this planet and within an ecosystem perspective where all elements and life interact in the great mystery. 

Professional Experience:
Integrative Therapeutic Massage, Wisconsin
Owner and Massage Therapist, 1999- present
Provides specific craniosacral therapy treatment based on client needs and through continuing assessment processes. Sessions are designed to integrate and energize the natural healing capacities of the client.  I employ several modalities that are used in conjunction with intuition:  Light Swedish Massage, Cranial-Sacral, Myofascial Release/stretching (assisted range of motion), Therapeutic Touch and subtle energy work.
I offer lightly guided yoga instruction as requested to support overall well being.

Flowing Waters Retreat Center
Caretaker and Retreat Facilitator,  1995-present
Lead and facilitate reflective, spiritual growth and meditative retreats
Facilitate Personal Growth Workshops
Facilitate and guide Walking Meditation
Home school Environmental Education Workshops and Retreats

National-Louis University, Lisle, Illinois
Faculty, Tenured, 1984-Present, Graduate and Undergraduate Faculty Appointment
Department of Adult and Continuing Education and Department of Applied Behavioral Sciences
                       

                       
Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
Educational/Vocational Specialist
Department of Psychiatry, Inpatient Therapy
1980-1982
-Developed and administered educational/vocational program
- Provided Rehabilitation Counseling
- Designed and implemented individual and group career counseling
- Designed and conducted relaxation and guided imagery sessions
- Conducted staff development workshops
- Co-leader of varied adjunctive therapy discussion and activity

Elgin Community College, Elgin, Illinois
Instructor/Coordinator, Adult Basic Education, 1975-1979

Additional Experience
Governors State University, University Park, Illinois
Community Professor
Department of Communication Sciences
College of Human Learning and Development
1982, 1986, Taught Personal Growth Lab Course, which involved communication skills, values clarification and relaxation training; and Managing Communication Systems
Northland College, Ashland, Wisconsin
Educational Consultant for Evening Degree Completion and Community Instructor
1994-2001- Taught Portfolio Development, Group Dynamics and Emergent Leadership theories 

Kane County Corrections Complex, Geneva, Illinois
Instructor/Counselor
1979 to 1980