Judy Leighton
In 1984-85, Judy Leighton gradually became unable to walk, drive, write,
or play the piano because of debilitating physical
pain of a mixed connective tissue-autoimmune disease with no known cure.
One evening, before falling asleep, she prayed, asking, “What is missing?”
In the middle of the night
she was awakened with the answer. Judy put this
answer together with other ideas she had and developed
a new stress-reduction method in 1985 — the Sunshine Method.
Judy developed a relaxation exercise which she did every two hours throughout the day.
Unexpectedly, she was able to free herself from horrifying flashbacks of fear
and pain she had suffered well over thirty years.
She was free of the past fear and pain from her flashbacks in ten days
and surprisingly was in remission from her illness after two more weeks.
Because the Sunshine Method addresses many elements
in similar time, this might aid you to more quickly recognize
and release yourself from many interwoven mental and emotional traps —
those “binds” that may have kept you stuck in inner and outer conflicts.
This method may also aid you in more quickly accepting
you are valuable (healthy self-worth)
and might also assist you to more rapidly release and remove
fear, pain, and guilt, etc. from your memories.
Then you may more easily feel greater peace.
Later, she developed worksheets to aid
in the process (one mentioned below).
As a guest consultant, Judy has demonstrated the method
at medical centers. Through her former non-profit foundation,
she presented weekly public seminars
at a psychiatric hospital, at churches and senior centers.
She also has conducted private sessions.
Dr. David A. Baron, psychiatrist, MSEd, DO, DLFAPA, DFACN,
made it possible for Judy to be a guest consultant in medical
treatment centers. From 1987-2017, he gave continuous support
as a consultant. He also wrote the
introductions for two inaugural editions of
Judy Leighton’s books, A Path to Light – 2000,
Whispers in the Wilderness – 2002 and 2017
(Due to timing issues, the 2017 revision of A Path to Light does
not include an introduction by Dr. Baron).
Dr. Baron was medical director and psychiatrist-in-chief
of Kirkbride Center in Philadelphia, PA; and chief of psychiatry,
Keck Hospital, USC, Los Angeles.
Also, Dr. Baron was professor, Department of Psychiatry,
and assistant dean, International Relations,
Keck School of Medicine at USC, Los Angeles.
In 2018, Dr. Baron did a Fulbright, and left USC
to become Provost of Western University, Ca in 2019.
Then he stepped down to become a tenured professor
and run a Center.
In 2023, he was made a research Professor
at Claremont Graduate University, Ca.
A wide variety of young people
and adults have benefited from using Judy’s method
for pain and stress relief (those with cancer,
various other chronic diseases, abuse, panic attacks, eating disorders,
addictions, learning disabilities and those who have
attempted suicide). The method also benefits those with the
problems and stresses of everyday life and may also benefit
those who have just been charging their way through life.
The Sunshine Method is easy to apply. It also includes
using a Self-worth Exercise worksheet that might aid you
to more quickly see and release many mental and emotional traps.
The method also includes silently repeating
patterns of connected thoughts and feelings
which may address and resolve many issues quickly.
This might assist you in feeling safe enough to think more clearly
in order to make many more healthy and wise choices
and follow through with them. After receiving feedback from
trusted, reliable family, friends and professionals, you
may feel more comfortable with your choices.
The messages and worksheets with instructions of this Sunshine Method
are in the appendices of her three books.
Judy’s first book is A Path to Light:
How to Not Not Make Healthy Choices in 2000 (revised in 2017),
followed by Whispers in the Wilderness: Finding Treasures of the Heart
in 2002 (edited in 2017). Her third book, Journey into Light:
Experience the Sunshine Method, was published in 2017.
In April 1989, Judy Leighton fulfilled her dream
of performing as solo pianist with a symphony orchestra and choirs.
Here she receives applause after performing a benefit concert
with the Los Angeles Doctors Symphony (conducted by Joel Lish)
and five interfaith choirs, performing Beethoven’s “Choral Fantasy.”