When we started our new project, we did not have any clear expectations. However, after a while, we got strongly attached to clients and therapists. We paid special attention to the visual and human meaning of those healing hands and, to the casual, sometimes cozy environment of their practice. Their facilities offered a sharp contrast with the neutral, glassy surfaces of the Academic Medical Center of Amsterdam, where we had developed our first project. We also aimed at showing what the other side of the traditional health care offered, though we did not intend to provide a complete range of alternative health practices in the Netherlands. After a year and a half we realized our pictures made up a rich and varied reflection of that sphere. It was hard work to sort out the prints for our collection. We eventually chose the most touching and poignant ones. Pictures of any alternative therapy do not always reflect their social or historical background. That’s why we thought of adjoining texts to help the viewer understand them.

We could certainly say our final selection shows evidence we were just spectators of that close relationship therapists build with their patients, and that is the hallmark of alternative therapies.

We are grateful both to therapists and clients for their tolerance and patience. It certainly helped us break into their world. In fact, thanks to their patience and tolerance our new book has been published. We must also acknowledge Paul van Dijk’s help; he explained what was going on in the room and guided us through this wide world of alternative health care.

We are now back in our private world. That is what our life is about.”

Henny Alis and Horacio Sormani