Magnetic therapy A therapy that utilises the body’s natural magnetic energy to promote healing and growth. Magnetism is used to unblock and facilitate energy flow that hinders good health. Magnetic therapy has it’s roots in meridian therapies. Find out more: See Meridian therapies, Chakra balancing, Crystal Healing or contact a practitioner.
Manipulative therapies Manipulative therapy is a generic term for all therapies that involve a degree of physical manipulation to achieve relief from symptoms. Find out more: See Bowen technique, Osteopathy, Chiropractic, any form of Massage Therapy or contact a practitioner.
Massage All forms of massage therapy use the healing power of touch in an informed way to promote health and well being. Some massage techniques use oils as a massage medium which in themselves help nourish the skin and have other benefits linked with aroma therapy and natural healing. The skin is the largest organ of the body and some practitioners use different movements, pressures and petrissage to facilitate relaxation, disperse toxins, stimulate energy, relieve aches and pains, breakdown tensions, knots and tightness, encourage lymphatic drainage and induce a feeling of well being. The skin can bring us back in touch with our earliest memories at a body level and help effect emotional and psychological healing as well as physical. Some forms of massage are site or injury specific and details of these can be found elsewhere on this site. Find out more: See Indian Head Massage, Swedish Body Massage, Remedial Sports Massage, Infant Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Lymphatic drainage or contact a practitioner.
Meditation Meditation has become increasingly popular in western society over the past 30 years. Meditation covers a variety of disciplines most of which are characterized by relaxation and inner focus. Meditation comes from spiritual traditions in both Eastern and Western cultures where the purpose was to achieve spiritual actualisation. There are different types of meditation most of which either bring the mind under voluntary control or conversely open the mind to develop insights, skills and understanding. Meditation compliments most alternative and natural therapies as the techniques can be effective for pain control, relaxation, empowerment and general well being. Find out more: See Zen, Relaxation, Yoga, Tai Chi, Visualisation, Hypnotherapy, Ayruvedic or contact a practitioner.
Meridian therapies A collective term for therapies that utilise the meridians of the body to stimulate the free flow of (qi, chi or ki) energy to promote health. Find out more: See Acupressure, Acupuncture, Auricular Therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique, Kinesiology, Reiki, Tai Chi, Ayruvedic, Zone Therapy, Charka Balancing or contact a practitioner.
Metaphor therapy Metaphors are stories or representations of reality. Traditionally and across cultures, stories and arts have been used as a powerful means of communication for centuries. Metaphors can be a powerful therapeutic tool which encourage learning and healing whilst by-passing resistance. The metaphor communicates directly with the unconscious and this process is utilised within many forms of therapy such as hypnotherapy, NLP, psychotherapy. All creative therapies use metaphor within their various mediums to allow for learning and the resolution of internal conflict. play therapy, art therapy, music therapy, therapeutic story telling, colour therapy, visualisations all use metaphor as a means of expression, exploration and psychological healing. Find out more: See Hypnotherapy, NLP, Play therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Dance Therapy, Colour Therapy, Visualisation Therapy, Psychotherapy, Dream Analysis, Journey Therapy or contact a practitioner.
Movement therapy This refers to movement used as a healing medium to promote health. Dance / movement therapy develops strength within people by encouraging them to discover what they are capable of achieving physically, psychologically and socially. Physically movement therapy is good for motor coordination, body efficiency, fitness, circulation, breathing and releasing stress. Psychologically it helps self expression and expression of emotion such as anger, fear, joy and enhances self control and confidence. Socially many movement therapies can help develop communication, decrease isolation and promote group functioning. Find out more: Dance Therapy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Body Psychotherapy or contact a practitioner.
Music therapy Music therapy is the application of music in all its forms to accomplish therapeutic goals. Music therapy can help address goals and needs associated with motor coordination, cognitive functioning, communication, social and affective areas of functioning. Music is well known to evoke memories, emotion, movement and states of mind. Music therapy can be calming and relaxing as well as a medium for exploring and expressing feelings within a framework that can be either directive or context free. Song writing is a form of music therapy that can be very cathartic. A popular medium in all areas of special education, which can be used in conjunction with other creative therapies. Find out more: See Drama Therapy, Art therapy, Dance therapy, Movement Therapy, Play Therapy or contact a practitioner.
Naturopathy Naturopathy is ‘natures cure’ and the Naturopath aims to find ways to help the body to cure itself. Naturopaths believe that much disease is a manifestation of an unhealthy lifestyle and poor posture. By rescourcing and restoring the body to a naturally healthy state recovery can be achieved. Naturopathy is holistic in that it concentrates on the whole person and encourages healthy living. The power of positive thinking is essential as is the patients active involvement in their own treatment. Interventions may involve, detoxification, diet changes, relaxation, breathing exercises and possibly hydrotherapy or herbal remedies. Find out more: See Homeopathy, Flower Remedies, Herbal Medicine Nutrition or contact a practitioner via the Naturopathy Society for Complimentary Medicine.
Neuro Lingustic Programming NLP NLP is both the art and science of effective communication and individual excellence. Primarily NLP is to do with learning, understanding and making appropriate changes to both our inward communication and our outward communication. When we think negatively this will be reflected in what we believe about ourselves and others and this will effect the way we behave and act. The opposite happens when we have positive thoughts and beliefs. By adjusting the way we think and communicate we can not only enhance our own lives but move towards our potential. NLP was discovered by observing and copying outstanding people in a variety of fields and discovering that we too can replicate these patterns of success. NLP has applications in the fields of counselling, psychotherapy, business, sport and personal development as well as with stress management, solution finding, confidence and esteem building. Find out more: See Counselling, Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy or contact a practitioner.
Nutrition therapy Nutritional therapies concern themselves with nutritional therapeutic remedies. Many therapies explore the concept of balance in different ways and Nutritionists are the same. For example, Nutritionists understand the need to balance key nutrients within the body. They will also be aware of concepts such as deficiency and toxicity which effect the overall state of the individual’s health and functioning. There is a fundamental understanding that our nutritional needs change throughout our lives and from moment to moment depending upon a lot of different factors. The Nutritionist will give advice not only on nutrition but also on lifestyle and dietry changes that could be made to promote good general health. Find out more: Diet Therapies, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Kinesiology, Food Intolerance Testing, Allergy Testing. Ayurvedic.
Occupational therapy A therapy which involves the patient in an activity or occupation which guides them toward clear therapeutic goals. Occupational therapy may be focused upon a particular activity or a range of activities that can facilitate physical, emotional, psychological or social development for the patient. Self confidence and self esteem development is an important element found within occupational therapy interventions. Find out more: Contact a practitioner or local health services.
Osteopathy Osteopathy involves manipulation of the patient’s body in order to realign the vertebrae to relieve pain. If the spine is out of alignment the vertebrae can catch the nerves at their roots. This pressure on the root nerve causes pain in the tissue supplied by that nerve. Pain or discomfort can manifest in any part of the body due to this mis alignment. When it is considered that all but one of the body’s major nerves (below the jaw) come from the spine it is not surprising that much pain can be attributed to a root cause in the spinal column. Therefore pain in the extremities of the body could be ‘referred pain’ caused by pressure on the spine. Once the spine is aligned through osteopathy both local and referred pain is removed. Find out more: See Cranial Osteopathy, Manipulative Therapies or contact a practitioner via the General Osteopathic Council and the British Osteopathic Association.
Past life therapy Issues and illness manifesting today can be attributable to unresolved trauma in a past life. By healing the past the present can be effected in a remarkable way. Some practitioners rationalise that past life therapy is the unconscious working through issues that are too painful to own in this life. In order to achieve resolution the patient needs to dissociate to a past life to resolve the present. Others believe that past life is a genuine phenomenon and as such experience it as an effective form of therapy for them. Past life regression is a psychotherapeutic technique and sometimes used within hypnotherapy. Find out more: See Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy, some forms of Meditation. Journey Therapy or contact a practitioner.
Physiotherapy A therapy which concerns itself with improvements in the physical functioning of the body. Essential to physiotherapy is a positive mental attitude which facilitates the healing process. Physiotherapy often involves the exercise and movement of particular areas of the body that require functioning and development to be addressed. Physiotherapy can involve manipulations by the practitioner as well as exercise routines aimed at regeneration of the afflicted part. Find out more: Contact a practitioner or local health services via Physio First.
Pilates A method of body conditioning that focuses on posture, breathing, flexibility, toning and fitness. Pilates is a form of exercise that involves slow, controlled movements aimed at strengthening muscles. Pilates can be undertaken as part of a group or as an exercise system at home which encourages fitness and relaxation for both body and mind. Find out more: Contact your local sports centre or fitness club or contact a practitioner.
Play therapy This is the use of play to encourage social, psychological and emotional health and development. Particularly good for children who need to express emotion or resolve issues in a healthy way. Play therapy is a particularly good therapeutic medium for children who do not have the verbal skills of expression to communicate their needs and feelings. There are many applications of play therapy particularly within the fields of special education, communication, social learning and trauma work. Play therapy allows expression and exploration using the natural medium of play in a way that is either directed, guided or context free. Find out more: See Drama Therapy, Art therapy, Dance / Movement Therapy, Music Therapy.
Pregnancy massage Massage in pregnancy can help with the healthy development of the baby and with the pregnancy and birth itself. The developing baby picks up the emotional state of the mother throughout pregnancy which means that a relaxed and healthy mother will enhance the healthy development of the foetus. Any therapy that encourages safe relaxation will benefit both the expectant mother and baby by reducing the potentially adverse effects of maternal stress on the unborn child. E.g. aroma therapy, massage, meditation, yoga etc. Find out more: See Massage, Infant Massage, Indian Head Massage, Relaxation, Stress management or contact a practitioner.
Polarity therapy Through systematic routines of exercise, diet, massage, relaxation and manipulation, different parts of the body are brought into balance and harmony to promote health and reduce symptomology. Polarity therapy incorporates learning from Western and Eastern techniques of balancing energy flow in the body. Polarity refers to different parts of the body that have ‘polarity relationships’ similar to those utilised within meridian therapies, acupuncture etc. The system was developed in the USA by Dr Randolph Stone who trained as a Naturopath. Find out more: See Naturopathy, Chakra Balancing, Massage, Relaxation or contact a practitioner.
Psycho drama Psychodrama is a psychotherapeutic technique developed within the Gestalt school of psychotherapy but practiced within the methodology of others. Psychodrama facilitates the resolution of conflict, allows for the exploration of solutions and allows for rehearsal of chosen options. Psychodrama allows for safe experimentation with roles, role reversals and exploration of perspectives and limitations. This can lead to increased self confidence, personal empowerment and healthy psychological development as well as development of self awareness, personal and interpersonal understanding and communication. Find out more: See Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy, Gestalt, Art Therapy, Drama Therapy, Dance Therapy, Movement Therapy, Music Therapy, Play Therapy or contact a practitioner.
Psychology Psychology is a broad term used to describe a ‘scientific’ approach to understanding the brain and behaviour. Most Psychologists undertake extensive training prior to becoming chartered as psychologists with the B.P.S. British Psychological Society. There are numerous branches of psychology which work in a wide variety of settings. Find out more: See Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology or contact a practitioner
Psychotherapy Psychotherapy is a broad term for a range of therapeutic approaches who’s initial founder was Freud. Simply put, this approach assumes that the unconscious part of the mind influences the conscious behaviour and thoughts. Through Psychotherapy these underlying issues in the unconscious mind are examined and addressed. There are over 400 different schools of psychotherapy all of which have different philosophies and models of how best to effect change. If you choose to go to a psychotherapist ask about the type of psychotherapy they practice and what it involves. Common issues to work through in psychotherapy are relationships, trauma and loss, identity, emotional / psychological pain (stress, anxiety, grief etc) and any illness that has a psychological element. Find out more: See CBT, REBT, Gestalt, Hypnotherapy, Counselling or contact a practitioner via the Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling, the National Council of Psychotherapy, the UK Council for Psychotherapy and the UK Register of Counsellors.
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