Your relationship with the medical team at Next Step® Institute is the foundation of your treatment, and begins even before your arrival at our facilities. We feel that one-on-one time with doctors is sorely lacking in today’s Western medical system, and we are dedicated to personally getting to know and understand you as a whole person instead of just as a medical chart. Your care under Dr. Weiss, Dr. Newberry, Dr. Klearman, and our physician assistant, Jennifer Gellar, will include two-hour medical evaluations, lengthy reviews of records and medical history, all necessary testing and lab work, coordination of all treatments and careful analysis of all herbal and pharmaceutical medicines.

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Our Chi Kung practitioner, Sherry Bauer, has studied eastern healing arts for over 12 years, training at the Chi Kung School of the Body Energy Center in Boulder, Colorado, and completing Medical Chi Kung training in China. She has worked with Western medical clinics, practicing and teaching vibrational medicine and Chi Kung healing for nearly 10 years.

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Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine used to treat pain and disease, and restore health and well-being. According to Chinese medical theory, disease occurs when there is a blockage or imbalance of chi within the body. To restore this balance and enable free movement of our energy, hair-like needles are inserted at particular points on the body thought to correspond to the pathways along which chi flows. Most patients feel little or no pain while receiving the treatment. Some patients report feeling energized by the experience while others feel completely relaxed. Often used in conjunction with acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine utilizes herbal remedies to treat health conditions. These remedies can be very powerful and must be prescribed with care by a credentialed professional. At Next Step® Institute, we believe herbal remedies are most effective when integrated with other therapies and medicines. Our naturopathic physician, Dr. Eliza Klearman, is a board certified and licensed Doctor of Oriental Medicine who has been practicing holistic medicine in a gentle, comprehensive manner for many years. Our acupuncturist, Robert Bump, is board certified in acupuncture as well as a Chinese herbalist with years of experience in bodywork.

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Under the guidance of Iris and Steve Jourdain, Canadian Ojibway practitioners of traditional Native American healing methods, Next Step® patients can learn a wealth of techniques that have been providing relief to patients for centuries. Among these are medicine wheel teachings that restore balance, the healing power of smudging and medicinal plants, the four directions ritual, talking circles and the sacred Sweat Lodge ceremony.

Sweat Lodge therapy is believed to have been used for over 10,000 years, as both a center of spirituality and a medical practice. Native peoples participate in the ceremonies to celebrate life, pray, cleanse and strengthen, as well as to seek healing from illness. Central to all Sweat Lodge ceremonies is the concept of emotional, physical and spiritual purification. The ceremony is a very gentle healing experience, utilizing steam from water splashed on heated rocks, Native herbal medicines, drumming, singing and personal reflection. All spiritual and religious beliefs are accepted and respected in the Next Step® Sweat Lodge. Many of our patients find the Sweat Lodge an intensely rejuvenating experience, and others have said they experienced miraculous changes. Next Step® Institute is grateful to be able to offer this once-in-a-lifetime, genuine, sacred experience to our patients.

Steve Jourdain was Chief of the Lac La Croix reserve in Ontario, Canada for two decades, leading his people in the battle against alcoholism, sexual abuse and cultural and environmental loss. Iris Jourdain served as the reserve’s social worker and helped design a model sexual abuse treatment program. During most of their nearly 50 years of marriage, Steve and Iris have made their living by trapping in the snowy wilderness, as Steve was taught by his father and grandfather. Steve has received advanced counselor training at the University of Manitoba. Iris pursued her counseling studies at Laurentian University in Ontario.

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The physical therapy program at Next Step® Institute is very different from what you’ll find in most clinics. We specialize in helping patients with serious illness cope with specific side effects, using gentle encouragement and empathy. We understand the frustration, anger and grief many patients feel about the physical changes and limitations that often accompany illness. Our physical therapy program is designed to restore patients’ confidence and increase their comfort and joy in being alive.

We will develop an individualized physical therapy treatment plan for you based on a thorough review of your postural, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, neurological and lymphatic systems by our licensed therapist. All PT treatment plans are overseen by our physicians and coordinated with the yoga, fitness and massage therapists at Next Step® Institute.

Our physical therapist, Gina Jelacic, is certified in physical therapy and Pilates, as well as lymphatic drainage—a technique used to treat swelling. Gina embraces a holistic approach to rehabilitation which includes maximizing patients’ independence, movement potential, flexibility and strength, as well as controlling and preventing fatigue, pain and swelling.

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Understanding there is no separation between body, mind and spirit is essential to one’s journey to optimal health. It is important to feel well physically in order to feel well as a whole. At Next Step® Institute, our personal trainer will teach you how to listen to your body’s changing needs, trust your innate ability to heal and practice your own daily health improvement techniques. Prior to beginning any physical training at Next Step® Institute, our experienced personal trainer will evaluate your medical background and current personal goals such as weight loss, strength, endurance, bone density and relaxation. Your individually prepared fitness plan will include some combination of resistance training, Pilates, cardiovascular training, yoga, Chi Kung and movement, all aimed at influencing the nervous system, detoxifying, alleviating stiffness and improving organ function. With regular practice you can expect increased strength and endurance, greater joint mobility and improved stability and balance.

Next Step® Institute offers access to a fully equipped gym, year-round heated swimming pool, sauna and jetted spa. Two Thunderbirds Ranch provides exercise equipment, mats and balls. Horseback riding, bike riding, hiking, fishing, tennis, golf and snowshoe adventures are available, while skiing, rafting, rock climbing and a wide range of other activities can also be arranged.

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Developed by Joseph Pilates as a rehabilitation technique for wounded World War I soldiers, Pilates is a method of movement, breathing and exercise designed to stretch, strengthen, lengthen and balance the body. Pilates’ focus is on strengthening the core muscles of the body. This not only improves posture, balance and general well-being, but aids in the healing of injuries.

At Next Step® Institute, you will be guided through a series of Pilates exercises that are designed and modified for your individual condition, ability and comfort. With regular practice, Pilates can improve flexibility, agility and efficiency of motion, while allowing the principles of balance, strength and stability to become a part of our lives.

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Massage therapy is an ancient healing art dating back to 2700 B.C. Through manipulation of the body’s soft tissues by pressure, tension, motion or vibration, massage alleviates muscle spasms and stress. Massage is also a well-known aid in healing injury and managing pain. By improving the function of the circulatory, lymphatic, muscular, skeletal and nervous systems, massage therapy has proven beneficial to lower back pain, arthritis, bursitis, high blood pressure, diabetes, immunity suppression, infertility, smoking cessation, depression, anxiety and more.

At Next Step® Institute, a certified massage therapist provides a relaxing experience while rejuvenating your body and mind. Sessions may incorporate the use of aromatherapy, lymphatic drainage, neuromuscular manipulation and other techniques.

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Meditation is a simple (though not always easy) exercise of quieting the mind and spending a few precious moments in peace and balance. Medical research has found that simple meditation, visualization and breathing techniques can improve health by reducing stress, stimulating the immune system and regulating vital cardiovascular and neurological activities within the body.

Meditation can unlock the healing power of the mind, while refreshing and relaxing the body. Patients often report that the simple addition of morning meditation to their daily routines caused amazing changes in their lives, and heightened their overall sense of well-being and clarity.

At Next Step® Institute, we teach a wide variety of meditation approaches from many different cultural traditions, as well as some original techniques created by our staff. We believe each patient will find at least one approach they connect with to incorporate into their day-to-day lives.

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We firmly believe balanced nutrition is crucial to restoring the body, mind and spirit. Healthy, balanced meals stimulate and enhance the body’s natural healing mechanisms, offer relief from health conditions and act as preventative medicine. Nutritional therapy is based on using food and supplements to maintain optimum wellness.

Based on your specific health issues, our clinical nutritionist will show you how small, manageable changes to your diet can improve digestion, correct vitamin and mineral deficiencies, detoxify and renew your energy and vitality. Disorders for which nutritional therapy has proven effective include insomnia, depression, anxiety, inflammation, chronic fatigue, cancer, energy loss and chronic headaches.

At Next Step® Institute, we see food as a potential healing tool, not as an enemy, and we believe that healthy eating should be a source of joy and celebration of life. During your stay at Next Step® Institute, you will enjoy healthy, balanced meals prepared by one of the Vail area’s most distinguished chefs, with dietary concerns and health conditions in mind.

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A powerful way to reconnect with a part of ourselves frequently neglected in adulthood, creative therapy is based on experimenting with visual art, music, writing or expressive movement. Creative therapy offers an opportunity to take chances, color outside the lines and trust your own process in an environment of nurturing encouragement and artistic freedom. While “playing,” we gain insight into our emotions, thoughts, yearnings and fears.

Art, in all its various forms, is the soul’s companion. Creativity and expression are matters of the heart, intrinsically connected to our being. Experiencing the deep happiness, pain, anxiety, fear, exuberance and awe of our personal creative journey fosters healing.

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Psychotherapy and counseling sessions are arranged according to your needs and clinical directors’ recommendations. These therapies may include couples therapy, family therapy, spiritual counseling, child-focused and adolescent-appropriate therapies, psychodrama and other psycho-dynamic practices.

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We all carry emotional and spiritual wounds which can greatly affect our physical condition, whether we are coping with an illness or trying to reach optimum harmony between body, mind and spirit. Clinical director, Cathleen Weiss, gently guides patients through a review of childhood and adult losses and traumas, and offers training in healing techniques such as meditation, self-parenting, therapeutic breathing, healthy communication, journaling and other effective techniques.

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Metaphysics refers to man’s pondering of the nature of existence, while intuition is often described as “the voice of your body.” Learning to develop awareness of your intuition and your metaphysical connection to the universe are important aspects of uniting your mind and body and achieving overall wellness. Our therapists offer deep insight and personal guidance, using their psychology and intuitive consulting backgrounds to teach you how to identify life patterns, tap into your inner Source and live a more truthful, abundant life.

LeeAnn Heinbaugh, MA, is a gifted intuitive with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and over a decade of work as a psycho-spiritual counselor. Cathy Zeeb holds a Masters Degree and PhD in metaphysics from The American Institute of Holistic Theology and specializes in Intuitive Therapy, Spiritual Counseling, Breathwork, Lightwork and Energy work.

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Sharing your personal experiences with others can be one of the most important elements of your path to wellness. Even if you are fortunate enough to have the support of family and friends during your illness, there is nothing as powerful as the bond between those who have endured similar physical and emotional challenges. Support groups are available to all patients who are interested, and those pursuing recovery from addictions will be escorted to the appropriate local 12-step meetings including AA, OA and Al-Anon.

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Our physicians and therapists offer educational sessions based on any specific area of your individual needs that is not addressed by our other therapy methods. They are also available for follow-up consultations and additional sessions for patients who have questions or concerns about their ongoing care.

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