About Beyond Ordinary Nursing

Beyond Ordinary Nursing (BON) was founded by Terry Reed and Susan Ezra in 1996, stemming from a deep desire to share the powerful gift of imagery with the world. Our work is based on a strong foundation in imagery training through the Academy for Guided Imagery and in holistic philosophy through the American Holistic Nurses Association, both pioneering organizations in their fields.

Propelled by the encouragement of colleagues to develop this training and responding to a force greater than ourselves, the Nurses Certificate Program was created. Being nurses, we had a strong calling to bring this work to nurses to heal ourselves and empower our profession. For as we engage in the imagery process, we have the opportunity to heal, transform and empower ourselves and become the catalyst for others to do the same.

Over the years, as the training is being brought to many more people across the country, there is growing interest to open the program to others in healthcare. Therefore, the Certificate Program in Imagery is now open to all licensed healthcare practitioners. This will enable us to expand our vision to bring Integrative Imagery even further out into the world.

Our Founders and Faculty

Co-founder, Co-director:  Terry Reed, RN, MS, HNC

Personal Statement

Co-creating Beyond Ordinary Nursing eight years ago with my colleague, Susan Ezra, has literally changed my life and allowed me to manifest my life’s purpose; to help others and myself reach their full potential. I had used imagery very early in life creating imaginary pets and special magical journeys, but had forgotten most of that when my mind started specializing in another form of imagery; negative thoughts and fears. My first imagery session brought such healing , joy, and creativity that I knew I had to have more balance and perspective in my life; both personally and professionally. In addition, I wanted to contribute to the healing of my chosen profession; nursing. The most treasured gift I have received in teaching this work, has been to learn to let go of old “fix it” models that burn out compassionate health professionals and give them tools that potentate healing in their patients, themselves, and health care as a whole.

Areas of Expertise

I entered the world of nursing when I began my training just out of high school. I continue to be active as a nurse on this my fortieth year in the profession. My predominant clinical expertise has been in critical care, both as staff and manager of a busy Intensive Care Unit.  I left bedside nursing in 1985 when I became Director of Clinical Pathways, while going back to school and developing my holistic nurse practice. In addition to co-directing Beyond Ordinary Nursing and serving as faculty, I have a private practice in stress management, utilizing imagery and energy based therapies, facilitate stress management groups in a local cardiovascular office, and hold a half-time position in a local hospital as a clinical supervisor of guided imagery. Some of my colleagues think my main claim to fame was when I was the nurse for the Club Med in Tahiti!

Credentials

• Registered Nurse since 1964
• Certified in Imagery since 1992.
• Faculty member of the Academy for Guided Imagery since 1992.
• Co-founder and co-director, Beyond Ordinary Nursing since 1996.
• Board Certified Holistic Nurse since 1998
• Past president, Imagery International
• Member of the American Holistic Nurses Association
• Bachelor and Masters Degree in Organizational Development and Human
• Resources. Thesis: The Effect of Holistic Education on Health Locus of Control.
• Supervisory Training in Integrative Medicine and Spirituality

Co-founder, Co-director: SUSAN EZRA, RN, HNC

Personal Statement

I have dedicated my nursing career, of more than 30 years, to assisting people in accessing their own healing abilities. Without advanced degrees, my career has placed me in pioneering positions. And twenty years as a hospice nurse has profoundly shaped my life and beliefs. It has taught me how to truly be a witness to the human experience of living and dying. In private practice, I assist individuals to find their own inner resources and healing images. As an educator, there is a deep desire to share the gift of imagery with others in health care for their personal and professional use. In reflection, I see the key role through out all these developments has been to serve as a guide or facilitator for the act of healing to unfold. I am committed to personal and planetary transformation. As with one, so is with the whole. The ultimate force propelling my life’s work is the feminine principle, rejoining the feminine with the masculine in all aspects of our lives, especially in healthcare. I see it as the moral imperative of our time.

Areas of expertise

• 20 years hospice experience in pain and symptom control, end of life issues and the dying process. Also incorporating imagery and complementary care into the medical model of hospice care.
• Private practice as a holistic nurse, providing stress management and imagery for health promotion and healing, specializing in area of oncology.
• More than 17 years experience in educational leadership, in the holistic health arena.
• Currently serving, with Terry in a full time position at Mills-Peninsula health services, as clinical supervisor in guided imagery, providing imagery services to patients, staff and community.
• Since 1996, co-directing and teaching the Nurses Certificate Program in Imagery through Beyond Ordinary Nursing.

Credentials

• Registered Nurse since 1974
• Certified in Interactive Guided Imagery since 1990
• Faculty member of the Academy for Guided Imagery,1990-1995
• Co-founder, Co-director of Beyond Ordinary Nursing since 1996
• Board Certified Holistic Nurse since 1998
• Member of Imagery International
• Member of the American Holistic Nurses Association

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Jan Maxwell, RN, BA, HNC

Jan is a board certified holistic nurse who's interest in health, healing and wellness spans the past 33 years. She was among the first registered nurses in the country to go into private practice. Jan first began using imagery in her work with private clients in 1981 and completed imagery certification training in 1989.

She became a faculty member of the Academy for Guided Imagery in 1992. She is proud to say that she was one of the developers of the two day training program, "Beyond Ordinary Nursing" that she, Terry and Sue taught before they created the 1996 imagery certification program that exists today. Jan has a deep respect for Terry and Sue and the hard work and effort that they put into their dream of bringing imagery to the world and was proud to help them in their early efforts by teaching for them.

Jan is now following her dream of working part time doing what she loves best -- private practice. She uses imagery and other modalities in helping people create positive changes in their health and well-being.

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Linda Chiofar, RN,MA,HNC

Linda is a Certified Holistic Nurse and core faculty for the Certificate Program in Imagery. Active in holistic nursing since 1982, Linda currently serves as Education Coordinator for the American Holistic Nurses Association. she discovered the healing power of imagery in 1994 as a client and immediately embraced this powerful therapeutic tool. Upon graduation from the first Beyond Ordinary Nursing imagery certificate class, she began teaching Phase I around the country and has been blessed with sharing this work with some incredible nurses and health professionals! Linda has sucessfully used imagery with a variety of client concerns including: symptom management, chronic pain syndromes, relationship issues and stress management.

Kathy Moray RN, HNC, CHTP/I, SEP

Kathy Moray RN, HNC, CHTP/I, SEP is a Holistic nurse, teacher, trauma specialist and speaker. She is on the faculty of Beyond Ordinary Nursing where she teaches imagery and she is an instructor in the Healing Touch Program. She served on the Certification Review Panel for Healing Touch International and she has been a leader in the American Holistic Nurses Association. Her interest in trauma led her to study Somatic Experiencing, a short term, naturalistic approach to the resolution and healing of trauma. She maintains a private practice in holistic nursing.

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Donna Guyot RNP, MFT

Donna M. Guyot, RNP, MFT, has long specialized in the integration of complementary approaches to health and healing with western medicine, nursing, and psychology. a registered nurse practitioner and a licensed marriage family therapist with masters degrees in both areas, Donna has been on the faculty of BON since 1999. as a nurse, Donna worked in critical care, home care, and in primary care as a nurse practitioner. She taught for many years in a graduate nursing program at a major university where she co-created a program that focused on integrating complementary healing in primary care np practice.

Donna has extensive training and experience in energy healing and in the philosphy and practice of indigenous healing. Awed by the power of imagery, Donna incorporates imagery in her private psychotherapy practice in rural northern California as well as in the public and non-profit mental health services where she works with children and adults.

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Ginny Weersing-Ecsery RN, MFT

Ginny Weersing Ecsery is a nurse and marriage and family therapist who has been with the faculty of B.O.N. for five years, teaching Phase I of the Integrative Imagery certification program. She has a background in pediatric intensive care, nursing management, holistic nursing, and Therapeutic Touch. She currently works as a nurse consultant in pediatrics, as well as maintaining a private practice in counseling and integrative imagery.

Ginny has a special interest in working with imagery as a tool for spiritual growth and development, so that spiritual resources can be accessed for dealing with life's challenges and problems. Ginny also finds integrative imagery a creative and effective therapeutic tool in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy, for a wide variety of issues.

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