Here's a list of therapy definitions, many of which you will find advertised in our listings section.
Our list of definitions is not complete but we're working on it. Please let us know if you feel a definition is missing and you'd like to help.
Fine needles inserted in specific points of the body to restore healthy energy flow
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical practice that is thought to be at least 2,500 years old. Energy flows through the body via the ‘meridians’, which are associated with different organs.
Acupuncture works by assessing the problem through study of the tongue and pulse, and discussion of symptoms, and then re-establishing the flow of energy by adjusting the ‘chi’ (flow) using very fine needles.
Acupuncture can be used with various problems such as addiction, migraines, digestive problems, asthma, pain, infertility and emotional stress. Clinical trials have proved acupuncture to be an effective treatment for headache, toothache, lower back pain and knee pain. It has also been used as a preventative measure.
Clothed? Depending where pain is, it might be clothed or unclothed.
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
Re-education of the mind & body leading to more free & efficient movement
An Alexander Technique teacher helps you to identify and lose the harmful habits you have built up and learn to move more freely, improving ease and freedom of movement, balance, support and coordination. They use their hands to help you identify your body habits and will use different movements over a series of appointments. The onus is on the client to change the way they use their body, with an emphasis on breathing properly. Sessions last 30-45 minutes. You might start with several sessions over a few months, with possible periodic returns for ‘top-ups’. The technique teaches the use of the appropriate amount of effort for a particular activity, giving you more energy for all your activities. It is not a series of treatments or exercises, but rather a re-education of the mind and body.
The technique was developed by F M Alexander and has helped actors and musicians who are under strain in their work and don’t feel as though they are reaching their full potential.
It also helps sufferers of epilepsy, arthritis, spinal disorders, back pain, asthma and people looking for a greater sense of control in their life.
Clothed? Yes patient remains clothed
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
Complementary holistic medicine practice founded by Rudolf Steiner
Anthroposophical medicine is a complementary medicine that integrates theories and practices of modern medicine with alternative, nature-based treatments. The holistic approach regards human wellness and illness as biographical events connected to the body, soul and spirit of the individual.
Anthroposophical medicine was founded in the 1920s and is based on Rudolf Steiner's concept that spiritual awareness is the foundation of individual health and of the health of society. Practitioners must be certified doctors to practise.
The Raphael Medical Centre in Kent is the UK’s only anthroposophic hospital.
The use of natural plant oils to treat or heal, often using massage
Aromatherapy is the systematic use of volatile, naturally occurring plant oils, known as essential oils, for the treatment or prevention of disease. It treats the whole person and not just the symptom or disease by assisting the body's natural ability to balance, regulate, heal and maintain itself. The oils are believed to have curative or preventative effects.
Aromatherapy can involve the use of essential oils whilst bathing, in foot baths or compresses and through steam inhalation, vapourisers and burners or lotions, creams and shampoos. Perhaps the most widely used practice is whole body aromatherapy massage where the therapist and client will work together to decide an appropriate combination of oils.
Essential oils have been known to treat skin problems, indigestion, colds, asthma, depression, problems with the nervous system, tension, insomnia, emotional and mental problems.
Clothed? Depends on treatment. Unclothed for full aromatherapy massage.
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
Using creative process as a tool to explore & develop the self through art-making, music or drama.
Arts therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of art-making within a professional relationship. It uses creative processes to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals. It is based on evidence that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behaviour, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight.
A wide range of people may benefit including those using adult mental health, prison or palliative care services. People with learning disabilities, children, young people and families may also find arts therapy approaches of value, as may people interested in furthering their personal development.
Arts Therapists must be registered with the Health Professions Council.
Art therapist and art psychotherapist are interchangeable titles.
British Association of Art Therapists www.baat.org
Association of Professional Music Therapists www.apmt.org
British Association of Dramatherapists www.badth.org.uk
(The Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK www.admt.org.uk are not currently HPC registered.)
Clothed? Yes
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
Gentle rolling movements & pauses allowing the body to balance & re-align
The Bowen technique was developed by Tom Bowen and consists of a series of gentle moves on specific points on the body over certain muscles and/or nerves Touch is either directly on skin or through light clothing, with frequent pauses between moves giving the body time to benefit from each set. It aims to re-align and balance - practitioners treat the body as a whole or can target a specific problem, pinpointing stress build-up in muscle groups and then releasing it. A session usually lasts around forty five minutes and frequently results in a deep sense of relaxation, allowing the body to recharge and balance itself.
The client usually lies on a bed or treatment couch, although it is possible to be treated seated. A typical session takes place over 30 to 45 minutes.
Bowen can be effective for a range of condition including allergies; back, bladder or bowel problems; digestive or menstrual problems; fatigue; headaches (migraine, sinus); poor mobility; RSI; respiratory problems; skeletal and muscular problems; sports injuries; stress. Bowen therapy is suitable for all ages from new-born babies to the frail elderly, and for pregnant women.
Clothed? Light clothing or no clothing.
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
A range of exercises using the breath to improve health & well-being
Breath therapy is an umbrella term covering a broad range of therapeutic approaches that emphasise the importance of breathing and its potential to affect human health, used to relieve stress and anxiety and improve physical, emotional, and mental health.
The range of different techniques can be used to correct breathing flaws, control energy, expand the lungs, and to induce relaxation. Practices that make use of breath therapy include forms of meditation, rhythmic breathing, Eastern spiritual techniques, yoga, qigong and t'ai chi.
Benefits also include enhanced energy and vitality, and increased flexibility. Breath therapies have also been used to treat a wide range of specific complaints, such as asthma, high blood pressure, headaches, and rheumatoid arthritis. Breathing exercises have helped some children avoid asthma attacks and improve lung function. Breathing therapy has been used to help reduce anger, exhaustion and hostility.
Clothed? Yes client remains clothed
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
The use of colour to heal and re-balance
Colour therapy is a form of energy medicine which says that colours act on the body in certain ways, and can be used to stimulate energy systems, promote harmony between the body, mind and spirit, and promote healing where the body needs it. A Colour therapist helps you understand your needs for certain colours, and shows you how to use these colours in your daily life for healing, health, relaxation inspiration and protection. They will also offer a range of colour therapy treatments to balance energy, aid creativity and learning, release blocks and alleviate physical, emotional and mental pain.
Colour can be applied by various methods including directing coloured light on parts of the body using light boxes/lamps with colour filters; coloured silks; gem remedies and creative visualisation. The energy relating to each of the seven spectrum colours of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, resonates with the energy of each of the seven main chakras/energy centres of the body and allows re-balancing.
Also known as Chromotherapy
Clothed? Depending but mostly yes.
Patient needs? The therapist may ask you to wear light coloured or white clothes to your session or you may be asked to put on a white robe prior to your treatment.
Understanding & resolving past family or personal trauma that effect you now
Systemic Constellations originated in Germany in the late 1980′s as the work of Bert Hellinger, a psychotherapist, philosopher and teacher, drawing on many sources and traditions including Psychodrama, Family Reconstruction Therapy, Gestalt and Psychoanalysis.
Just as physical characteristics are passed down through families, the Constellations practitioner believes that emotional and psychological patterns can be inherited. Unresolved traumatic events in one generation can leave traces in closely bonded groups, such as families, that can have an effect across many generations, and can result in debilitating psychological, emotional and physical symptoms which seem to have no discernible cause.
In a Constellations workshop, after clarifying your current issue, group members are invited to represent family members or other relevant elements. The experiences of the representatives offer insight and resolution to the issue. Private Constellations sessions are also possible.
Clothed? Yes patient remains clothed
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
Very gentle manipulation of spine and skull releasing tension and blockages
The craniosacral technique works with the natural cranial rhythm, a subtle physiological rhythm that arises in the central nervous system and is transmitted through the body via the connective tissue. Ideally, this should move in a free way but can become blocked or restricted due to mental, physical and emotional imbalances. Gentle treatment on the head, spine and body tissues frees the flow of cerebro-spinal fluid, and this helps release tensions and encourages the body’s ability for self-healing.
A craniosacral therapy session involves the therapist placing their hands on the patient, which allows them to tune into the craniosacral rhythm. Through gently working with the spine, the skull and its cranial sutures, diaphragms, and fascia, restrictions of the nerve passages are eased, the movement of cerebrospinal fluid through the spinal cord is said to be optimized, and also the spine is able to return to a more balanced position.. The client usually lies (or sometimes sits) fully-clothed on a treatment couch. The therapist makes contact by placing their hands lightly on the client’s body.
Craniosacral therapy developed from the work of an American osteopath, Dr William Sutherland in the early 1900s.
Craniosacral therapists work with those who have suffered head injuries and babies who’ve suffered difficult births (symptoms can manifest in ear infections, squints and sinusitis). It can also be helpful for mental stress, neck and back pain, TMJ, migraines and chronic pain.
Clothed? Yes patient remains clothed
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
Use of creative movement to explore & resolve difficulties & develop the self
Dance Movement Psychotherapy uses creative movement to develop self-expression, clarity of thought and to enable people to manage their feelings, to expand communication and develop creative resources through movement and dance. It is founded on the principle that movement reflects an individual’s patterns of thinking and feeling. Participants explore themes within a safe psychotherapeutic relationship with a therapist who facilitates rather than directs the session.
Dance Movement Psychotherapy is practised as both individual and group psychotherapy in health, education and social service settings and in private practice. Dance Movement Psychotherapists work with a wide variety of clients including people who are emotionally distressed, people with learning difficulties, those with physical or mental illness and people who want to use the medium for personal growth.
Clothed? Yes patient remains clothed
Patient needs? Clothes that you are able to move in.
Prescription of tailor-made remedies to stimulate the body’s own capacity to heal
Homeopathy is a non-toxic form of medicine that stimulates the body's own healing abilities to treat a wide variety of ailments using a system known as Like Cures Like – natural substances that can cause symptoms in a healthy person can be used to alleviate similar symptoms in a person who is ill. According to homeopathy, symptoms are the body's way of fighting disease. Patients are prescribed a Remedy made of a minuscule dose of something that in large doses would produce symptoms - thus stimulating the immune system and triggering the body’s own restorative and healing powers. Remedies are said to be Potentised – the active ingredient is highly diluted and succussed (systematically vibrated and agitated). This process is not fully understood by current science.
Homeopathy is holistic in that it treats the individual as a whole, and takes into consideration many aspects of the person’s physical, mental and emotional states. This includes their life circumstances, such as family history, innate predispositions and temperament. Each person is treated individually, since not everybody shows the same symptoms or responds the same to different remedies.
Homeopathy is the second largest system of medicine in the world today, as recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), although it has its detractors, evidence for the efficacy of homeopathy range from meta-analyses and systematic reviews of double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials to clinical observation and conventional wisdom.
Homeopathy can be used to treat a variety of issues, ranging from acute fevers, sore throats and toothache, to chronic illnesses such as arthritis, eczema, asthma, anxiety, depression and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Clothed? Yes patient remains clothed
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
Use of deep relaxation to access the subconscious mind and bring about positive change.
Hypnotherapy works by putting the client into a state of deep relaxation where they are more responsive to ideas and imagery. The hypnotherapist can then work with the individual to change feelings, emotions and behaviour. As a form of psychological therapy hypnotherapy is distinctive in that it works with the clients’ subconscious mind. The hypnotherapist may enlist the power of the clients’ own imagination and also use such methods as storytelling, metaphor, symbolism, or the use of direct suggestions for beneficial change.
If at any point during a hypnotherapy session the client feels uncomfortable they can immediately come out of the hypnotic trance simply by opening their eyes. Contrary to a popular misconception – that hypnosis is a form of unconsciousness resembling sleep – research suggests that it is actually a wakeful state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility.
Hypnotherapy can be used to treat a variety of issues, from anxiety and personal development, to stopping smoking and pain management.
Clothed? Yes
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
Use of muscle testing to assess problems & find appropriate treatments
Kinesiology is a system of diagnosis and treatment that asks the body what it wants by combining muscle testing with the principles of Chinese medicine, to assess energy and body function, using a range of gentle yet powerful techniques. Muscles are perceived as indicators of stress, hence muscle testing is used to detect and realign those imbalances.
A therapist will test a client's muscles in many different positions, both before and after the treatment. Testing is done by applying light pressure to specific muscles and acupuncture meridians and monitoring the response. The client may be asked to hold a sealed container of a substance on a particular meridian and then perform the strength test. When the therapist has found the correct therapy, there will be an improvement in the inhibited muscle. This system can detect food allergies or intolerances, toxicity, nutritional imbalances as well as help with emotional and structural problems and much more.
Once the stresses are identified, techniques such as homeopathic remedies, light massage, positive affirmations and nutritional supplements are employed, as well as dietary advice.
In the medical sciences Kinesiology is the name given to the study of muscles and the movement of the body. 'Applied Kinesiology' was the name given by its inventor, Dr George Goodheart, to the system of applying muscle testing diagnostically and therapeutically to different aspects of health care.
Clothed? Yes
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
Calming the mind of everyday thoughts for relaxation or as a spiritual practice
Meditation usually refers to a state of extreme relaxation, contemplation and concentration, in which the body is generally at rest and the mind quieted of wandering thoughts and fantasies, becoming calm and focussed.
Meditation does not necessarily require effort and can be experienced as "just happening". Physical postures include sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and walking (sometimes along designated floor patterns). Quietness is often desirable, and some people use repetitive activities such as deep breathing, humming or chanting to help induce a meditative state.
Several major religions include ritual meditation; however, meditation itself need not be a religious or spiritual activity. Most of the more popular systems of meditation are of Eastern origin. In many religions, meditation involves verbal or mental repetition of a single syllable, word, or text (eg a mantra). Visual images (eg a mandala) or mechanical devices such as prayer wheels or rosaries can be useful in focusing concentration.
Meditation is often practised alone but if you are a beginner or prefer meditating with others there are various groups and classes one can attend.
The purposes for which people meditate vary almost as widely as practices. It may serve simply as a means of relaxation from a busy daily routine, or even as a means of gaining insight into the nature of reality or of communing with one's God.
Clothed? Yes, wear comfortable clothes
Patient needs? You may want to use a mat or pillow to sit on.
Improving one’s self-knowledge, confidence, abilities and self-esteem
Personal development is an individual’s acquisition of knowledge, skills, and experience in order to enhance their capabilities, potential and self-perception.
It can be used for • improving self-awareness • improving self-knowledge • building or renewing identity • healing the self • developing strengths or talents • identifying or improving potential • building employability • enhancing lifestyle or the quality of life • realising dreams • fulfilling aspirations.
Personal growth can cover many different practices; physical, spiritual, mental or emotional, but the end result should be a more confident, better adjusted you. Personal development opportunities include residential courses, camps and retreats; classes and workshops; a wide range of books and websites, or classes, guided sessions or therapies with an individual practitioner.
Small precise exercise movements to strengthen & balance the body’s core
Developed in Germany in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, this set of exercises seeks to balance, strengthen and elongate the body while strengthening the core to provide support for the spine. The primary focus is on awareness of the spine, proper breathing, core strength and flexibility.
Used extensively by athletes and dancers, it can be practised by almost anyone, regardless of their age or physical ability. Pilates focuses on doing certain small movements but doing them with precision and concentration. The outcome is a balanced body which is strong and supple, flat stomach, balanced legs, and a strong back.
You can attend a class or be taught individually. Workouts are done either on mats on the floor with a minimum of equipment, or on Pilates apparatus. In mat work exercises are mostly performed lying down, sometimes using small pieces of equipment. The apparatus has names such as the Reformer, Cadillac, Ladder Barrel or Wunda Chair. A high level of individual attention is usually given.
Clothed? Yes, wear comfortable clothes you can move in
Participant needs? An exercise mat
Using the breath to revisit one’s own birth & heal any trauma experienced
Rebirthing is based on the belief that birth is a traumatic event and that reviewing or revisiting the event can have therapeutic benefits.
The birth experience has a deep effect on one's psyche and shapes one's perception and experience of life, self and the world in ways of which one is mostly unaware. Practitioners believe it is possible to gain recall of aspects of birth, gestation and early childhood and to release the accompanying emotions through conscious connected breathing thus having a positive transformative effect. A session usually has an initial consultation, some breathwork and then the actual rebirth with the whole session lasting 2-3 hours.
Clothed? Yes but may be required wear something like a robe.
Patient needs? No special equipment required
Massage of pressure points, usually on the foot, that relate to & treat areas all over the body
Reflexology is an ancient technique that uses pressure-point massage (usually on the feet, but also on the hands and ears) to restore the flow of energy throughout the entire body. It is based on the premise that there are reflex points in our hands, feet and ears that relate to every organ and part of our body - they effectively act as a map of the whole body. By stimulating these points with pressure and manipulation, nerve function and blood supply may be improved, which may alleviate stress and other health problems and help restore balance throughout the body.
Treatments can be used to target a specific ailment or simply to improve general health and relaxation. Reflexology is used to soothe conditions such as migraine, sinus problems, hormonal imbalances, breathing disorders, digestive problems, circulatory problems, back problems, tension and stress.
Clothed? Yes, with shoes and socks off
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
Gentle energy healing restoring flow & balance to the body & mind
Reiki healing works on the principle of unblocking energy and restoring the natural flow of Ki (Chi) around the body. With Reiki it is the power of love and life energy of the universe rather than the practitioner’s own energy that is being utilised - the practitioner acts as a conduit to channel and move energy where it is stuck. During a treatment energy is said to be drawn through the hands of the practitioner into the body of the recipient, healing and giving energy to specific areas on the receiver's body. Practitioners place their hands on or over positions on the body where the organs and endocrine glands reside, and the areas that correspond to the chakra centres. Practitioners also use mental visualisation to send healing energy to areas of the receiver's body that need it. Advanced practitioners rely on intuition and experience to determine which areas of a body need the most energy healing.
The practitioner's hands are held in each position for around five minutes, to allow the transfer of energy and the healing process to take place. In each position, the hands are kept stationary, unlike typical massage where the hands move.
Reiki was developed in the early twentieth century by a man called Mikao Usui. Reiki is a Japanese word meaning Universal Life Force Energy. It’s beneficial for treating physical, emotional, spiritual or mental disease.
Clothed? Yes, loose comfortable clothing
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
Deep manipulation to facilitate release of muscle tension & re-alignment of posture
Rolfing Practitioners work to release tension built up in the deep fascia around muscles throughout the whole body. This tension builds up when we repeatedly put our bodies into distorted postures. Rolfers often prescribe a sequence of ten sessions to balance and optimise both the structure (shape) and function (movement) of the entire body. The theory is that "only by bringing peace 'from the ground up' can problems higher in the body be 'under-stood'".
Sessions start with a discussion of your lifestyle, your movement and your body shape, followed by advice on breathing techniques and posture. The practitioners will then do deep manipulation to release your muscle tension. Clients say they stand straighter, gain height, and move better through the correction of this soft tissue tension.
Rolfing is the commonly used name for the system of Structural Integration Soft Tissue Manipulation founded by Ida Pauline Rolf.
Clothed? Initial part of sessions clothed - massage will be unclothed
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
Pressure point massage to improve flow of energy around the body
Shiatsu is a pressure-point massage technique developed in Japan in which finger pressure is applied to specific points on the body to stimulate the meridians (channels through which energy flows around the body), correct imbalances, and maintain and promote health.
Shiatsu practitioners use a variety of techniques to improve your energy flow. These may include gentle holding, pressing with palms, thumbs, fingers, elbows, knees and feet on the meridians and, when appropriate, more dynamic rotations and stretches.
Shiatsu is a holistic therapy in that it works on the individual as a complete being - not just the physical body but also on an emotional and/or mental level. Benefits of Shiatsu include reduced stress and fatigue, increased circulation of blood and lymph, reduced blood pressure and muscle stiffness, and increased vitality, stamina, and energy.
Clothed? Yes, wear loose clothing
Patient needs? No requirement for special equipment
The use of physical poses, breath & meditation to improve flexibility, stamina & inner calm
Yoga is a combination of breath exercises (pranayama), body positions (asanas), body locks (bhandas), hands positions (mudras) and meditation. The yoga positions (asanas) follow one another in a specific way in order to direct energy flow around the body. In this way, the body is ‘warmed’ and prepared for meditation: the last step in the Yoga path. The physical exercises of Yoga provides the tools necessary to quiet the mind so that the practitioner can access a natural state of oneness, and, ultimately, Nirvana (ultimate bliss). This attainment of peace and enlightenment is the ultimate goal of Yoga practice.
Modern day styles vary in their focus and emphasis. Different people use yoga for different purposes: it might be for stress release and relaxation, for flexibility, for sports training, for birth preparation, for recovery from injury, or for spiritual enlightenment. There are many, many different derivative forms of Yoga practised in the world today.
Yoga is thought to have originated in the Indus Valley (modern day Pakistan) around 4-5,000 years ago. Originating in the Sanskrit language, the word ‘yoga’ is derived from the word ‘yoke’ which means ‘union’ or ‘joining’. Although many people practise it purely for its physical health benefits, it is a spiritual practice in its true and original form. It can be practised by anyone, regardless of their faith or physical ability.