Trauma & PTSD
Very frightening or distressing events may result in psychological harm. This harm is called trauma, and can affect a person’s ability to cope or function normally.
Everyone’s reaction to potentially traumatic experiences is different. Most people recover well with the help of family and friends, do not experience long-term problems and will not require treatment. For others, treatment from a mental health professional will be required to help them process the experience safely. Some people experience problems directly after the traumatic event or much later.
Seek psychological assistance if the symptoms of the trauma are too distressing, or if they are impairing everyday activities such as work, study, family, and relationships.
Mood Disorders
Anxiety
Anxiety is a natural and usually short-lived reaction to a stressful situation, associated with feelings of worry, nervousness or apprehension.
It typically occurs in new, unfamiliar or challenging situations, where the person might not feel up to the task, or where the outcome is uncertain.
For some people however, anxious thoughts, feelings, or physical symptoms are severe, upsetting, frequent, and interrupt daily life. If this happens it is important to seek help as early as you can.
Depression
Everyone feels sad, moody or low from time to time. Depression, however, is a serious mental health issue where sadness, flat or low mood, or a sense of ‘emptiness’ is prolonged – lasting weeks, months and sometimes years.
Depression isn’t just about ‘feeling down’. It presents with a number of other symptoms and interferes with daily life and relationships. Depression is also relatively common, and usually responds well to treatment.
Clinical Hypnosis
Hypnosis, also referred to as hypnotherapy or hypnotic suggestion, is a trance-like state in which you have heightened focus and concentration. Hypnosis is usually done with the help of a therapist using verbal repetition and mental images. When you’re under hypnosis, you usually feel calm and relaxed, and are more open to suggestions.
Hypnosis can be used to help you gain control over undesired behaviors or to help you cope better with anxiety or pain. It’s important to know that although you’re more open to suggestion during hypnosis, you don’t lose control over your behaviour.
And no, you won’t be asked to pretend you’re a chicken.
Chronic Pain
When you are in pain, you may have feelings of anger, sadness, hopelessness, and despair. Pain can alter your personality, disrupt your sleep, and interfere with your work and relationships. Psychological treatment provides safe, non-drug methods that can treat your pain directly by reducing high levels of physiological stress that often worsen pain. Psychological treatment also helps improve the indirect effect of pain by helping you learn how to cope with the many problems associated with pain.
Psychological treatment often is advised because pain is a good example of a mind-body connection. When the body feels pain, one’s thoughts and emotions are influenced by how much pain is felt. Depression and anxiety make pain worse, yet pain causes depression and anxiety. Stress makes pain worse, yet pain causes stress. Lack of sleep makes pain worse, yet it is very difficult to sleep when you have pain. Psychological treatment can help with managing the effects of pain.
What is Massage Therapy?
Massage therapy is hands on manipulation of the muscles and soft tissues. This helps blood circulation which helps heal damaged muscles after exercising or an injury. Massage Therapists use many a number of different techniques depending on
symptoms and physical condition. Massage Therapists will propose a personalised treatment plan for you based on an initial extensive assessment and health history.
HOW Can Massage Therapy Help Me?
It can help lower stress, ease tension in muscles and make you feel more relaxed. It also has a therapeutic effect on the body and optimises general health and well-being by treating the muscular, nervous and circulatory systems. Massage therapy
can help develop, maintain, and improve physical function as well as relieve or prevent physical dysfunction and/or pain in the body.
Conditions commonly treated using massage therapy in collaboration with naturopathic medicine
- Muscle tension and spasm
- Pregnancy and labour support
- Anxiety and depression
- Asthma and Emphysema
- Back, leg, and neck pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (repetitive strain)
- Chronic Fatigue syndrome
- Dislocations
- Fibromyalgia
- Fractures and edema
- Post-surgical rehabilitation
- Strains and sprains
- Sports injuries
- Stroke
- Stress and stress related conditions
- Temporomandibular Disorders
- Tendinitis
- Whiplash
- Inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and bursitis
- Headaches
- Kyphosis and Scoliosis
- Weight loss (supportive)
- Insomnia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Palliative care
