Complementary Therapy

Therapies can be offered to patients with specialist palliative needs and to those people close to them.

This is a popular service and therefore you may have to wait a short while until you are invited to attend for an assessment.

At your consultation, a therapist will establish with you which treatments would meet your needs and arrange your course of sessions accordingly.

Patients will be offered a course of 6 treatments and carers will be offered a course of 4 treatments.

Complementary therapies can help:

  • You cope with the medical treatments you are undergoing.
  • To reduce symptoms caused by your illness or treatment e.g. constipation, nausea, pain, side effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
  • Develop relevant coping strategies.
  • To relieve anxiety and reduce stress thus promoting relaxation and a feeling of wellbeing.
  • To enhance restful sleep and reduce insomnia.
  • To maintain and improve your body’s natural defence mechanisms.

 

Our therapies

Our team are multi-skilled, experienced professionals who will discuss with you in detail all the therapies you can access and answer any questions or concerns you may have. Below is just a brief description of some of the therapies available:

  • Aromatherapy is a form of complementary therapy that uses volatile plant material, known as essential oils for the purpose of bringing about beneficial changes in a persons’ emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual health.
  • Massage which includes Indian Head Massage, to help relax and revive you. The therapist will decide which techniques to use to best suit your needs.
  • Reflexology involves the physical act of applying light pressure to the feet (and sometimes the hands) with specific thumb, finger and hand techniques. It is based on the principal that the body is mapped in miniature on the feet and hands and that by applying pressure to these areas, it stimulates the organs and systems of the body to bring about a holistic change in the whole body.
  • Reiki (pronounced ray-key and meaning universal energy) is a Japanese system of natural energy work, which promotes all aspects of well-being and aims to bring about a balance within mind, body and spirit.
  • Relaxation Therapy – Relaxation Therapy aims to promote a state of balance and peace. Relaxation techniques include:-
  1. PMR (progressive muscle relaxation) relaxing groups of muscles
  2. Breathing exercises using various tools to aid relaxation and calmness
  3. Guided meditations where you imagine relaxing scenes (sometimes called visualisation) Meditation is also a form of relaxation, which has been used in eastern cultures for thousands of years to help people to achieve a sense of calm, improve concentration and relax.

 

If you wish to access complementary therapies, please speak to your hospice key worker, your GP or your District Nurse to establish if you would benefit from treatment and, if appropriate, they will be able to refer you.