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1:1 Therapies

 

 

Our ethos and beliefs are based around holistic support, and focus on your mind, body and spirit, to ensure that you feel part of our supportive community.

All our support is designed to help you manage the effects that your hospital treatments have had, both physically and psychologically, and each 1 : 1 therapy is able to specifically help with these challenges.

 

We will suggest a support programme, tailored specially to your needs, to help you to feel and be the best that you can.

 

 

Every new visitor is encouraged to arrange an appointment with one of our client advocates, who all have experience of working with people who have been affected by cancer, whilst some have experienced a diagnosis too.

At this welcome assessment you can find out more about the complementary sessions available, our group activities and the support that we offer. Equally, we can understand your needs and concerns, and will tailor our suggestions and support to best complement them.

Conventional cancer treatments affect people in many different ways. Anxiety, disruption of sleep, fatigue, pain, sickness, mobility and hormonal issues are all common side effects, whilst some people experience more specific problems. Carers often experience some of these side effects too, and our 1:1 therapy sessions will help with all of these.

Our client advocates will help you to identify the two primary things that are affecting you the most, and will recommend the therapies or groups which will assist these the most.

We will work together to develop your personal support plan, which will include a number of one-to-one therapeutic sessions, along with access to a wide range of group activities and supportive workshops.

Wherever you are in your treatment journey, our aim is to ensure that you will be the best you can be today, tomorrow and moving forward, wherever you are in your journey.

Once your initial complimentary support session have been completed, we will be able to continue to support you and will suggest a donation towards ongoing assessments, therapies and group sessions to help cover costs.

Our Therapies

Acupuncture

Originating from the Latin ‘Acu’ – Needle; Literally meaning to puncture with a needle. Despite sounding aggressive it is far gentler in practice!!

It is based on the existence of 12 meridian lines of energy (Qi – pronounced “chee”) which flow around the body both internally and externally. When this energy is disrupted then illness results.

The insertion of fine needles along specific points of these channels frees up or strengthens the energy thus allowing the body to rebalance and return to good health. Auricular acupuncture is also available.

Bra Fitting

Appointments are available 2 Friday mornings a month. To schedule an appointment, please give us a call at 0121 378 6295, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday before 2pm. Our amazing expert, Alison, leads the bra fitting service, which is generously funded by Breast Friends Sutton Coldfield and Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer. With 17 years of qualified bra fitting experience and 5 years of Prosthesis fitting knowledge, Alison is the expert for your post-surgery bras. Alison’s passion for helping breast cancer patients has made a huge difference to our clients. A properly fitted specialist post-surgery bra is absolutely crucial, as an ill-fitting bra can affect the size, weight, and shape of your Prosthesis. Alison is known for her warm and welcoming approach, ensuring everyone feels comfortable during the fitting process.

Aroma Rainbow

Available as an aromatherapy, AromaRainbow is a simple yet powerful self-help therapy that combines all our sensory systems together to create the reality of our choice. The use of beautiful colours and exquisite aromas trigger vibrations of empowerment, self-confidence and joy. It offers an easy-to-use system of help, support and coping strategies for stress, ill-health, fears and anxieties.

AromaRainbow can be used discreetly by anyone, any time, anywhere to help bring about change and personal transformation. (www.aromarainbow.com)

Scar Tissue Release

Scar Tissue Release Therapy is a gentle and effective technique used to decrease discomfort, fascial adhesions, dark coloring or congestion of scar tissue. Can also combine scar tissue session with a custom massage. Scar Tissue Release Therapy is a gentle yet effective modality.

Many issues may arise as a result of scars, either from surgery or other trauma, such as numbness, restriction, and pain, as well as emotional issues – fear, trauma, anxiety, grief or anger.  It aims to improve blood flow, lymphatic drainage, energy flow and nerve function in and around the scar tissue,and practitioners have seen many cases where there has been a release of emotions and improved range of movement, with feeling also restored to the area.

Auricular Acupuncture

Auricular (ear) acupuncture is a specialised complementary therapy that enables the body to restore its natural energy balance and improve general well being.The aim of auricular acupuncture as a treatment method is to reduce stress and anxiety and help alleviate the sensations of withdrawal and craving; this is done through the insertion of small needles in specific points on the outer ear.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a highly relaxed and peaceful state (almost a daydream state) where positive suggestions can be placed directly into the sub-conscious mind for your benefit. In this state you are in complete control and can choose to stay in this state or bring yourself to being full aware at any time.

Counselling

allows you to talk through your feelings about situations in your life which may be causing you stress or anxiety. It will enable you to make positive changes in your life. The counsellor does not usually advise but helps you to identify the changes you want for yourself.

Aromatherapy

This therapy is about the controlled use of essential oils to maintain and/or improve the health of mind, body and spirit. Massage is the most effective way of receiving essentials oils.

It combines the relaxing aspects of massage with the aromatic scent of the oils which, when absorbed through the skin, relax muscles, enhance circulation, reduce pain perception, help eliminate toxins and give that ‘feel good’ factor.

Manicures and Pedicures – So Sorry Currently not available

We’re pleased to offer medical-grade manicures and pedicures for our registered clients . Not just a pampering treat (Although they are!), but an important part of self-care during and after cancer treatment.

🗓 Appointments are available on Thursday mornings
📍 Here at the Centre
📞 Please contact us on 0300 012 0245 to book an appointment

Manicures are £10 and pedicures are £20.

Enjoy smooth, refreshed hands or feet with this expert treatment:

🔹 Exfoliation and mask for deep hydration
🔹 Nail and cuticle care for a polished finish
🔹 Warm soak to boost circulation
🔹 Relaxing massage with expert hand/foot care advice

Chemotherapy can have a big impact on your nails, just like hair, they’re made of keratin, and can become dry, discoloured, split or even fall off. That’s why proper care is so important, and our professional, medical grade treatments can really help to protect and restore your nails.

Prehabilitation

What is Prehabilitation?  Prehabilitation (sometimes called prehab) is about preparing your body and mind for cancer treatment. Making some changes before you start any treatment for cancer can help you to feel stronger during treatment, support your recovery and improve your overall wellbeing.  

Prehabilitation usually focuses on three key areas:
→ Physical activity – improving your fitness and building strength
→ Nutrition – eating well to support your body
→ Emotional wellbeing – managing stress and supporting your mental health

That is why you will be offered 2 Prehabilitation appointments and one Nutrition  appointment when you first join us. We would encourage you to take these appointments as they can help make a real difference as you begin your hospital treatments. 

We offer a range of complementary therapies and support services that can help in all three areas – from gentle exercise groups and relaxation therapies, to nutrition guidance and emotional support.

It’s best to start prehabilitation as soon as you can after diagnosis, so if you’ve recently been diagnosed, please do get in touch with us, but can be equally helpful if you have already started or even finished hospital treatment .

Everything we do is built around our Four Pillars of Support: Mind, Body, Spirit, and Community. These pillars reflect the holistic approach we take in supporting anyone affected by cancer.

Client feedback from these appointments has been brilliant 

“I never thought I needed help with my emotions, but the session with Roy was amazing and extremely helpful.  I am using the breathing techniques all the time to help me to relax.”

“I have a lovely family who are supporting me, but it was so good to speak to someone outside of them to say what I needed to say and learn ways I can help me to stay calm “

Creative Visualisation

Of all the “New Age” techniques for manifesting our dreams, creative visualisation is perhaps the best known – and unfortunately it is also the most misunderstood.

The West began to embrace “visualisation” as a powerful technique when Russian athletes used it to train for the Olympic Games in the 80s.

Athletes that spent 25% of their time on physical training and 75% of their time mentally training performed better than those who spent all of their time exclusively on physical training. To this day, most of the best athletes employ creative visualization as a central part of their training program.

However, effective visualizationrequires 3 very specific components:

1. Detail

The most common complaint I hear from people is that they can’t “see” – or create a clear enough picture. They close their eyes and maybe all they see are colours, or even just a “blank screen.”

The key here is to use all five senses – not just sight.

If you can’t see your new job – can you hear it? Imagine a conversation you may have with a colleague or superior. A very detailed conversation where you are expressing yourself to others with extreme confidence and competence.

Can you smell your new job? Perhaps your desk is near the coffee maker. Now the conversation you have imagined has smell attached to it.

Can you touch your new job? Maybe you can feel the warmth of the coffee cup in yours hands as you talk to your colleagues.

2. Consistency

Think of visualisation as preparing for a live performance.

Actors, directors, and technical staff do not leave rehearsing to chance – there is a formal schedule put into place.

At first, rehearsals are scheduled quite frequently and the performances are usually pretty choppy. People forget their lines, actors have not completely embraced their characters, and props are missing. But, with frequent rehearsal, performances begin to improve.

Eventually, scheduled, consistent, and frequent rehearsals result in performances where the actors completely forget they are on stage and become the play.

Just like in the performing arts, the power of visualization is truly realized when it is performed in a scheduled, consistent, and frequent manner.

3. Belief

“To be it, you must believe it.” This statement is true on more levels than you might realize.

Psychologists call this the “self-fulfilling prophecy.”

It has been observed that whatever one believes about themselves or their circumstances, impacts their behaviour, which then impacts the result – often causing the initial belief to become true.

For example, if you believe you will flunk a test, it is likely that your study habits will be negatively impacted, reducing the amount of material you remember. The result? You are not your best on the day of the test and the original belief becomes reality.

However, visualization techniques can help change negative self-fulfilling prophecies into positive ones.

Emotional Freedom Technique

Emotional Freedom Technique teaches us to deal with emotional blocks in our energetic body. Energy points are stimulated by tapping over meridians in a systematic process using the fingertips. The client works with the practitioner to identify the blockages, which are experienced as negative feelings or emotions such as stress, anger fear, guilt. Through a series of tapping movements, energy body stress is released, enabling the client to become calmer and start to enjoy the good feeling that comes about naturally. The increased flow of energy gives the client confidence to do what he/she wants to do and be more in control of life. EFT sessions last one hour and reviews are scheduled to ascertain and maintain progress.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is offered at the Cancer Support Centre and can treat patients on mental, emotional and physical levels. Homeopathy can help patients who are not or not yet on conventional treatment. It can be very useful in raising the immunity of patients who are ill or who feel drained by illness and treatment.

Before surgery or any treatment process, the remedies can help prepare your body for treatment and aid in recovery after. For those not on treatment or where treatment is complete, homeopathy can help with restoring health, balance and quickly treat and raise your immunity against everyday illnesses, infections and chronic problems that emerge periodically.

EMMETT

The EMMETT Technique is an amazingly effective, gentle, safe and easy to apply muscle release therapy. It is used to address pain and discomfort, improve body movement, restore a positive emotional state and improve the quality of life.

Indian Head Massage

This total approach to relaxation includes massage to the scalp, neck, shoulders, and upper arms whilst sitting upright in a chair and can be performed with or without the use of oil. Benefits of this treatment are many and varied. They include: the reduction of stress; the relief of muscular tension and stiffness; the relief of headaches and stimulation to the hair and scalp.

The “M” Technique®

The “M” Technique® is a registered method of gentle structured touch, suitable for the very fragile, for stressed individuals and for those approaching the end of life. It consists of a series of stroking movements performed in a set pattern, in a set sequence, at a set pressure. Because it is gentle, it can be used where conventional massage is not.

appropriate. Because it is repetitive, it can soothe and relax. Research has shown that the effect of the “M” Technique on the brain is more like meditation than massage and it also has a deeper and cumulative effect on the ability to relax. Full body or partial “M” Technique treatments are available. Because it is simple, it can also be learned quickly and by anyone wanting to soothe someone through gentle touch.

Foot Reflexology

Reflexology is an extremely effective form of therapeutic foot massage which works on the principal that areas on the feet correspond to glands, organs and bodily systems. A reflexology foot map divides the feet into 10 longitudinal energy zones, 5 on each foot. It is further divided into horizontal sections in order to locate specific regions of the body.

Reflexology works on the 3 negative factors that cause disease – inflammation, congestion and tension. By applying pressure and using specialised massage techniques, sensory receptors in the nerves of the feet are stimulated. Stimulation of the nerve endings produces energy which is distributed to the nervous system, this improves circulation and helps to release endorphins (the body’s natural pain killer and stress reliever). Reflexology eases aches and pains, soothes and calms the whole body and helps with better functioning of bodily systems.

Benefits of reflexology:

· Promotes deep relaxation
· Releases tension
· Pain relief
· Improves sleep

Facial Reflexology

Facial reflexology is a gentle non-invasive complementary therapy which combines ancient medical healing traditions with modern understanding of neuro anatomy.

Just as foot reflexology works on the basis that the whole body is mirrored in the feet, facial reflexology uses charts that show the correspondence of specific points and zones on the face to different parts of the body. When stimulating these points and zones using gentle pressure and stroking techniques, facial reflexology releases tension from facial muscles and the corresponding body zone.

Benefits of facial reflexology:

• Promotes deep relaxation
• Releases tension
• Improves sleep
• Stimulates facial nerves, muscles and tissue
• Improves skin and muscle tone
• Improves mood
• Restores balance and harmony to the body
• Increases wellbeing

REIKI

A hands-on healing method using the energy which surrounds each of us to bring improved well-being and balance. It promotes healing and harmonises the person receiving treatment emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Reiki works in a complementary way with conventional medicine and helps to relieve stress, fatigue and pain.

A hands-on healing method using the energy which surrounds each of us to bring improved well-being and balance. It promotes healing and harmonises the person receiving treatment emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Reiki works in a complementary way with conventional medicine and helps to relieve stress, fatigue and pain.

What is Reiki?

Reiki, (pronounced Ray – key) means Universal Life Energy, and is an energy therapy based on ancient healing methods used by Buddhist monks. It has been revived in the late 19th century by Dr Mikao Usui in Japan and brought to Western Culture in the 20th century. It is neither a religion nor a belief system, but a means of allowing energy to enter a person for their well being. It promotes deep relaxation, releasing stress and tension and allowing the body to heal itself and the mind to open to the causes of disease and discomfort and so make positive changesto life.

What happens during a Reiki treatment?

A full treatment usually lasts between one and one and half hours. The recipient either lies on a couch or sits comfortably in a chair whilst the practitioner places their hands on positions covering the body allowing the Reiki to flow to wherever it is needed.

There is no need to remove clothing and it is not even necessary to touch a person. This means that areas such as burns or injuries can be safely treated without causing stress.

What will I feel during a Reiki treatment?

Most people find the treatment extremely calming and relaxing. Often a lot of heat can be felt coming from the practitioner’s hands – sometimes cold may be felt. Acute conditions can be helped quite quickly whereas chronic conditions may take longer. Reiki can give relief and bring an inner calm to people, helping them to cope with their problems. It is a very energising form of therapy.

The practitioner does not direct the energy, the Reiki will flow to wherever it is most needed, helping the mental as well as the physical and spiritual aspects of our beings. Memories may be released as well as emotions, enabling new insights into ourselves and situations.

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