Therapies Offered
The Bowen Technique 
This is a gentle muscle-release therapy, named after Thomas Ambrose Bowen, an Australian therapist who died in 1982. Although Tom thought of himself as an osteopath, he did not have formal qualifications in this discipline and was not permitted to use the title. It is clear that he was an immensely gifted therapist, with an amazing ability to "read" the body and put right any imbalances within a very short space of time. At the time of his death, he was seeing as many as 13,000 clients per year, rarely seeing anyone more than once or twice. He shared some of his ideas and methods with six other therapists ("Tom's Boys"), and it is from them that we now have several great therapies, based upon Bowen's life work.
The most commonly taught has become known as "The Bowen Technique", which arrived in the UK around 1993 and is now widely practised. It is a gentle form of therapy, based upon "rolling" moves over muscles and soft tissue. These moves encourage the body to balance itself, both from a structural point of view and also in terms of its systems. This makes the treatment effective for all sorts of aches and pains, as well as for dysfunctions of the digestive, respiratory, circulatory and reproductive systems. The therapist usually performs a short series of moves, and will often leave the room several times during the treatment to allow the body to respond and start to make adjustments. Treatments, which are generally performed over light clothing, can last anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour.
Although it is not normally helpful to have other bodywork therapies, such as deep tissue massage, within a few days of having Bowen Technique, many therapists find that the use of some closely-related therapies enhances the beneficial effects of the Bowen.
The Emmett Technique
Such a therapy is the Emmett Technique, brought to the UK in Spring 2007 by its founder, Ross Emmett. Ross is a talented and vastly experienced bodyworker and therapist who also has a great gift for reading the body. His seminars, which have been held all over Australia and New Zealand, as well as in Germany, are offered by invitation only to qualified health practitioners. His technique has been designed to offer fast relief from pain and discomfort, with most clients noticing beneficial effects before the end of their first treatment.
The Emmett therapist uses light pressure on precise points, and in sequences which gently release muscle groups. Practitioners work with subtle body energies as well as with clients' expectations and attitudes to reinforce lasting changes, thus offering a very effective and complete treatment. Emmett can be used alone, or as a way of enhancing the performance of other therapies, making it one of the most versatile and desirable treatments available.
This treatment is usually performed over light clothing and will generally take between 30 and 50 minutes. The practitioner is trained to identify the source of the client's discomfort and gently release the areas which are contributing to the problem. This can often mean a quite dramatic change in balance, flexibility, strength, range of movement, breathing or other functions, depending upon which areas are worked. Practitioners trained in this way are able to tailor their treatments precisely to their clients' needs and to create lasting change.
Click on the video below to see an interview with Ross Emmett, or visit his website www.rossemmett.com.au
Reiki
The name "Reiki" (pronounced ray-kee) is a Japanese word, meaning "Universal Life Energy", which describes a gentle, natural method of healing first discovered by Mikao Usui in the early 20th Century. Widely practised as a therapy all over the world, Reiki addresses "body, mind and spirit", that is to say it can be effective in relieving issues which are physical (pain and discomfort); emotional (stress, anxiety, loss, anger etc.); or spiritual (assisting the client to connect to their "Higher Power", without necessarily being associated with any religion).
Clients will usually be asked to lie, fully clothed, on a bed or treatment couch. The treatment, normally 50-60 minutes, involves the practitioner placing their hands in a series of non-invasive positions on or just above the client's body, allowing the healing energy to flow. The client's body dictates how much energy (known as "chi" in China, or "ki" in Japan) it requires and will direct it to the site of most need. Therefore, although we may think we are "treating" an ingrown toenail, the client's body may instead use the energy to resolve some emotional issue or to assist the blood circulation! Clients may experience warmth or a "tingling" in their bodies as they receive the energy. The experience is peaceful and relaxing, with even deep-seated issues often being gently "dissolved" away.
Auricular Acupuncture
Meaning "acupuncture of the ear". In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the ear, like the foot, has points which can be used to access and treat all of the body's organs and structures. There are several hundred active points on the ear, which can be stimulated using tiny fine acupuncture needles.
One popular way of using this therapy is the NADA five-point protocol, which was developed in the Lincoln Memorial clinic in New York by Dr. Michael Smith. This was originally developed to help people who were withdrawing from drugs, by promoting relaxation and detoxifying the major organs. However, it soon became obvious that many people could benefit from this deep relaxation and cleansing and so it has passed into general use. The needles used are disposable, very fine, and inserted just beneath the skin. Anyone can benefit from treatment, though it may need to be adapted for clients having a few specific conditions (practitioners will check for these). Once the five (or fewer) needles are inserted in each ear, the client will be asked to sit quietly and relax for 20-40 minutes. The treatment most frequently takes place in a small group setting, though individual sessions are possible.
The benefits reported include: deep relaxation, like meditation; reduction of stress or anxiety; reduction of cravings and a general sense of wellbeing which may last for several days. Those having regular sessions are able to maintain these good feelings indefinitely.
Counselling/Emotional Freedom Technique
Sometimes known as the "talking cure", Counselling allows the client to explore their difficulties, their feelings and their place in the world in a safe, non-judgmental setting. There are many different styles of Counselling, which can be used to explore relationships, bereavement, addictive behaviours, depression, sexuality and anything else which is causing stress to the individual. The Person-Centred style was made popular by the work of Carl Rogers, and involves the creation of a "therapeutic relationship" where the client can feel safe to talk about any issues which trouble them.
Sessions are typically 50 minutes long and the client will be encouraged to find their own solutions, using the Counsellor as a sounding-board and working within agreed boundaries of confidentiality, timing and length of contract.
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a very powerful way of helping with unwanted emotional states, such as phobias or fears. It can be used to dissolve negative feelings and issues such as lack of confidence, lack of self-belief, trouble with motivation and many more. It is a simple process which can be taught to clients as a self-help tool, though of course it is possible to study it more deeply and gain professional qualifications elsewhere.
SAD light treatment
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a condition which affects many people to varying degrees during the winter months, when sunshine (and therefore Vitamin D) is scarce. This can lead to a general feeling of malaise in many people, but for some it can be a complete downward slide into depression and inability to motivate themselves. One very effective way of treating this feeling is to spend a short time each day in front of a powerful (10,000lux) light, which simulates our daily "dose" of sunshine. Exposure of around 30 minutes per day at 10,000 lux is recommended, during which time the client sits in a room close to the SAD light, reading, relaxing, chatting, or perhaps doing a puzzle or a crossword. Even if the client cannot commit to daily exposure, having three sessions per week can make a big difference.