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Wholeness and life patterning: unitary foundations for a healing praxis
W Richard Cowling1, Kevin M Swartout
1University of North Carolina Greensbaro, School of Nursing, PO Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA. richardcowling@uncg.edu
Abstract:
Unitary appreciative nursing is a healing praxis that is grounded in an evolving theory of wholeness and life patterning. The theory regards people as having the potential for transforming their health through participating knowingly in change focused on appreciating their wholeness and life patterning. In unitary appreciative nursing, people generate their own knowledge through appreciation and participation in the wholeness of life patterning. This knowledge facilitates and advances their flourishing and well-being in a healing praxis. The conceptual presuppositions and theoretical propositions that were generated or affirmed arising from a healing praxis are clarified and explicated with women who have experienced abuse and despair.
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