I believe life brings us to where we need to be, to whom we need to meet, and to the things we need to experience, at the right time. The universe works in mysterious ways when it comes to that stuff. When I heard about Jennifer Schaefer of The Alternative, I was absolutely lost. I couldn’t make a choice between the options presented before me, and even worse, I didn’t know what I wanted in life. So when the opportunity to meet with a “healer” presented itself, I took it as a sign and jumped at the chance to find some direction, get some answers, and yes, in a way, heal myself. I know what you’re thinking…“A healer? That’s so LA.” Yet, it didn’t feel phony or trendy, in fact, it was one of the realest experiences I’ve had.
After making my way through the winding Hollywood Hills, I arrive in Studio City at Jennifer’s office. She greets me with a hug and a welcoming smile. She’s warm, inviting, and doesn’t possess any of the hippie stereotypes one would expect from a healer. The office vibe is of a chill living room, equipped with cozy chairs, a calming tabletop fountain, and bohemian accents that don’t overwhelm the space. I sit down and Jennifer explains what exactly it is that she does. She starts by reading a client’s energy through hydrogen vibrations. Translation? Hydrogen moves through our bodies twelve times a day in four chambers, each one representing a different sector: the emotional, physical, spiritual, and energetic body. This is how she determines where there is an energy block, aka the problem, which can be either emotional or physical.
After reading my energies, which aren’t that bad apparently (given my circumstance) she tells me, “You’re not yourself, you’re depressed.” I reluctantly nod in agreement. She proceeds to ask, “When did this begin?” and before I have a chance to answer she answers for me, “A month ago.” I whip out the calendar on my phone, and am amazed to find out that a month ago exactly is when my troubles began. I didn’t tell her a thing yet…how could she know? This was just the beginning of Jennifer reading me like a book, and guiding me along the way through chapters I had completely forgotten about, and ones I never knew existed.
Over our next few sessions we discuss everything from my childhood to my career, and of course relationships. In most cases, Jennifer asks me questions and answers them herself—the level of accuracy and understanding blows my mind each time. Together, we set a goal for our sessions: to learn to trust myself, my choices, and develop my intuition. Turns out I should be very good at this, because according to Jennifer I’m an empath and have a natural gift of strong intuition—something I always wanted, but can say with certainty it hasn’t worked too well in the past, as if it’s been broken. This is due to an emotional block, Jennifer explains. Besides helping me deal with the block by reflecting on past memories and letting go of certain grudges, she shows me a game meant to develop my self-trust.
Jennifer hands me a bag filled with Viking symbols. I need to find the one the one that speaks to me…without looking. I choose two symbols, placing one in each hand, all with my eyes shut. I’m supposed to feel which one is meant for me. No easy feat. After a series of deep breaths and some serious concentration, my right palm begins to heat up—that has to be the one. I open my eyes and tell Jennifer that’s my symbol, I can literally feel it. The symbol represents a journey. A fitting choice considering my move, internal journey and approaching European adventure. It’s hard to explain how the whole experience with Jennifer made me feel. It was raw. It was tough—she’s a no BS kind of woman and will tell you what you need to hear, rather than what you want to hear. It was eye opening. And totally worth it.
Jennifer’s clientele—she works with people in London, the Middle East, and even makes her way to Santa Barbara for sessions—come for everything from love troubles to autoimmune diseases. Her treatment options vary from one-on-one sessions to group retreats in Bali and Mexico, catering to a wide range of needs. But most importantly, her reputation speaks for itself, with an incredible success rate and list of clients who become more like friends. Yet, this really is not about the facts, it’s about a feeling that needs to be experienced. I was so blown away by my time with Jennifer that I recommended her to my friends and family, several of which have gone and just like myself, left her office enlightened and pleased with the unexpected results. She truly helped me clear my head, move on from the past, and, embrace my journey. I left for my vacation feeling at peace. The only thing that’s left now is the “breakthrough” Jennifer told me I am going to have while on my trip. I just hope it’s a good one, and that I catch the signs, and follow my intuition.