Who We Are
John King
Craniosacral Therapy and Bowen Technique
John’s interest is in helping people with
- painful physical conditions, such as
- back, shoulder and neck pain
- sciatica, knee and other joint pain
- stress-related issues, e.g.
- anxiety and depression
- difficulties over sleeping
- the effects of trauma
- physical trauma, like an accident
- emotional trauma, such as physical or sexual abuse, or bereavement
He went into social work in 1968 and emerged again - relatively unscathed! - a few years ago.
Over the intervening years, he learned progressively from working directly with people who were experiencing all types of distress and difficulty. He became more interested in health issues and worked at two Edinburgh hospitals, Sick Children’s and the Western General. In the latter he worked for several years with cancer patients and their families.
He became increasingly aware of the close interrelationship between physical and emotional responses to stress. His first training in a “hands-on” physical therapy was in Holistic Massage, in 1991.
During his subsequent practice he became more and more interested in stubborn painful conditions and deeper, more longterm health issues that often seemed to be related to severe stress and tension. He went on to train in Craniosacral Therapy (1998) and then in the Bowen Technique (2000).
Since coming to live in the Borders in 1997 he has worked with over 400 patients to date (August 2006).
Susan King
CQSW
KFRP, MBRCP
PKP
Kinesiology
For many years I was a social worker and therapist at a children’s hospital working with children and their families. Having been helped myself by kinesiology, I trained at the Scottish Kinesiology College to become a Professional Kinesiology Practitioner. My interest has always been to encourage the natural healing potential inherent in everyone and this is very much what kinesiology is about. While working in the main with adults, I have retained a special interest in working with children. Kinesiology can help children with bed-wetting, dyslexia, behaviour problems, asthma and eczema, to name but a few conditions. I combine kinesiology with Emotional Freedom Technique.
Helen Lockhart
MCTha ITEC
Reflexology
I first became interested in Reflexology as a therapy because of its gentle and non-invasive nature. I qualified as a massage therapist in 1997 through the International Therapy Examination Council and later as a reflexologist in 1998. I believe that one of the main benefits of reflexology is its ability to aid and promote relaxation, thus giving the body a chance to start the healing process itself. I am convinced that reflexology encourages individuals to take a little bit of time out for themselves, giving them the opportunity to rest and reflect.
Dr Mary Gillies
MB ChB., MRCP. MFHom. DRCOG. DCH.
Homeopathy
After graduating from Edinburgh Medical School in 1976, I specialised in Paediatrics. My husband and I then worked in a rural hospital in Malawi for several years. Returning to Scotland in 1984 I moved into general practice. Our family moved to the Borders in 1996, where I continue to work as a GP in the NHS.
I became interested in Homeopathy over 15 years ago and completed training at the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital in 1995 with further training in Bombay over recent years. I use both conventional medicines and homeopathic remedies in my work and see them as complementary. I am, however, increasingly inspired by the depth of action the correct homeopathic remedy can have in improving overall health and well being.
Dr Judy Johnston
Hynotherapy
I graduated in medicine in Leeds in 1973. Since then I have worked in several branches of medicine, spending the last 18 years in General Practice in Galashiels. During this time I became interested in emotional health, and underwent training with the British Society of Medical and Dental Hypnosis, finally gaining my qualification in clinical hypnosis from the London College of Clinical Hypnosis. This provided me with a useful tool to add to what I could offer patients from the realms of conventional medicine.
Megan Burt
Dip T.M, Dip Ac, MBAcC, RCHM.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture, Herbs and Massage
Megan qualified from the Glasgow College of Holistic Massage in 1992 and realised early on that this was a definite stepping-stone for a long period of learning. She then studied Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs, both at the Northern College of Acupuncture in York. She finished her 6-year training in Chinese Medicine in 2002 and finally took a trip to China itself to work in a hospital.
Treatment is tailored to meet the needs of each individual. Sometimes a light massage using acupressure techniques is used initially. This enables careful diagnosis of the affected area and is also very relaxing. It is usually followed by acupuncture which involves inserting tiny hair-breadth needles into selected areas. It is a relatively painless procedure in which sensations felt are sometimes described as a feeling of heat, heaviness or a dull ache. Once the needles are in place there is a sense of overall relaxation. Most people coming for the first time comment on how it was much more pleasant than they had expected. It is usually not necessary to give herbal treatment as well, especially at first, but in some cases I will prescribe herbal formulae. These are mainly taken in powdered form, as simple as making a cup of tea! All herbs are plant-based and contain no animal products. Chinese medicine not only addresses the physical symptoms - presenting these initially - but other benefits such as improved mental or emotional balance, and a more integrated sense of self may be expected.
Recently Megan has qualified in Facial Revitalisation with acupuncture. This is a very effective and holistic treatment bringing out the person's natural beauty rather than resorting to harsh surgical procedures.
For more information please email or phone (07903 503142). A brochure is available on request.
Jo Barlow
Alexander Technique and Guided Bodywork
Years of practising piano and flute led to a damaging of neck muscles and in turn this painful problem had me seeking the help of an Alexander Teacher. The orthopaedic collar prescribed by a doctor was quickly ousted – never to be used again – and, convinced of the value of Alexander Technique, I went to train as a teacher at the Fellside Alexander School under Don Burton.
I qualified 15 years ago and since then have made many other sorties into various alternative bodywork therapies adding dimensions to my own understandings. I choose now to include the words “Guided Bodywork” in the description of my job, because my focus is guided by the needs of each pupil and sometimes lessons involve working with exercises, energy work, gentle massage, talking, meditation techniques and of course the Alexander Technique – whatever it takes to release problems and help gain a wider understanding. I still make music too!
Theo Dijkman
Psychotherapy and counselling
MA Psychosynthesis Psychotherapy
UKCP Registered
website: www.theodc.co.uk
I was born and educated in the Netherlands and have lived in Scotland since 1984. Initially ran my own arts and crafts business and 1992 I then turned to the field of mental health and addictions where I have been working as a manager since. I hold a Registered Manager Award Health and Care. Out of this combined background comes my interest in the spontaneous creative processes involved in psychotherapy and counselling. I continue to have a keen interest in the arts and love the outdoors. My heart soars when out in the hills taking in the vastness of the Scottish landscape.
Psychosynthesis can be described as a psychology of hope which emphasises that we all have potential and that we strive to live our lives to the fullest. It acknowledges our need for meaning and purpose and recognises how all of us endeavour to connect to joy, beauty and love. Yet it does not deny the suffering and pain we can experience because of our past, our history or our unease with who we are. While directing us towards our possibilities it also recognises our shadow side, our anger, fear, jealousy, inadequacy and so on.
In addition psychosynthesis includes all of our different parts; our sense of our body, the feelings we experience, the thoughts we have. It includes how we relate to our sexuality and what it means to be a man or a woman. It also acknowledges our need for spirituality in our lives. This could be a need for a formal practice or it could be our sense of connection with nature, art, community and such deep experiences as harmony, confidence and love. As a psychology of hope, the approach of psychosynthesis helps us to bring together all these various parts of ourselves, the struggles that we could have with these and to become more than who we are.
I can offer psychotherapy and counselling both in English and Dutch. In addition to individual counselling and psychotherapy I also offer supervision to other professionals and run regular training workshops.
United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
The governing body for psychotherapy practitioners and psychotherapy training organisations.
www.psychotherapy.org.uk
The Institute of Psychosynthesis
Offering professional training in psychosynthesis counselling, psychotherapy and applied psychosynthesis
www.psychosynthesis.org.uk
The Psychosynthesis and Education Trust
Offering professional training in psychosynthesis counselling and psychotherapy
www.psychosynthesis.edu
Julie Nock
SHEN Therapist
In 1995, I found myself still suffering from a shoulder injury which occurred in a car crash, 3 years prior. I had consulted my doctor and also tried many different therapies, but nothing seemed to be able to shift the pain.
I came across SHEN quite by “accident” and decided to give it a try.
During the series of sessions the practitioner had prescribed, the pain was steadily dissipating, but to my amazement, I also noticed, that I was changing, profoundly, as a person.
I had always been very shy, had no self confidence and always felt very awkward around people – even those I had known for years.
Without trying, the person I had always been inside- confident, courageous, loving, - emerged and pleasantly shocked everyone who knew me!
I found myself transformed into the person I had always lacked the confidence to be.
It was truly wonderful!
I wanted to understand what had happened to me, so I began training as a SHEN Therapist at the end of 1995.
As I studied, it began to dawn on me, that there must be a lot of people in the world who feel stuck, like I did, without even realising it, and that maybe I could help them.
Since qualifying as a therapist in 1999, I have undertaken further studies in Counselling Skills, Physics, Chemistry and Human Biology, in order to fully understand the interplay of Emotions, Biochemistry, and the effect that the Biofield has on these.
I have now been working as a SHEN Therapist for just over 10 years, seeing people from all walks of life, with a wide and varied range of presenting problems.
I love my work and feel privileged to be able to support people as they move through the layers of themselves.
In the future, I hope to become a SHEN Instructor, so that I can help others to use the knowledge and techniques I continue to learn, in my journey through SHEN.
For more information on SHEN Therapy please contact:
Julie Nock CSP on 07815 880908
Visit the SHEN Therapy website on www.shentherapy.info/home.htm
Or call into Sorrowless Field and pick up a leaflet
Claire Banks
BSc MNIMH
Herbal Medicine
Since graduating in 2005 from the Herbal Medicine BSc degree course at Napier University in Edinburgh, I have worked as a teaching assistant and part-time clinic manager at Napier University while building up my own practice.
My decision to study Herbal Medicine followed a decade of personal research into alternative health care. Through a wide range of reading it became apparent to me that the factors which affect individual health and well being are very complex. I became drawn to the holistic approach of the Medical Herbalist, which can mirror this complexity and help rebalance health through the use of unique prescriptions of medicinal plants combined with nutritional and lifestyle advice.
The herbal medicines I prescribe are, as far as possible, organic. They are
sourced from high quality manufacturers using plants from sustainable sources. I am a member of The National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH), the oldest and largest professional association of herbalists.
Vicky Thain
Therapeutic Massage Therapist
Vicky lives in Longniddry in East Lothian and is a registered nurse. At present she works part time for a caring agency in Edinburgh, as a Nursing Officer, overseeing care in the community. Prior to this some of her nursing experience has included her working on general wards and then specialising in the rehabilitation of patients with neurological problems. She has also worked at the Marie Curie Hospice in Edinburgh.
Vicky is an ITEC qualified massage therapist gaining a diploma in Therapeutic Massage in 2001. She is a member of Therapies United. In her capacity as a massage therapist, Vicky has worked at Sorrowlessfield Centre, as well as working from her home in Longniddry. She also does domiciliary work.
Her experience as a nurse has enhanced her knowledge of the body, in her role as a massage therapist.
Courtenay Young
Psychotherapy, Counselling & Crisis Intervention
UKCP Registered, AHPP Accredited, EABP Registered, ECP Registered.
web
I have been living in Scotland since 1986. For 17 years I was resident psychotherapist at the Findhorn Foundation, an international spiritual community in north-east Scotland on the Moray coast. I then moved to Edinburgh in 2003 and have been working in the NHS in GP surgeries and in departments of Clinical Psychology, as well as having a private practice. I have just moved to live in the Scottish Borders.
Whilst I trained originally in body-oriented psychotherapy and am still involved in this approach, I also work pretty eclectically as a Transpersonal psychotherapist and from a general Humanistic perspective, as well as with Cognitive Behavioural methods. I have worked in many different settings, with individuals, couples and with groups. I specialise in giving brief psychotherapy, in acute crisis work, and working with people in Spiritual Emergencies. I also work over several months or years with people wishing to explore their growth, development and change, or wishing to work on long-standing and chronic issues.
I have written many articles, chapters in books and papers, and many of these are available on my website: www.courtenay-young.com
I teach and supervise other psychotherapists, sit on ethics committees and panels, and give conference lectures, seminars and workshops internationally. I have been working with the politics of psychotherapy, both in the UK and in Europe, helping to establish psychotherapy as a independent profession.
United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
The governing body for psychotherapy practitioners and psychotherapy training organisations.
www.psychotherapy.org.uk
UK Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners (AHPP): an accrediting body for UK humanistic psychotherapists & counsellors: www.ahpp.org
European Association of Body-Psychotherapy (EABP): a professional association for Body-Psychotherapists throughout Europe: www.eabp.org
European Association for Psychotherapy: European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP): www.europsyche.org
Spiritual Crisis Network (UK): spiritualcompetency.com