treatments - what to expect?

Treatments last for an hour & should initially be weekly until you have relief from your presenting condition.  Then you will probably find that monthly treatments are sufficient to maintain general good health.

The first session will be longer as it involves an initial 30-minute consultation during which your medical history & lifestyle will be discussed (all information is treated confidentially).  This allows me to tailor the treatment plan to suit your individual needs.  After that, the treatment itself lasts for an hour.

All you need to do is take off your shoes & socks, wipe your feet with the organic foot wipes I carry with me, & then make yourself comfortable  before the treatment starts.  During the treatment, you will be able to lie peacefully or drift off for the ultimate in relaxation.  Most sessions involve the feet, however, if you don't like your feet to be touched, or if you suffer from athletes foot which means we must avoid the feet,, reflexology can be given on the hands.  I use powder to help me gently massage the reflex points on the feet with my thumbs & index fingers: these reflex points relate to the main organs & parts of the body.  The treatment is not ticklish: the pressure used is firm but soothing and whilst some areas may be sensitive to the touch, the tenderness is normally minimal & momentary.

If I find subtle changes in any of the reflex points, these are worked on for longer in order to remove congestion or blockages in the corresponding areas of the body, so restoring balance & good health.

At the end of the reflexology treatment, we will have a brief feedback session which will allow us to discuss areas of sensitivity or congestion felt in the foot and explore possible reasons for this.  Then lifestyle suggestions are made to enhance the health benefits of the treatment - these will be simple for you to implement, but they are only suggestions & it is up to you whether you decide to act on them.  The approach is holistic – treating you as a whole & so taking into account your lifestyle, nutrition, hobbies, medical history, family medical history – and deal with the root causes of conditions rather than just the symptoms. 

All information given is treated confidentially unless there is a need to share it with your GP , but I will only do so with your permission. 

After reflexology, it is advisable to rest &  relax where at all possible – you should find you sleep much more deeply that night. It is important to avoid alcohol for 24 hours after a treatment & to increase your water intake to help flush out toxins.

how many  reflexology treatments will I need?

I will assess your individual needs at the end of the first session & we will discuss the best treatment plan for you. The number of treatments will vary according to a number of factors: age, sensitivity to the treatment, the nature of your presenting condition (if any) & the length of time your condition has existed.

An initial set of 6-8 weekly or fortnightly treatments may be enough to get the body back into balance in some cases, after which your individual situation can be reassessed.  Some people opt for more regular treatments: say for example on the lead up to an operation in order to have the body in its best possible condition before the operation.

Many people so enjoy the sense of wellbeing brought about by the therapy that they continue with monthly treatments to keep their body in a state of good health & natural equilibrium.

after effects of reflexology

After a treatment, people generally report a feeling of deep relaxation & calm, whilst feeling uplifted & re-energised at the same time. However, some people may feel emotional, or fatigued, headachy or nauseous, or there may be a temporary worsening of the presenting condition. Others may notice an increase in bowel movements or need to urinate more frequently for a day or two afterwards.  This is referred to as a healing crisis reaction: it is perfectly normal and in most cases lasts only a short while.  It is a sign that the body is responding to the treatment & that the body has started to heal itself.

It is important that you relay this information to me at the next session as this is vital information on how you are responding to the reflexology & whether any changes need to be made to the treatment plan to better suit your needs.