Complementary Therapies

The Creative Living Centre has complementary therapies because they can be a very effective way of improving mental and physical health, they stimulate our body's natural healing abilities and help our various vital systems it to function more to their natural best.

People have found them to be effective when other forms of treatment have had none or only limited success.

They stimulate natural healing and people do not experience the type of side effects as with medication.The Creative Living Centre values complementary therapies so highly we want them to be available to anyone who chooses them (on the whole, they are not available on the NHS so many people find the cost beyond their means).

Acupuncture

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is one of the main components of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a system of medicine used for thousands of years in the effective treatment illnesses of all kinds. It aim is to treat the person as a whole, restoring health to mind and body, not only reliving symptoms of illness, but improving general wellbeing and vitality.

How does it work? Acupuncture activates natural healing by the insertion of fine needles into specific points, located along energy pathways ( called meridians), thereby strengthening and improving the quality of the bodies vital energy (called Qi). What can I expect from treatment? There may be some mild sensation when the needle is indexed, this is momentary and most people find the treatment itself very relaxing.

The initial consultation and treatment takes about 1 hour, subsequent treatments take about 45 minutes. Some people may feel some improvement after the first treatment, however the effect is also accumulative, and improvements happen over a period of time. Between 5 and 10 treatments in total are recommended, one a week to begin with, then, as treatment progresses the sessions are spread out to fortnightly and monthly.

What can it help?

Acupuncture is proven to help alleviate a wide range of conditions, for example, digestive complaints, including IBS, indigestion, nausea.*Migraine, headaches, dizziness.*Emotional complaints, such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks, mood swings, post traumatic shock. Respiratory complaints, such as asthma, hay fever, sinusitis. Back and joint problems, including sciatica, arthritis. Acupuncture can also help with complaints that seem not to have a clear diagnoses or cause.

The therapist

Abbie is a member of The British Acupuncture Council. She has been an acupuncturist since graduating from the College of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture in 1992.

Aromatherapy

What is Aromatherapy?

This uses pure essential oils derived from plants to help heal many conditions, The oils are mixed in a carrier oil for massage. This may be used for specific treatments on particular areas of the body, or on the whole body if total relaxation is needed. The oils can also be mixed into creams and lotions to smooth on to the affected areas. They can be added to baths! inhaled or used in room burners.

How does it work?

The oils enter the body through the skin, the lungs or the nose. As the oil is pressed into the skin through massage it enters into the blood stream and circulates round the body. The constituents which aid healing, just like drugs can then work on the particular part of the body which requires the action. If the aroma is inhaled it passes into the lungs and then into the blood stream via the heart, affecting the body again.

What can I expect from the treatment?

The therapist will find out what particular condition needs to be treated and will then select oils to mix into a vegetable oil base. The client lies down, having taken of all except underwear and is covered with a towel. The therapist massages the oils gently into the legs, arms, back and shoulders, neck and face. Most people find it very relaxing though some tight muscles may be felt to be sore.

What it may help:
The conditions helped include breathing problems, asthma, colds and coughs, skin problems, rheumatism and arthritis, aching joints, digestive problems, anxiety and stress. It is particularly useful for those in emotional or mental distress as the oils can have a flaming and grounding effect and often result in a better night's sleep.

The therapist

Barbara trained as a massage therapist and aromatherapist after 25 years in education. She works in a private practice as well as the CLC and has a particular interest in supporting people in emotional distress and those with disabilities.

Counselling

How can it help?

Counsellors at the CLC are trained to deal with a range of different issues that people face in their lives. The CLC provides a confidential space for you to talk through your feelings and emotions.Counselling can assist individual clients to come to terms with their situation, enabling them to seek their own solutions to their problems.

Here at the CLC we offer support to anyone seeking help, irrespective of race, gender, class or creed. Our service is professionally structured and adhering at all times to The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy ( BACP ) Standards, Ethics, and Code of Practice.

Counselling at the CLC can help you with a range of issues including; Depression, Panic Attacks, Anxiety, Stress, Bereavement and many others.

For further information please contact us by telephone or through our website via our enquiry form.

Massage

What is Massage?

The therapist uses hands, fingers, palms and sometimes arms to work into the muscles and soft tissue of the body. It is usually done with oil to soften the skin and ease movement though it can be done creams or dry. It can include stroking, tapping, kneading and firm finger pressure into the muscles. How does it work? The therapist uses hands to work directly on the body on particular muscles to help them relax and stretch easing pain and tension. The movements which may be gentle or penetrate deeper into the muscle relax the muscles, increase circulation, soothe nerves and increase lymphatic flow. The repetitive movements may also induce deep relaxation What can I expect from the treatment? Massage is done lying down on a couch undressed to underclothes but covered with a towel. It may be done clothed and seated depending on the condition and needs of the recipient. A few questions will be asked about your health and general condition to find out what needs to be worked on and if there are any reasons why massage would not be good. The therapist then works the legs, back shoulders and neck before turning over and repeating the massage on the front of the body with a grater focus on the neck and shoulders. The stomach maybe massaged if that is acceptable and also the fact.

What it may help: The main conditions it benefits are shoulders backache, and muscle strains in legs, knees, fingers, wrists, arms, shoulders and necks. It may relieve arthritis, some spinal problems, digestive difficulties and headaches. Relaxing massage can reduce the effect of heart problems and high blood pressure, circulation difficulties, some breathing problems and can significantly relieve stress.

Reflexology

What is Reflexology?

Reflexology is a therapeutic foot massage, where gently pressure is applied to specific reflex points of the foot. These points correspond to all the various pad of the body, thereby allowing the whole person to be treated, The feet can reveal a lot about us, our health and our emotions. They constantly change in texture and appearance, often reflection our life experiences How does it work? By applying gently pressure to certain points on the feet, imbalances are detected and blockages released. When the reflexes on the feet are stimulated, there is connection to the corresponding pad of the body via the nervous system and energy pathways. This helps to restore balance and a free flow of energy to the body What can I expect from the treatment? On your first visit you will be asked some questions about you and your health. You also have the opportunity to ask questions about reflexology. The therapist then begins to work on your feet. The treatment is both relaxing and therapeutic, with some tender areas on the feet reflecting imbalances within the body. The session usually lasts about 50 minutes. Each person responds differently to the treatment! some feel calm and relaxed, others energized. It is a very personal experience.

Why it may help :
Reflexology can help improve many conditions bringing about relaxation, encouraging harmony and balance. It is suitable for stress related problems, sleeplessness, digestive disorders, back pain, anxiety and many more.

Reiki

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a natural healing energy, working on all levels and promotes the body's self-healing. Reiki is a non-invasive therapy encouraging harmony and balance How does it work? The Recipient is fully clothed, lying down, although this can be done sitting on a chair. There is no manipulation, no intervention by practitioner as the recipient's body draws as much energy through the practitioners hands as is needed, in whatever way it is needed at the time.
What can I expect from the treatment?

Reiki may be experienced as a flow of energy, warmth, coolness, tingling, other sensations or nothing at all.

What it may help:

Reiki is excellent for relieving stress due to its deeply relaxing and calming effect. When stress is relieved this in itself can bring relief from many conditions e.g. high blood pressure, IBS, pain, trauma and bereavement. Because it works on the whole being and encourages change it can strengthen the resolve of the recipient.