Patrick Suglia, currently of Hamburg, grew up in the Millmont area of Reading and attended what is now Berks Catholic High School. His parents struggled with the fact that Suglia had serious social difficulties including forming and retaining friendships, but always excelled in academics.
As an adult, Suglia continued to have relationship problems, eventually seeking marriage counseling to help understand why he and his wife had issues with communication. It was at this point in 2008 that the marriage counselor guided Suglia toward testing for autism.
He was diagnosed in his forties with a high functioning form of autism. Suglia attended support groups at the Autism Society of Minnesota during his residence there, and through this support stated that, “I had more confidence in myself, saying this is what the challenge is.”
After trying job after job in the medical field, with positions ranging from working as an ambulance attendant to a respiratory therapist, Suglia said that he “got the bug in me that I could do better.”
After receiving extensive therapeutic help himself through chiropractic treatment, Suglia enrolled in Life University in Atlanta to become a chiropractor. Although Suglia still felt the effects of his autism, he learned that he “was a natural” with chiropractic.
“I was intuitively there”, he explained.
During this time Suglia also studied Reiki, another holistic healing practice which deals in the movement of energy through the body, and has continued practicing Reiki for 17 years. Per Suglia, Reiki is used for physical healing, relieving stress, and enhancing spirituality.
Suglia described the effects of Reiki on his clients as providing “more of a changing in the inside; emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.” He also uses techniques such as Shiatsu, which consists of moving muscles to realign body structure, as well as trigger point therapy.
Suglia currently provides both office-based or mobile holistic therapy. Taking his treatments on the road allows him to help people at their places of employment, at special events, at health facilities, or any other requested location. Suglia also provides seminars on health and wellness, spirituality, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
As the author of the book, “The Doctor is In. My Success at the Crossroads of Autism and Spirituality” and a contributor to the book, “Been There, Done That. Try This,” a guide to life on earth for people with high functioning autism, Suglia wants people to know that autistic people are not violent. They are frustrated because of their difficulty with communication. Suglia suggests that their families and educators seek out ways to help them communicate, such as typing, drawing, or even using pet therapies.
As someone diagnosed with autism, Suglia spoke from first hand experience with advice for parents of children on that spectrum. He asks that parents “don’t give up. Understand. Expose them to situations that build their strengths. Don’t force weaknesses… Don’t try to change who they are. Accept them.”
For more information about seminars or holistic healing services, contact Patrick Suglia at 484-665-2303, or email to DrPVSuglia@gmail.com.
