Mind Clinic Testimonials

Amritpal Juttla - Multiple Sclerosis - Harrow

My name is Amritpal Juttla I’m 30 years old and I live in Harrow.

I was at the gym when the first symptom appeared. I was overcome with fatigue, which progressed to numbness on my face, which radiated to the left side of my body. I was referred to a neurologist and after a number of different tests including an MRI scan it was confirmed that I have multiple sclerosis (MS).

I was offered Beta Interferon treatment, which is supposed to stop the condition from progressing, but as the treatment had no firm results of slowing progression and too many side effects my husband and his family refused to let me have it.

I could not come to terms with my condition and refused to believe I had MS, my in-laws weren’t supportive of my condition and as my MS started to progress I became a wheelchair user.

Four years later I was sent back to live with my mum. My mother and siblings were very supportive. I was immediately on homeopathic treatment, reflexology and massages.

It was in September last year that a relative posted me a cutting from a magazine about a woman who had been receiving private treatment for her multiple sclerosis at The Mind Clinic in London and was now able to walk again.

I thought it was worth a try and I made an appointment at The Mind Clinic and began work with Hratch Ogali.

Hratch spoke to me initially and explained about my condition and how multiple sclerosis works, he asked me to off load all the problems that were bothering me. Everything that he explained to me made sense, was logical and helped me. He taught me a vast number of techniques, which involve breathing, mind work and mental/physical exercise.

A week later, I suddenly had the urge to get up and I miraculously started walking with a frame. My mum was so happy that she cried.

I visit The Mind Clinic as and when I can afford to but it’s worth every penny because from being unable to do anything for myself, I am now regaining my confidence, and getting stronger day-by-day, although I am not walking around normally yet, I am walking around at home with my frame and I can now visit the bathroom unaided. I am following all the instructions that I receive in my sessions at The Mind Clinic and working every day to improve my situation.

Everyone around me tells me how well I look. I’m just so happy that I saw the article and took action. Thanks to Hratch’s positive thinking and my determination to improve my situation I am halting the progression of my condition and getting better.

James Ager – motor neurone disease – London - UK

"The doctors diagnosed me with motor neurone disease in February 2006 and for the next two years I explored alternative therapies, which opened my mind to the world of energy and the power of the mind.

"I do not believe in coincidence and so when I was watching "South Today", a programme I do not usually see, and they featured a paralysed man taking his first steps, having been told he would never have feeling below his waist and would certainly never walk again, I knew I had to investigate.

"The Mind Clinic’s website at that time seemed to focus on two key aspects, the physical body and the mind. Indeed it was the first website or even practitioner I’d come across where positive statements included MND. These three key aspects the mind, physical work and success fitted my criteria.

"On 26^th March 2008 Lynne, my wife, and I went to meet Hratch and were both taken by his forthrightness, commitment, achievements, attitude and humour. His book has to be read several times as each sentence has such depth of meaning. His sessions are not only intriguing, hard work and exhausting, but also highly motivating.

"I have learnt that the key element to Hratch’s teaching is the correlation between emotion and the physical body. I have experienced emotional balance where my symptoms have rested but also imbalance where I have had to work hard to keep my symptoms in check. Perhaps the most important lesson that I learnt was that I choose and control both my emotion and my thought. This helped me to maintain the required balance. For me, this was the most difficult thing to integrate into everyday life.

"Whilst I do not intend to cover the detail of Hratch’s philosophy I will refer to the power of the mind and the information that this contains, as this is where I am seeking to reconnect my mind to my muscle. This we achieve by dedication and determination, which is powered by dynamic breathing and focused exercise.

"I have been seeing Hratch on a weekly basis. If I have been down I came out with my spirit lifted and if I was up I came out higher. I always look forward to my appointment and have remained positive throughout.”

Irene Denipoti – Muscular Dystrophy - Rome – Italy

"When I met Hratch I was at a turning point in my life, I knew I had to find a reason to continue living, my condition was psychologically killing me and Hratch and The Mind Clinic was the last resort for me. But as often happens, it is the very last resort that saves you.

"Hratch is helping me not only to live but also to love my life again. He managed to make me understand that I am valuable and important.

"I have been working for eight months, I cannot say that this has been easy, but every time I was about to stop, Hratch showed me the way through.

"I now feel better physically and psychologically, I now want to live and I want to live big! I respect everything I want for myself and Hratch helped me understand that I can have what I want.

"I do not know what would happen to me if I had not met Hratch. I am a woman now, serene, I love myself and I look into the mirror and I like what I see.

"I know that the road is still long but Hratch showed me the way and he helps me step by step and every time I'm about to fall, every time I feel its too much, or I'm going to let myself down, he saves me and save me again.

"I have always believed in angels and I know now that at this moment in my life he is my angel."

Mrs P.W. Fane - stroke - London - UK

"I had a stroke nearly four years ago and although I learned to walk a little, progress was extremely slow - I felt far from well and very fatigued most of the time. I first visited Mr Ogali at the Mind Clinic just over a year ago and from that time my movement has steadily improved; also my general health and wellbeing have improved fantastically. I sincerely believe his therapy has helped enormously. What a tragedy this help is not available to those suffering who cannot afford to pay and have to rely on the NHS. This treatment is not expensive – there are no drugs involved."

Guy Harris - L1 complete SCI – Hampshire - UK

"I arrived with no energy, fed up with the injury that had happened to me and unable to shake off an increasing depression. My self-esteem and motivation were at rock bottom and despite an innate belief that I would walk again somehow, the belief was not in any way real or relevant to where I was at that point. Immediately, Hratch began to change things. He has taken all my emotional outpourings and told me truths that have transformed my real and imagined problems. He has taken my body and made me work it and work it to get me to see and appreciate tiny changes every day that have enormous significance. Physically and mentally, he has put me firmly back in the here and now and given me real goals to work towards. I am happier and people keep commenting on how well I look. The muscles in my legs have started to feel tension in them and have become less flabby. I feel and control impulses in them to certain instructions, and with the exercises I am noticing my movements increasing and becoming more controlled. The work and the focus have been hard for me to get into, but the more I do, the more I notice, and the more contented and energised I become. It is early days and I know I am right at the beginning. However, there is so much here to learn and benefit from."

Simon Wallis - motor neurone disease – Liverpool - UK

"My name is Simon Wallis. I am 46 years old and was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in May 2005. I decided to do something about it as I will not sit around and wait to die. I decided to see Mind Instructor as I had read the testimonials on their website. As a result of my visits to The Mind Clinic I have found that my speech is greatly improved and at the moment we are working on stopping the flickering in the muscles in my body."

"Using a mixture of breathing, speech and meditation exercises, which are highly effective, I am improving with every visit. If you do suffer with this condition, please do not sit around and accept the inevitable. Get off your arse and do something about it!"

A grateful patient - Switzerland

"I had an operation to remove a brain tumor some time ago and in the process became paralysed down one side of my body. The hospital spent an enormous amount of time and resources trying to improve matters, including physiotherapy. Eventually, they became frustrated and even suggested that I should get used to this way of life. It was at this low point that an angel was sent in the form of Mr Hratch. A relative stumbled across his website and suggested making further enquiries. Thank goodness we listened! Whilst I am somewhat of a pessimist, Hratch soon put me at ease. He is a genuine caring person and it was clear that he had my interests at heart. It soon became apparent that things were changing. The splint on my foot came off within two weeks of seeing Hratch. Whilst I can't say my wheelchair is collecting cobwebs, it certainly gets used far less now. Whereas before I needed assistance to climb stairs, I am now able to do so by myself. I will be the first to admit that not all is plain sailing and as the saying goes, "no pain - no gain". Some exercises can be monotonous and repetitive. However, the goal of achieving independence, and the coach, in the form of Hratch, make it all worth it."

Shuna M. Harwood - wife of stroke sufferer - East Sussex - UK

"I would like to add my voice in support of alternative practitioners being included in the National Health Service framework. In particular, I feel that Hratch Ogali's work should be more widely publicised and encouraged. He does amazing work with the victims of spinal injury and many other such afflictions. My husband, Richard David Fanthorpe, had a severe brain stem stroke four years ago and I was told he would be massively disabled with no hope of recovery. His left side was paralysed, he lost his speech when a trachaeostomy had to be carried out when he was in intensive care; he could not sit up, let alone stand or move when standing, amongst many other disabilities. Since having re-training with Mr. Ogali, once a week since the spring of 2004, my husband can lift his paralysed left leg without help and can walk with the help of his carer. His posture is more upright and there is evidence that his paralysed arm and hand are recovering. Mr Ogali has given him hope in a variety of ways, for which we are immensely grateful. Other people who have been told there is 'no hope' should have a chance of recovery with Hratch's nerve and muscle stimulation and mind instruction sessions. He practises a therapy which must be more widely acknowledged and used."

Jarrod Cunningham - ALS – Auckland - New Zealand

"In June 2002, I was diagnosed with ALS, the most common form of motor neurone disease. In conventional medicine, this illness is seen as always being terminal, even though there are numerous cases of people reversing their symptoms and even spontaneous remission. After my diagnosis, I saw and tried a lot of alternative forms of healing and learned a lot about the human mind, body and soul. Hratch Ogali was instrumental in helping me to believe that through my mind, breathing and meditation, I could use my own energy to heal myself. He was also invaluable at counselling after a terminal diagnosis, and coming to terms with the emotional aspects of such a traumatic event in one's life. I am a huge believer in the power of the mind and breathing, and would recommend Hratch Ogali and The Mind Clinic to anyone seeking improvement through the mind, body, and soul."

Euan MacDonald - motor neurone disease - Scotland – UK

"Having been diagnosed with MND in October 2003, I started seeing Hratch two months later. I developed with him a daily routine of breathing, speech and physical exercises which have helped me to maintain my health and strength. What I particularly enjoy about Hratch's approach is that it covers both the mental and the physical. This has not only benefited my approach to the illness diagnosed but also my approach to life in general. Most importantly I feel better for it - I feel good and am now looking forward to the future."

Justina Overton - back problems – Surrey - UK

"After trying all types of therapy to recover from my back problems, and unnecessary surgery, I felt like I would never have a normal life again. Nothing seemed to work and I couldn't understand why I tired so easily all the time. Half an hour of anything felt as though I'd done ten hours and my life revolved around avoiding pain and fatigue. I feared it so much that I cut myself off from any kind of life and began to fear life itself. It felt like I had a constant flu that wouldn't go away. Since I have been with Hratch he has made me realise that the only thing that can get me out of this is myself. It doesn't help me to believe in therapies or treatment because looking at what I already have mentally and spiritually is the most important thing. At the moment, my mind is the most powerful tool for me and believing in myself has finally started to happen. I didn't drive my car for four years because I was so afraid of hurting my back but I started again a few months ago. I could do it before but was afraid to let myself or even believe that I could. I have been seeing Hratch for nearly six months and I now go once a fortnight. Hratch has helped me to structure my recovery in order to tackle life in a positive way. I am building confidence mentally and physically and things are real again. I have a lot to yet achieve but am well on my way to getting everything back to normal."

Caline Kennard - allergies - London – UK

"After 5 years of trauma and suffering with one problem after another - one of the most troublesome being an allergy to sunlight and heat - I have finally found myself walking away from all of this. One problem led to the next because my emotional, physical, mental and spiritual sides became out of tune. The physical illnesses I developed thereafter were ruining my life. But now Hratch Ogali has helped me turn my life around. He is helping me live without the allergy to sunlight … All that remains is for me to get a golden suntan this summer!"

Colin Rutter - motor neurone disease – Wales - UK

"I was diagnosed in July 2002. Until 2003 I had no hope - I was clutching at straws. I was told to keep in touch with nurses and ring the doctor when I wanted a wheelchair! It took over my life - I had no future. Within a few months of re-training (two hours a week), I was back on my feet, climbing stairs and jogging. I feel alive again."

Kevan Woodhouse – spinal cord injury – Twickenham - UK

"My name is Kevan Woodhouse and in February 2008 I had an accident that left me in a wheelchair, clinically diagnosed as T12 complete. I left hospital in October 2008 having been told I would never walk again. The same month I read on the internet about the recovery programme of Guy Harris, someone who also had been told he would never walk again. I watched amazed as Guy, under the guidance of Hratch Ogali at the Mind Clinic, walked first with a zimmer frame and then with walking sticks with just below knee splints on. Consequently I have been attending the Mind Clinic for a year, twice a week, and I too can walk with a zimmer frame and am on the slow path to recovery. My legs are filling out and physically I am getting stronger due to an exercise programme that includes cycling, weights, standing and kicking exercises. Mentally I am also getting stronger. Being told you will never walk again brings with it a lot of baggage that includes depression and despair. Hratch works me hard, bullies me when he has to, but at the same time supports me, cajoles me, but - most importantly - believes in me. By instructing my mind I am gradually taking control of my body, including my legs, and with Hratch's continued instruction I am sure I will walk again."

Giancarlo Marcaccini – Los Angeles - USA

"My name is Giancarlo Marcaccini. Meeting Hratch was both a coincidence and a blessing. I have no physical ailments - in fact a few years ago I was still a professional athlete. What Hratch has given me are the tools, insight, love and initial push to begin living a fulfilled life, and there is no greater gift on earth. He is a fountain of love, wisdom and energy. He has helped me with mental clarity, focus, physical and mental energy - all the things that have helped me in all aspects of my life. I feel as though he has aligned me with true purpose. I will never understand how Hratch has so much energy to invest so much work and love into all his clients. Very grateful."

Nadine Carbone – head injury - Malta

"14 years ago I was involved in a motor vehicle accident. One of the main injuries I sustained was serious head injury. Over the years I sought help from many specialists but was always told the same thing: "Your head is like a computer, once you drop it, it will never be the same again! You just have to get used to accepting the new you!!" And so it was - my life became dark, scary and very lonely. I became very angry, self-destructive and even suicidal. I couldn't socialise, I couldn't go out to work and I couldn't even look after myself! I suffered from severe anxiety, phobias and irritability. My memory and concentration were severely impaired. My life was at its darkest point and I became a prisoner in my own habit. I was living with a hidden disability and felt alienated from the rest of the world. No one could understand me, or what I was going through."

"In November 2008 I had an appointment with a neuroscientist in the UK but was once again told, "There's not much we know about this part of the brain. The only alternative is antidepressants and tranquillisers. I was once again left feeling distraught and without hope. At this time a very dear friend of mine suggested the Mind Clinic and as I was in the UK decided to make an appointment. I will bless the day I went for the rest of my life. For the first time I was filled with so much hope it felt like I walked out of the clinic dancing on my tiptoes and something inside - perhaps intuition or maybe desperation - told me it was the right thing to do."

"So I decided to book a two-week visit to the Mind Clinic. I must admit I was a bit sceptical that much could be achieved in such a short space of time, taking into consideration that after months of therapy with previous specialists, and medication, there was barely any improvement - but I was wrong. There was an instant change. Within days I was glowing, radiant and full of hope. Through his work, along with his guidance and inspiration, Hratch helped me to embrace life instead of run from it."

"When the two weeks were over I was reluctant to go back as I was scared that I would not cope alone, but once again Hratch filled me with courage that I was going to be able to cope and as long as I worked with the tools he provided me with, then everything was going to be OK. He reassured me that I could call whenever I needed to. I thought to myself, "I'll probably be calling every day", but I was wrong once again. The first time I called was three weeks later to thank Hratch and let him know how well I was doing!"

"Hratch has helped me to know myself, know my purpose and know who I am. But most of all Hratch has brought back into my life the serenity, tranquillity and peace of mind I had been seeking for many years. I am not only a different person; I am a better person and hope that readers who are in similar situations to what I had been through will have the courage to take this step and find the freedom I have found through Hratch's work."

Dhiraj Bathija - OCD - London

"I had been suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder/ Anxiety/Depression for over five years when I finally decided to visit Hratch in September 2009. I call my "condition" OCD/Anxiety/Depression because it really was a mix of the above where the quality of my life was severely affected by unwanted images/thoughts and then time spent worrying about my mental health. There were some days when the images were with me 24/7 and these days were particularly dark – it's as if like the mind was always hyperactive, and I never really felt like I was "in the moment". No matter what I was doing there was always another worry in my head, always a sort of anxiety, that forbid me from enjoying life, from enjoying the moment. Those that are familiar with this feeling will know that it can be the most depressing/alienating feeling, because on paper- everything in your life is just fine, but in your head there's this turmoil: and so you keep questioning yourself – why me, why am I not "normal", why cant I just be light, free and happy like the others? When things really got bad – I finally decided to see Hratch (whose website I just discovered through a random Google search). After an initial consultation – where Hratch was very positive and comforting – we embarked on a weekly schedule of appointments (but just 2 weeks a month as I am out of London the other 2). With a combination of breathing exercises, positive thoughts and comforting-encouraging sessions- I started to get better slowly. Whilst initially I would have my "good days" and "bad days", as I progressed with the sessions the frequency of my "bad days" decreased – they were now fewer and far in between. My sessions with Hratch were always very comforting, very optimistic and always made me feel like I had learnt something about myself, about my mind. I realised I had been living like a "junkie" addicted my to my obsessive/repetitive thought patterns- but over the last 3-4 months I have gone from someone who was constantly suffering to someone who now feels light, and free, and happy!. The transformation has been remarkable – and I feel lighter than I’ve ever felt in years. Its a great feeling, and I now have learnt how to treat myself, my mind and am now in the pursuit of learning more and more about myself. Meeting Hratch has been a boon and I feel so free now – it's an incredible feeling. I'm ever so thankful!"

Alexandra McKenzie Johnston – Back Pain - Yorkshire

"I fell off a horse playing polo and injured my back in 2002. I was airlifted to hospital, where I was told I was just badly bruised and sent home. I was in too much pain to walk for the next 6 weeks, and used a wheelchair, but gradually recovered.

"Over the next five years I had periods of being fine (usually no more than 3 months at a time), and then flare-ups where I would get intense pain in my lower back, and down both of my legs. These flare-ups got worse and worse, and each doctor I saw would MRI scan me, put me on stronger painkillers, and refer me to another doctor.

"There were some changes to about three of the discs in my lower spine, but nothing impinging on the spinal cord, so no need for surgery. Doctors explained my pain as the nerves being in a hypersensitive state, firing pain signals inappropriately. Each flare up seemed worse than the last, and I was struggling to get through Veterinary finals, while being on a cocktail of painkillers that caused me to feel sedated and forgetful.

"I graduated (miraculously), but then did not feel able to start work, as I knew that I would not be a reliable employee and would let any boss down regularly. I watched all my friends go off and start work, and I got more and more miserable with my situation, and my back got worse and worse, I discovered I had become physically dependent on my painkillers and suffered severe withdrawal symptoms when I tried to stop taking them.

"The painkillers make me lose my appetite, and I used that to eat as little as possible. I lost two stone in a few months. I started to get a buzz from not eating, and from losing more weight. I could see myself falling into a downwards spiral, and couldn’t see a way out.

"Then I went to see Hratch.

"He made me address all the aspects of my back pain honestly. He told me to wean myself off the painkillers and then just see what happened. He identified muscles I was never relaxing, and muscles I had stopped using (despite having done five years of physiotherapy), and taught me how to use them properly again. He showed me how to sort out my relationships with my family.

"He taught me breathing techniques to help cope with pain, rather than resorting to painkillers, and taught me how to meditate.

"Above all he reminded me that I had to take responsibility for my own life, and that only I could get myself out of the mess I had got myself into. And then he showed me how to do that.

"What he said was rational, logical, and easy to understand. It took two weeks for me to get off all painkillers, become free from pain, and even to get a job.

"That was nearly two years ago now, and I have remained free from pain ever since then. I go to see him occasionally now, usually when I have got myself into a pickle about something. I have learnt so much about myself, and how to cope when things get rough (as they always do from time to time), and how to enjoy life again. I am now in a much better position to be able to help others, without letting their pain bring me down.

"I have never been one for alternative therapies, coming from a scientific and medical background. I like to have explanations for problems, and logical ways to fix them. Hratch taught me that life is not black and white. I needed to go far further with my explanations and logic, and he gave me a deeper understanding of how the body works, and how to use the power of the mind. I am endlessly grateful to him for teaching me this."

Janie Shaw – Wife of Lon Shaw - TBI – Wales

"My husband Lon suffered a brain injury many years ago. We brought him to The Mind Clinic to see if anything could be improved. Firstly, it is wonderful to see him increasing his vocabulary after barely uttering a word for the last 23 years! He is happier and more motivated to improve further. He looks healthier. I would also say that he is less depressed than he was before. He has even given up alcohol for now, even though he really enjoyed his pint and was partial to Baileys on occasions! I have noticed his right hand is more relaxed and there is an increase in the mobility of his legs. By visiting The Mind Clinic he has been given something to hope for, is more optimistic regarding his future, and believes that he can improve further - I pray that he does."

Dorothy McCuller - hay fever - London - UK

"All my life I have suffered with hay fever and severe hives as well as going through a series of skin tests, injections, daily prescriptions and many chest infections. I began the six-week Mind Clinic course on January 13, 2006, and have been experiencing beneficial changes in many areas of my life, especially my health. In the fourth week I was given instructions to help with my hay fever. I practised the techniques and got excellent results in four days as well as eliminating four medications. I couldn't believe my progress. Many years of suffering and being a prisoner in my own home during the pollen season have gone. Now, I am in control of my condition and can start anew to enjoy the freedom of a healthy respiratory system and go into a brighter, happier future without loading boxes of Kleenex tissue by the bedside. Free at last, free at last for a happier me."

Mr. M A Whalen - C4 paralysis (parent) Wigan – UK

"Our son Robert was born in 1989 and contracted meningitis which led to hydrocephalus, leading to him being shunt dependent. When he was twelve he began experiencing difficulties; he required an operation to free a trapped fourth ventricle. During the operation Robert suffered an infarction of the spinal column, leaving him paralysed from the neck down. After fourteen months in hospital Robert was sent home with no movement except for some slight movement in his upper arm and shoulder. The rest of his body was completely flaccid with no muscle tone at all. A consultant told us that it could take up to two years for him possibly to regain any sensation or movement. Around two years after the operation we were told about Mr Ogali and his success at treating spinally injured patients. There was no other treatment available anywhere for Robert, so we began to take him to Mr Ogali's clinic in March 2004. After two or three appointments Robert began to have feelings of warmth and tingling in his arms and legs. After more re-training Robert was able to pedal his exercise bike for up to an hour, whereas before he used it completely passively. He is developing strength in both arms and recently his physiotherapist detected slight movement in his fingers in both hands. In addition, his overall health has improved, including his chest, skin, bowel and bladder. He has regained more sensation in his arms and legs and we feel he is close to getting real movement in his hands. We feel these continuing improvements made by Robert make travelling to London from the Wigan area every Sunday at 5 am worth while, and will therefore continue to do this as long as we are able to financially. We could only imagine the positive effects possible if the therapy were to become part of the NHS, allowing Robert access to more mind therapy with no financial burden to our family. Having personally spoken to patients and parents of patients at the clinic, I can confirm that all have reported genuine physical improvement. We feel strongly that everyone who needs the therapy should be able to receive it as part of the NHS. As one GP said on the radio quite recently, we are only just beginning to discover the power of the mind in treating medical conditions. So I ask the people who can affect a change of opinion towards this kind of treatment: please open your minds, open your eyes and take a look what is happening at Mr Ogali's clinic."

Ryan Ellis - C6 spinal injury - Barnsley - UK

"In May 2004, whilst on holiday in Tenerife, I broke my neck at C6 level in a swimming accident. I spent six months in Sheffield Spinal Unit and was discharged in October 2004, having been told that I would never walk again, as there was no help for my condition. I refused to believe this and I started seeing Hratch in December 2004 for three hours every fortnight. I have now been visiting him for six months. The first thing that Hratch did was to change my whole outlook on life and my condition and give me a much more positive attitude. Through Hratch I am now involved in an intense programme. Although it has been hard work, it is worth it. I have been getting stronger all the time, and I'm getting sensations I never previously had. The muscle tone in my legs is also back to what it was prior to my injury. Most importantly, I am now looking forward to the future and believe there are no limits to how far I can progress."

"Thank you, Hratch."

Susan Henderson - stroke - Stevenage – UK

"After having a large tumour removed from the right side of my brain in June 2001, I suffered a stroke which affected the left side of my body. I was very depressed and crying all the time. Doctors, physiotherapists and just about everyone told me that I should pull myself together and life in a wheelchair was OK. Not for me! When a friend saw Hratch Ogali on the TV she told me about him and I liked the sound of him. I first met Hratch in January 2005 when I was in a wheelchair and very depressed. I can now walk and I am much happier. It is all about exercise, breathing and focusing. It is hard work, but Hratch is so positive, he has helped me so much. The medical profession offered me no hope of recovery. Everywhere I went they all said that nothing could be done. Hratch was the first person who said I could improve and that is what is happening. Hratch gave me hope and hope is what we all need to have in life."

William Sullivan - OCD - Dublin – Ireland

"I was diagnosed with OCD in 2002 and I went on an exposure and ritual prevention therapy course, but with little relief. My OCD would get worse as time progressed. My life had totally changed for the worse. I stopped playing sports and socialising, and I lived in a state of constant guilt. I was stuck in mind games for most of the day. I lost all confidence in myself. I couldn't even joke around with my friends without feeling that I had hurt or offended someone, so I never expressed my opinion on anything. I would just sit there while everyone else socialised. I started to stay at home more often, until it got to the point that I was getting depressed and frustrated with my life. I've been with Hratch for five sessions so far and I am a totally different person already. I'm back playing football - I play for my college team - I have scored 17 goals in eight games and I'm the top goal scorer. I scored ten goals in two games. I socialise a lot more now and my confidence is a lot better. I no longer have the OCD thoughts and I feel 100%. I can go about my life now without worrying about guilt or shame. My friends and family have told me that I have changed for the better. Hratch has taught me to use my mind to overcome many of my difficulties, which has worked a treat. I am so much more relaxed now, and I feel whole again. I am content with myself for the first time since I can remember."

Ed Pattinson - T12 spinal injury – London – UK

"I broke my back in July 2002 and was told by various doctors and physiotherapists that I was never going to walk again, or get any feeling back below my injury level. As if that wasn't enough, I started suffering from excruciating neuropathic pain that kept me from sleeping, often for days in a row. I started seeing Hratch nearly eight months ago, having had no success in trying to regain movement below my injury level. My muscles had gone and my legs were often stone-cold. I had also been experiencing a lot of anxiety, trying to deal with the trauma of my accident while being desperate to get feeling and movement back below my waist. Ten weeks after I started seeing Hratch I kicked for the first time since my accident – lying on my back with my knees off the end of the couch, kicking my feet up just a few inches…. but what a few inches!! I can now kick my legs out straight from the same position, cycle my physio bike in 4th gear and move all the muscles down to my feet. I am currently working on standing up. Perhaps more important to me, though, is having had lots of sensation return below my injury level, while feeling so much more at ease mentally than before. It’s now very rare that I get a bad case of neuro pain, and even if I do, I've learnt exercises to help me get to sleep. It’s been seriously hard work but wow, is it worth it! Lying in bed and feeling softness below my injury level is amazing."

Lisa Whelan - knee condition - London - UK

"I have been seeing Hratch for seven months and I am a completely different person. Physically, emotionally and mentally, I was walking after the 3rd appointment, and initially worked with Hratch every week for the first few months and now approximately every couple of weeks. It is hard work, but I knew from my first few appointments that if anything was going to make me walk, Hratch was, so I put every bit of energy into working with him to make that happen. There were times when I wanted to give up but my advice to anybody is stick with it. It's like anything in life - if it's worth having you have to work at it and what an amazing feeling it is when you achieve it. I will never understand what happened and I don't question it. All I know is that seven months ago I couldn't walk and now I am walking, working hard at my career, living every minute of every day and appreciating all the amazing simple things in life that we so often ignore and that are so precious. I do not waste my time or energy on self-pity. Things happen sometimes that we can't explain - that's life. If we didn't have the down times the good times wouldn't feel so good. I am now a calm, focused person. My friends say I'm a completely different person but I'm not - I'm the same person, just stronger and wiser for having met Hratch. All I can say is that seven months ago I had no will or reason to live and now I can't wait to live every day, whatever it may bring. Maybe we all do have a guardian angel!!!"

Deiniol Newling - spinal cord injury - South Wales

"I had an accident in July 2002, when I slipped and fell 80 feet down a cliff and broke my back in several places. Every doctor I spoke to in hospital after my accident said the same thing that I would never walk again. I never listened to them and just wanted to get out of hospital so I could concentrate on recovering. After being discharged from hospital, I went to see various physiotherapists but they didn't really offer much hope or help. In October 2003 I heard of Hratch when reading in the newspaper about one of his other cases. I telephoned Hratch and started going to his clinic once a week for two hours. As soon as I saw Hratch, he told me he could help me walk again and offered a lot of positivity. No one in the medical profession had previously offered the slightest bit of hope or encouragement. Although I'm not walking yet I know that with Hratch's help it's only a matter of time because since going to see him I can now pedal an exercise bike for an hour and stand for a short time, and my legs are building up good muscle tone and are returning to the same condition as before my accident."

"I now am very hopeful for the future."

Sabhia Sharif - arthritis - London - UK

"I have suffered from arthritis since the age of twelve. Over the years I have had many flare-ups which would inhibit my walking. I would normally be given steroid injections and have intensive physio so I would be up and walking again. My latest flare-up came around the end of December 2002 and I was in severe pain for many months. The doctors only offered me the option of “total knee replacements”. According to the doctor, there was no other alternative. This was devastating news and I was absolutely gutted. This was because I had convinced myself it would never come to this because somehow I was going to beat this disease. In the past when I would feel down and depressed, this feeling would last a few hours and then I would bounce back, feeling positive and hopeful for the next day. But after the heartbreaking news given to me by my doctor, I hit rock bottom. I just couldn't pick myself up from the depths of despair. Discovering The Mind Clinic has given me hope. Hratch has shown me that I do have the power to control the pain and push myself to do that little bit extra without the fear of more pain. Everything he has taught me, such as the way to think and to be happy, is what I knew deep down already but with all the self-pity I had forgotten it. Although it is not plain sailing - I haven't just got up and walked - Hratch has shown me that I have the physical ability to walk normally and feel very little pain after years of going around in a vicious circle of pain, flare-ups and learning to walk again. I feel that up to a certain point I am in control of the situation, I hope that I have the strength physically and emotionally to incorporate everything Hratch has taught me into everything I do throughout my life."

Claire Woolgar – London - UK

"I can't remember how I discovered The Mind Clinic but I'm glad I did! I had always been looking for ways to make my life work better; I always felt there was 'more'. I had always known I wanted music to be my career and had been working on it for years without getting anywhere. In fact I wasn't achieving anything in any area of my life, just getting more and more frustrated and feeling sad, like I was constantly failing."

"I felt that I had 'tried everything' (people always say that don't they?) but of course nothing worked because I was never exactly sure what it was I was trying to do! "

"What I learn from Hratch is a very practical approach to life which, when you do it, always works. Sometimes it's about the simplest adjustments that you want to dismiss because they're not as dramatic as the 'problem' feels! "

"It's not a 'quick fix'. Hratch teaches you everything you need to know but it's up to you to do it! It takes a lot of hard work, focus and determination but the results are definite and tangible."

"When I write, meditate and listen to my mind and act on what I learn, I feel...happy! And things happen...I've made more progress with music in the last year or so than I ever have. It's always easier to let the future unfold naturally when you know you are doing all you can possibly do in the present."

Zoe Vince - ME - London - UK

"I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I walked a hundred metres to find a taxi without difficulty. I had not been able to remember what it felt like for my legs not to feel like lead, and the change was shocking. My muscles tired easily for the first week, but I improved quickly. Now, a month after that first session, the only physical indications that I have had a serious long-term illness are the very -and increasingly occasional - twitches in my muscles, and the fact that I am not yet as fit as most people my age are. Apart from that, fear that it will return is my biggest obstacle. My whole life has turned around, everything that seemed real and threatening is fading away. I could not have wished for anything more".

Jo Chant - multiple sclerosis – Southampton – UK

"I was diagnosed in 2006 with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis - or this was the label I was given. I was told that no drugs would help me."

"When I told my neurologist about having a fortnightly massage he informed me that in the long run it wouldn't do me any good and it was costing me money. That was the last time I saw him."

"I always felt in my heart that I had got this disease because of emotional trauma I had not dealt with and I knew that if I could just find the right "key" I could get my life back."

"The truth is from a young age I always felt I was looking at my life from outside the window. I saw other people laughing and having fun, loving and living, and I just thought, "That's what other people do, not me." I felt numb inside, switched off, and I believe that is why my body also felt numb and switched off. I was constantly battling with anxiety and always worrying that I would upset people. I was paranoid that they didn't really like me or were laughing at me."

"The symptoms I had were weakness of the leg, bladder and bowel dysfunction, numbness, burning sensations, tingling, and painful spasms in my legs every night. I walked with crutches and needed a mobility scooter to get around a shop. I had stopped going out much as it was too much effort and I was afraid to bump into people I knew."

"In April 2008 I went on holiday and got so bad I couldn't get out of bed or into the bathroom, or off the toilet, one day the only part of me that was moving was my head. This was the day I knew I had to turn it around."

"I was reading lots of books about MS and a friend of mine lent me a book about spinal cord injury. It was in this book that I read about Hratch and knew straight away I had to go see this man! My initial thoughts were that he would be far too busy seeing "important" people! But this meant too much to me to lose out on. I knew I had to go. That was 16th June 2008 and it is now September 2008."

"I left the crutches behind on 16th June and haven't used them since. I feel alive at last, as though I am finally taking part in my life. I am so happy! Instead of negative emotions like anger, fear, frustration and guilt, I am feeling joy, love, peace, freedom. People keep telling me I look different! Oh, and my walking has improved a great deal."

"I am still on my journey with Hratch and the difference is I now know I can beat this thing. I have to do it. But it was being led to Hratch that got me going: he was the man with the key, and for giving me the key I thank him."