We've all benefited from a few days of beautiful spring weather which I hope you managed to take advantage of. This past week I’ve been spreading the word about National Complementary Therapy Week, and sharing my development over the past 20 plus years. One of the passions I have for my job is making sure the therapies I use with my clients encompass every part of their needs including their headspace and emotions, our energy levels, not just the body. These tools I share with you can include working with meditation, mindfulness and breathing to calm and/or energise your nervous system to build resilience. I want you to take these amazing results with you from my clinic into your daily life.
There are many misconceptions about Complementary Therapy, some believe it's an alternative therapy which it is not. Alternative therapies are instead of conventional modern healthcare, such as Homeopathy and Naturopathy. Complementary therapies serve as an effective tool to assist people alongside their conventional medical treatment.
My journey as a complementary Therapist started in 1999. After qualifying in anatomy and physiology, I trained in Massage (Swedish), Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Diet and Nutrition. My original intention was to produce aromatherapy blends to sell, although I soon realised it's not as simple as one blend for an ailment, everyone's needs and root causes are different. I also fell in love with massage and spending time with my clients and supporting them to move forward.
After moving to Scotland sixteen years ago after settling into self-employment and family life with our two children established in nursery and primary school, I opened the Therapy Room in Annan. 2013 was a big year for me, I took my knowledge to a whole new level when I began training in NO HANDS Massage. I had absolutely no idea where it would take me. I thought I would just gain some new and interesting techniques. In reality, I got way more. Over time, I progressed all of my therapies into something potent and effective. As well as incredible massage skills, I learned, through lots of practice to encourage my clients to set their own goals and support them to achieve them.
Since building my practice in Annan, and now my kids are growing up, I've been able to focus on training and developing my therapy skills to encompass every part of our needs - our headspace and emotions, our energy levels as well as our body. During the pandemic it became even more important to me to increase the tools I share with you to use at home in your daily life, this includes meditation, mindfulness and breathing skills to build resilience by recognising and calming/energising your nervous system and I continue to do this.
My knowledge and experience also enable me to work with clients with a wide range of health requirements, including pregnancy, anxiety, chronic/persistent pain, trauma, disability and life-limiting conditions. I don't focus on 'fixing' or being an 'expert' but instead enable you to grow in confidence and awareness of your own needs and find ways that work for you.
I used lockdown as an opportunity to progress my training and I am currently in year two of advanced psychotherapy training as a Psychotactile therapist. I now also work with clients to coach and develop communication skills and self-awareness with programmes I have developed with my psychotherapy trainer and supervisor and I continue to work closely with him for support and development. This new chapter also enhances my skills in the complementary therapies I offer within my clinic and continue to support you in your day to day life.
