REFLEXOLOGY - AN ALTERNATIVE TO COUNSELLING?
As a qualified counsellor I suppose that I should feel indignant about some research results I noted recently suggesting that in 75% of cases, counselling was ineffective. However, that merely backs up my own beliefs and makes it difficult if not impossible to promote that branch of my work as a complementary therapist with any great enthusiasm or integrity. I have pondered long and hard about the reasons for the overall disappointing results of counselling therapy and have reached some conclusions or perhaps I should say, some opinions on the matter. Firstly, one has to look at the quality and attitudes of the counsellors themselves. Whilst there are many excellent professionals in the field, there are many who are in my humble opinion, totally inept. No matter what theory based qualifications you possess, it does not always translate into practical skill and this is no different in other professions or trades. Moving on from that, the work load of many counsellors can be mentally and emotionally draining to the point where they tend to switch off. I remember speaking to someone in the United States who had retired as a Hospital Administrator but was persuaded to return to work part time as a Counsellor which was part of his original skill set. A few months later I asked him how it was going and discovered that he had given up the role saying, “I just got tired of listening to all that shit”. Totally understandable but not a prelude to successful therapy. Before being in danger of ruffling any feathers, let me move on to the patients/clients themselves who I think are the main reason for the high failure rate. Many are pushed into counselling without wanting to or feeling the need to be there. If you don’t go with an open mind, life is difficult for the counsellor and if you go with a totally negative attitude it is virtually impossible. However, I think that the major reason for failure is that often clients do not understand the nature of the service on offer. People tend to consult counsellors looking for advice and to give advice is not the function of counselling. Its function is to help the client move forward, to resolve their own issues and to reach their own conclusions. The counsellor is a facilitator of change and not the font of all wisdom. So, I hear you asking, “what has that all to do with reflexology?” Well a few years ago a client recommended a friend who was keen to try a reflexology treatment. After the treatment, she reported to her friend that she had told me things that she had never mentioned to anybody else and was a little stunned that she had not only divulged such hidden feelings but had done so on her first meeting. “There” said my client, “you not only had reflexology but a free counselling session”. This remark was thought provoking and made me realise that many of my clients used reflexology partly as a counselling session without realising it. Whilst half of my clients will close their eyes and relax, many will want to talk and this is usually about things on their mind, often everyday worries and concerns. However, deeper feelings can surface and be released. I have found reflexology can help release deep seated feelings of grief, guilt and low esteem along with numerous other incidents from the past including in a couple of instances abuse suffered as a child. In one case, a client seemed to be releasing problems from a past life but that is merely an observation made without wishing to enter into a reincarnation debate within this blog. In conclusion, I can honestly say that I have found reflexology to be an interesting and useful alternative to counselling even though people do not come to me with that in mind, it just happens to be a ‘spin off’ benefit of regular sessions.
0 Comments
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN’
Watching the pictures of the floods in the news recently, I kept thinking of words from the Bob Dylan song, “Admit that the waters around you have grown, and accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone”, Of course, Dylan wasn’t singing about the weather although the times certainly seem to changing in terms of our climate. More relevant, perhaps, is that for businesses of all types, the times are always changing and one has to be aware of those changes and try to stay one step ahead. That isn’t always easy. For one thing, the old maxim “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is a powerful one along with “make hay while the sun shines”. If things are going well, we see no need to change and often that stops us preparing for different trading conditions that are looming on the horizon. Another reason that we avoid change, either consciously or sub-consciously is that it is stressful. Stress is the body’s natural reaction to change and to a certain extent is a good thing, giving us the drive and clarity of thought required to deal with new challenges. However, too much stress invariably leads to health problems. In the modern world, we are not good at recognising, accepting or dealing with excess stress and it is possibly the underlying reason why we try and avoid change. In my work as a Complementary Therapist, I regularly deal with issues surrounding change and stress. People’s lives may have been affected by worry or trauma in various degrees or they have just reached a point when they realise that they need to do something about their stress levels. Indeed, it is estimated that between 75% and 80% of visits to a GP are stress related. Regular visits to a therapist such as me can not only reduce stress and improve your health but could save the NHS millions. On a personal note, the times certainly are a changin’ but for me. I have moved from Aberdeenshire to the Forest of Dean leaving all my clients behind and starting again from scratch. However, more words from the Dylan song give me some comfort: “For the loser now will be later to win”. Those words could be applied to many business owners who sometimes have to take one step back to go two steps forward. Have you ever been sent on a course by your employer and thought, “I don’t want to be here”. This happens a lot in First Aid. Think of the situation, you are sat at home watching TV with your partner. All of a sudden you hear a funny noise, you look at your partner and they are struggling for breath, sweating, changing colour, complaining of pain and struggling to talk to you. What do you do? First Aiders know what to do!!! Call 999 and ask for an Ambulance! Give them your location, your partner’s details, tell them what is happening. Don’t hang up the phone!! They will help you through it. Carry out a primary survey, DRSABC D = Danger R = Response S = Shout A = Airway B = Breathing C = Circulation This is also known as Basic Life Support, this can save a loved ones life! Don’t think of first aid as something you have to do because of work. Think how you could save someone close to you. Eight minutes is a long time doing something on your own when you are not sure what your doing. That’s roughly how long it will take an ambulance to get to you. Book a course place today to learn more. Ladies, Are You Wearing The Right Sized Bra?
Use this Valentines as a reminder why its important to get measured. 64% of women are wearing the wrong bra size! This figure is according to a study by Swiss lingerie company Triumph. They found that globally nearly a third of women had never had a proper bra fitting before, and us Brits were among one of the worst countries! If you aren't wearing the correct sized bra it could be putting unnecessary strain on the back, affecting your posture and causing joint and muscle pain. In 2008 the British Chiropractic Association first looked at this issue. A survey was carried out among women who had claimed to have suffered back pain at some point in their life, 47% of the women said that they believed that their breast size was a factor. “Bras are like suspension bridges, you need a well engineered bra so your shoulders don’t take all of the strain and end up doing all of the work; spreading the load is important. Bras that don’t fit will affect the shoulders and chest and may cause back pain as you get older. It is so important to make sure a bra gives you enough support as possible. The message must be to get properly fitted for a bra and replace old ones when they start to lose their supportive properties ”.Tim Hutchful from the British Chiropractic Association In the 2008 survey, 77% of those women who got professionally measured discovered that they had been wearing the wrong sized bra! Use this Valentines date as a reminder to get fitted, it usually costs nothing but could save you a lot! For more help or advice please contact me on 01600 890 282 or visit my website www.shireschiropracticclinic.co.uk Why does aloe matter?
So many products we see today promote the fact that they contain aloe vera. From moisturisers to toilet paper and everything in between; many products boast that they contain this miracle plant, but why does aloe matter? Although aloe vera has been popularised in the UK over the last few years, it has actually been around for several thousand years and has some wonderful nicknames that derive from various cultures, such as 'the burn plant', 'the medicine plant', 'the silent healer' and a great one from Japan is 'isha irazu' which literally means 'no need for a doctor'. Although it looks like a cactus, it is in fact a succulent of the lily family, related to onions, garlic and asparagus. About five aloes have medicinal qualities, but Barbadensis Miller is the most powerful. All aloes originated from Africa and have subsequently spread around the world and thrive in warm countries where they will not be threatened by their main enemy, frost. This is the reason that you don't see them growing here in the UK, except in indoor pots. There are many legends about aloe. It is said that Aristotle advised Alexander the Great to conquer the island of Socotra to secure its aloe harvest for his troops'. Another legend tells us queen Cleopatra used aloe to keep her skin soft and beautiful. While many still consider aloe vera to be a folk remedy, it is important to consider that two-thirds of the world's population is treated with herbs and plant products that are not only effective, but offer benefits that are equal to chemically derived remedies of the western world. In Africa today, people still pack whole aloe leaves around their wounds, and in South America, mothers coat the arms and legs of children to keep the biting insects away. There are many varieties of aloe vera that can be used in products, and they greatly vary. There is a significant difference between aloe vera 'juice' and aloe vera 'gel'. Aloe vera juices are made from the bitter part of the leaf known as aloe latex. There is very little to suggest that this part of the leaf carries any health benefits, but it can be highly laxative. Aloe vera gels, which we produce, are made from the inner leaf, which seems to be the most beneficial part of the plant. This potent inner leaf gel contains over 200 different beneficial compounds, as well as being naturally high in vitamin C. For more information contact me on 07789549566 or aspiretogether@hotmail.co.uk. |
Categories
All
CAP BUSINESS CLUBS BLOG
Archives
December 2018
Visit us on Facebook - We always appreciate any "Likes"
Contact us
T: 01594 723120 M: 07811 981929 Email: Here Office 3 The Main Place Old Station Way Coleford, Glos GL16 8RH |