Did you know that holistic therapies can help with mental health issues? They can help us to process and move through emotional and psychological problems that we are having in conjunction with talking Therapies, or for those who don’t feel that talking to a therapist is for them, as an alternative to that.
The incredible benefits of Holistic Therapies on our mental health have sadly still not been fully recognised, but many more are becoming aware. It won’t be long! Sadly with the pandemic testing many people’s mental wellbeing and triggering new people to experience mental ill health we do need to look at ways to cope, as services were already overstretched for mental health support. And talking therapies aren’t for everyone and do have their limitations at times, as well a s benefits at others.
Treatments can work on a physical or energetic level, which can then help us to shift on a psychological level in a number of ways. A treatment can elevate, ground or balance our energy levels which in turn may help us to gain insight and awareness into issues such as anxiety, depression, anger or grief. They can help to soothe and calm us, particularly in cases where clients have not felt comfort or love as children. The experience of massage is sometimes referred to as therapeutic touch and can be reparative part of someone’s journey. I think of it as a therapeutic hug.
A client came to see me last week suffering from PTSD and grief. She began to relax with a combination of back neck and scalp aromatherapy massage, Angelic Energy Therapy and reflexology. After her treatment she was looking significantly lighter energetically. In the days after, she continued to show significant improvement.
Some clients benefit from the intervention of just one treatment, others from a course of therapy. Regular treatments will speed up the process of moving through our issues. I speak from experience as they help to support me too. My own struggle with mental ill health are why I became interested in holistic therapies.
I had never known what it was like to be truly relaxed. As a child I lived with a permanent knot of anxiety and tension in my stomach. I was hypervigilant, lived in fear, and grief and was in continual flight mode – often with a false smile on my face and fake bravado attitude.
I had many hours of talking Therapies with various counsellors and psychotherapists which helped my awareness greatly, but it is a slow reparative journey when you have childhood trauma. I was also taught relaxation techniques which helped slightly. But it wasn’t until my first massage in my early twenties, that my sister bought for me at Lavender House in Wrexham, that I felt a deep sense of relaxation and calm.
Fast forward some years later to a place where I was able to have regular massage and other holistic therapies. I came to realise that this was a therapeutic process of teaching my body how to relax, first hand as it were. This ‘massage message’ of ‘relax’ to my body’s muscle memory, over time, has allowed me to become more comfortable and relaxed in my body and my own skin. It has meant that I can now be in my body and I know that you will get that if you have had that experience of existing outside of yourself and always looking in to life, rather than joining in with it.
Aromatherapy Massage uses essential oils to soothe and calm the mind and emotions. Indian head massage is particularly nurturing especially for those with maternal issues and anxiety. I’ve been pleasantly surprised on a number of occasions, just how quickly someone who has been experiencing anxiety for weeks, calms with this treatment.
Reflexology which works on the feet, helped to bring out a lot of my old anger to be dealt with. I believe that it also helped to support my body and detoxify quicker when I gave up smoking. It works on physical, as well as mental and emotional levels. It may also help us to move forward when we feel stuck. Energy Therapies such as Reiki, Diamond Energy Therapy or Angelic Energy Therapy can help to bring old issues to the surface to clear the old energy of trauma, so that can be processed and let go of.
That’s just a taster of Therapies for a holistic approach to better mental health. Good nutrition with a focus on gut health , exercise and nurturing relationships, as well as meditation all form part of our jigsaw peace of well-being.
Which treatments should i try?
I suggest to those enquiring about whether Therapies may help them, to try one treatment. If they don’t notice a difference even if it is that they just relax, then try something else or try another therapist. You should notice a slight benefit at least. Giving ourselves that time and space to relax is fundamental to our wellbeing. When we are in better mental spirits, our immune system can benefit too. It’s often said that having a treatment is like a good glass of wine!
I’m in the business of helping you to get better, just as the therapies have helped me to get better. It often makes me smile to hear how supportive clients partners can be. I have clients, who tell me that their partners notice the benefit they get from treatments too and have given them a nudge to come and see me again if their energy levels or mood has dipped again (or even book an appointment for them or given them a gift voucher)
Whilst I appreciate and am happy it works for them, I cannot claim to help everyone nor should any ethical therapist, as we all respond differently. I say to clients you should notice even just a small difference after one treatment if its going to work for you, ie you may enjoy it, feel relaxed or less achy etc. That’s not to say that you only need one treatment, but just a small benefit could indicate that the therapy may benefit you. Otherwise, if it does nothing for you, don’t throw your money at it, try something else or try another therapist, I might not be the right therapist for you. I also say to clients, ‘if it means I don’t see you and you are well, I’d rather not see you` to me this means that hopefully I’ve done my job (but you can still come to see me to relax!)
If you have no other health conditions and are Covid Symptom free you can book in online now https://emmasims.co.uk/online-booking otherwise to discuss treatments and other health conditions you can text or phone me on 07930120516