Obviously with such deep seated and painful trauma, integrated, skilled and experienced hands would be required, but simplistically, when the client presents ready to heal, the simplest intervention would be a holistic integrated approach to enable a rebalance so that grief can be faced and borne. The task may be to allow that trapped emotional energy its natural grieving passage; to symbolically identify its route through to the outside and eventually to facilitate a method to express and make sense of the loss and trauma. More easily said than done; but if the client is ready, any process of grief and expression would need a compassionate, nurtured seed from which to grow and flourish. It is essentially a philosophy of trust in our own nature, a reinvestment into our true nature, an understanding that after such major trauma, that it may indeed eventually be possible to heal. So in this instance, natural therapies could be useful when properly integrated with counselling and other mind and psychochemical therapies. People are so intricate and diverse that ideally an integrated managed treatment plan could prove to be complementary and effective in stress management. What works for one client may not work at all for another.
Complementary therapies may prove to be supportive in high-level stress. Our lifestyles now tend to be more insular; the support once offered by the extended family is no longer available to many. The positive supportive effect of therapeutic touch begins now to be recognised and integrated body therapies such as aromatherapy massage may be very useful and supportive in this application. An hour of relaxation with an experienced therapist may prove to be very useful indeed.
The Effect
The general effect of reflexology varies, as it will affect the individual in its own peculiar way. Some people will experience a dramatic reaction to the treatment; for some the effect will be slower to establish; for others there may be no visible effect at all. Reflexology may be applied as a short course of treatments with regular ‘top ups’ and it is often possible to ‘measure’ its potential after one or two treatments. Reflexology may be profoundly relaxing. Some clients will enter a profound state of relaxation and it is, at this level I have found, that the healing seems to originate. Following a session the client may be allowed to remain in this semi-conscious condition for some time as they process the results of the treatment. The client may experience a feeling of well-being and invigoration, which may last for some days. Some may experience a healing reaction which may temporarily worsen their symptoms as they begin to deal with presenting issues.The Balance
As with everything on our planet a balance will eventually be made, hopefully in the future complementary medicine will work alongside allopathic medicine with each modality recognising and acknowledging its own limitations and strengths. Hopefully within the next few years complementary therapies will be better represented in progressive primary care centres and specific centres of excellence, not just as a compromise, but as part of a truly holistic planned approach to health and well being. Complementary therapies have a valuable part to play, not only in intervention but as a very useful therapy for ‘wellness’, this may actually also prove to be a financially efficient, viable proposition as the NHS would stand to use less medication and resources. The tide at last seems to be starting to turn, perhaps one day soon we shall hopefully find the right and proper balance.(published with permission in writing from:http://www.rwdreflexology.co.uk)
