Therapy Works specialises in some of the more highly recognised alternative practices.
SERVICES
Alternative Medicine is defined by any health modality alternate to Western Medicine.
This can range from modalities and practices that are highly organised, recognised and possessing governing professional associations, to practices that are a little more obscure.
Therapy Works specialises in some of the more highly recognised alternative practices.
Services Include Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Counselling, Clinical Nutrition, Remedial Massage, Deep Tissue and Sports Massage, Swedish Massage, Psychotherapy and Personal Success Coaching.
All therapists are highly qualified in their fields of endeavour and maintain memberships in professional associations.
Acupuncture
The World Health Organisation has published an extensive list of common diseases that respond positively to acupuncture treatment. Some of these include: acute sinusitis, constipation/diarrhoea, headache/migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, facial palsy, sciatica, low back pain, "tennis elbow", acute bronchitis and problems associated with pregnancy. This list is by no means exhaustive.
The process is remarkably effective and safe.
Acupuncture is a system of therapy involving the needling of precisely specified points on the surface of the body. This is in accordance with a coherent physiology derived from philosophical concepts of humans and their relationships with the natural environment, first developed during the Chou dynasty (1030 BC to 221 BC) of Chinese History.
Fundamental to Chinese philosophy in general, and acupuncture in particular, is the concept of energy. This energy (known as Qi and pronounced Chee), which seems to correspond to fluctuations in the body’s electro magnetic field, is described as flowing along pathways, known as meridians, near the surface of the skin.
It is the imbalance of Qi that results in disease and the acupuncturist, having taken a detailed case history, restores the energy balance by using precise acupuncture needling.
Remedial/Deep Tissue Massage
Remedial Massage helps to relieve the stress and tension of everyday living. Massage is now an accepted part of many physical rehabilitation and well-being programs. It has proven beneficial to many chronic conditions such as lower back pain and arthritis.
Appropriate to circumstance, massage may be subtle or dynamic, but is always a powerful treatment for the rejuvenation of injured, tired and ‘worn-out’ bodies, and for improving mind and body performance. At Therapy Works our massage styles are based on a deeper tissue release incorporating trigger point therapy and stretching learnt through my own personal yoga studies.
Lymphatic Drainage Therapy
The lymphatic system is a system of vessels along side the blood vessels in the body. The vessels carry lymph fluid which is responsible for eliminating toxins and bacteria the body; continually flushing out by feeding back into the circulatory system and being processed through the kidney and liver.
Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (LDT) is a gentle, rhythmical treatment rather than a massage, which improves the activity of the lymph vessels by mild mechanical stretches on the wall of the lymph collectors. LDT re-routes the lymph flow around blocked areas into more centrally located lymph vessels or gently clears the congestion of the lymph vessels and nodes that eventually drain into the venous system.
Through LDT the lymph system is stimulated, promoting a strong flow ensuring efficient removal of wastes. If the lymph system is sluggish, toxins hang around in the body creating more potential for inflammation and therefore illness and weakness to invading virus’ and bacteria. As a drainage system keep it flowing fast and clear and you’ll maximize your health.
Lymphatic drainage therapy has a positive effect on the following conditions:
- Stimulation of the lymphatic system.
- Lymphoedema.
- Oedema during pregnancy.
- Fluid retention – puffy ankles, legs, eyes, and abdomen.
- Scar tissue – improvement of lymph flow, softens and improves elasticity of the tissue.
- Post surgical – mastectomy of cosmetics.
- After glandular fever.
- Sports injuries.
- Arthritis and rheumatism.
- Assistance for migraine, headaches, and MS
- Constipation and digestive disorders.
- Sinusitis and hayfever.
- Hormonal imbalance.
- Recurring infections – colds, flu, ear or chest.
- Skin disorders – acne, scleroderma, eczema and psoriasis.
- General health and well being.
- Reduction of the pain associated with endometriosis.
- Sedating effect on the central nervous system – promoting relaxation and reduction of stress
- Oedema and Lymphodema
In an acute injury where inflammation is present e.g. sprain or burn and there is an excess of fluid present the lymph system can be overloaded, and swelling occurs (Oedema). However this swelling is usually temporary, because the tissues heal and the blood vessels no longer leak excessively. In this situation the lymphatics are essentially normal. However if the lymphatic system is blocked or damaged due to surgery, radiation, or too few vessels, protein amino acids continue to enter the tissues from the blood capillaries in the normal way and a build up occurs in the tissues the lymphatics should be draining. The accumulation of protein in the tissues causes excess fluid to enter them and the tissues to swell (lymphoedema). The excess protein also acts as a stimulus for chronic inflammation. One of the results of this is the formation of much excess fibrous tissue. The chronic inflammation causes more blood capillaries to from and is dilated. This makes the limb feel hot. This heat combined with the stagnant protein provides a perfect site for bacterial growth.
Main contraindications include:
- Malignancies
- Acute inflammatory illness
- Acute thrombosis
Relative:
- Recent thrombosis
- Varicose veins
- Deep abdominal during menstruation
- Deep abdominal after surgery to the area
- Bronchial Asthma
- Low blood pressure
- Thyroid gland
- Renal insufficiency
- Gynecological infections, cysts, uterus conditions.
- Psychotherapy
It can often be anxiety provoking contemplating getting professional help for a challenge or issue you are facing in your life. We are often given messages in our society that we "should" solve our own problems and when we have difficulty with this it is sometimes stigmatising. On top of this, finding your way around the different professional bodies and what they have to offer can be confusing. Perhaps it would be helpful to breakdown the different types of services available and talk about what Therapy Works can offer you.
As far as the stigma…talking to a trained professional, unconnected to your issues is done in all areas of life…why "should" life be any different?
Psychiatry
A Psychiatrist will have trained as a medical doctor and has the ability to prescribe medication for mental health problems. Many work in psychiatric wards of Hospitals for people who may benefit from anti-psychotic or mood stabilizing drugs. Those in private practice will often treat with medication and those who do offer psychotherapy as well are usually oriented toward psychoanalytic or cognitive-behavioural methods of treatment (see Psychotherapy section). Being medical doctors, Psychiatry is eligible for a rebate of $138.75 from Medicare for a 45 minute consultation. Many Psychiatrists charge over $200 for this length session.
Psychology
A Psychologist will have studied a four year psychology degree and completed another two years supervised practice in order to become registered. There are a number of different types of psychologists such as organisational, research and clinical. The latter usually specialise in the application of clinical methods for people suffering from behavioural disorders. Because of their university studies, including research and statistics, most clinical psychologists practice cognitive behavioural therapy (see psychotherapy), as thinking and behaviour are measurable. Consultations range up to $150 per hour and some of this is rebatable from certain Health Funds).
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is defined as "healing the self" and can be practiced by Psychiatrists, Psychologists and Psychotherapists. There is no regulation to practicing as a psychotherapist or counsellor in Australia, so it is important to find a well qualified, experienced and insured therapist. A membership of organisations such as CAPA (Counsellors and Psychotherapists Association NSW) or PACFA (Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia) will give an indication of such a professional.
Psychotherapists can help with many challenges in life, such as relationship problems, mood/emotional problems (stress, depression, anxiety, guilt, anger and grief issues are a few of these), addictions, sexual problems, eating disorders, self-esteem issues, adjustment difficulties, career and life direction issues. This list is not exhaustive and many issues, including disease can be helped with psychotherapy.
There are many types of psychotherapy. Psychoanalytic therapy is a complex theory of human beings that delves into people’s histories and sees their current dissatisfactory (to the client or others around them) behaviour as being a defence mechanism. It can be a long and expensive process. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy looks at changing ones thinking to change one’s behaviour and state. There are many others, such as Gestalt, TA, Somatic, Adlerian, Jungian and Narrative.
Therapy Works has a male and female therapist available for consultation. Both are highly qualified and members of CAPA (See Practitioners section). Both have had an integrated training in all of the above but lean toward Narrative therapy for the following reasons.
Narrative therapy seeks to be a respectful, non-blaming approach to therapy. It allows a person to examine and build on the strengths, competencies and abilities that they have that may be obscured by a specific problem, challenge or way of viewing oneself. These problems are seen as separate to the person and rather something a person has a relationship with. Narrative therapy is a collaborative process in which the client is seen as being an expert in their own lives and able to have a different relationship with the problem. It often has surprisingly quick results for issues that may take much longer in other more traditional approaches.
Psychotherapists are subject to paying GST and consultations range from $60-$120. Therapy Works consultations are $90-110 per hour including GST.
Counselling
As mentioned under the Psychotherapy section, there is no regulation to practicing as a psychotherapist or counsellor in Australia, so it is important to find a well qualified, experienced and insured counsellor or therapist.
There is some divide as to whether there is any difference between counselling and psychotherapy. At Therapy Works we believe there is a distinct difference.
A psychotherapist will often look at issues of the "self" – how a person makes up their self-concept and the implications this has on other areas of their life.
A counsellor on the other hand will often deal with specific elements in an individual, couple or family’s lives, for example, Drug and Alcohol Counsellor, Careers Counsellor or Relationship Counsellor.
Sometimes there is a cross-over, where a person’s self concept impacts on a particular area of their life and therefore the counsellor may be called upon to examine a person’s relationship with themselves, that is, act as a psychotherapist.
Therapy Works practitioners are trained psychotherapists and counsellors and are able to work in most areas of counselling. Call and speak to a therapist if you are unsure if your problem/challenge can be helped by psychotherapy or counselling.
Service Categories
Acupuncture, Counselling, Deep Tissue Massage, Ear Candling, Flower Essences, Homoeopaths, Infant Massage, Iridologists, Life Coaching, Lymphatic Drainage, Myofascial Release Therapy, Naturopaths, Nutrition, Pregnancy Massage, Psychotherapy, Reflexology, Reiki, Remedial Massage, Sports Massage, Swedish Relaxation Massage, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Trigger Point Therapy
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