Complementary Therapies
There is high demand at all centres and in some instances there is a waiting list. Members are entitled to 10 sessions with the therapists; 5 sessions are free and 5 at £5 per session. When the 10 sessions have been completed, the members can continue to see the therapists at a reduced rate. Most avail of all sessions and a significant minority continue with the treatments. Volunteers can have up to 5 sessions per year. Many use this service regularly.
Over 3,000 sessions of complementary therapies are provided across WAVE per year. In many of the centres uptake has been high. In addition therapies have been provided from ten other venues within the community in areas such as: Ballymena; Coalisland; Cookstown; Eglinton; Enniskillen; Greysteel; Irvinestown; Newry; Portadown; and, the Waterside. Approximately 40% of those overall availing of complementary therapies are men.
In addition to the regular centre based sessions, all centres have offered members residential weekends where the emphasis has been on relaxation and well-being. Therapies would be offered over the weekend allowing each member to try as many as they wish. Again there has been a high uptake for these weekends. At a recent weekend at a hotel in Ballycastle with members from the Ballymoney centre, there were 5 therapists working all weekend with all sessions booked out!
Overall, this is a service, which is high demand and is greatly appreciated by all those who use it.
Case Study
Muriel is a young lady in her mid-late twenties. When I first saw Muriel, 3 years ago, she was very tired, lethargic, nervous and ill looking. On her first visit her body language was evident of that of a very emotionally-disturbed young lady. She sat at the edge of her seat, wringing her hands, beating her chest, rubbing her shoulders and both her feet were turned in. She complained of having severe bowel problems, which were present, every morning—with nerves in her stomach. All medical investigations were clear and normal. When she lay on the treatment bed I observed both her feet. Both were dry, rough, rigid and heavy. On the heart reflex of the left foot, an indented ‘cross’ was engraved, indicating total heartache. In all she seemed to be generally having a very rough time.
As I began the reflexology treatment, Muriel began to relax and talk, releasing some ‘pepped up’ emotions held in for 14 years. Muriel’s father was killed, whilst on the course of duty. She was only twelve years old, the eldest of 3 children and totally took on the caring role in the home. Her mother sold the family home to begin a new life—not realising her family were grieving for the loss of their dad. They were never allowed to visit the grave and were never told where it was. It was ‘a totally closed book.’ Family relationships began to break down. Muriel married in her early twenties and has two beautiful children whom she idolises and adores. She then began to have flashbacks of images of her father and her general health began to deteriorate. She became reclusive and lost her confidence in public. Bedtime was 8pm, social life was non existent. In all those years Muriel had never cried. People had told her to ‘keep strong’, ‘don’t let mum see you cry’, ‘look after your wee brother and wee sister—they need you.’
However, that evening the floodgates opened. She was inconsolable. She couldn’t believe she had let go of the emotions. After a full treatment, with visualisation, deep breathing exercises and relaxation exercises, Muriel, although drained, began to feel lighter and although I listened with my limited knowledge, I advised the support of a counsellor and referred her back to the centre.
As a Bach flower remedy practitioner I supported Muriel with a ‘made up’ bottle from the Bach flower range which would be administered daily for three weeks. Ten days after her first treatment Muriel contacted me to say how well she felt, she had made contact with her mother who, only then realised what her family had been going through. Although it took Muriel several treatments before she gained enough confidence to socialise, communicate, shop and go on holidays, her physical symptoms diminished giving her a good quality of life. Muriel still continues to attend for regular Reflexology/Reiki treatments.
