Complimentary Therapies
Woodlands Hospice Patient and Family Services Team offers Complementary Therapies to people living with cancer and other life-limiting conditions as part of their well-being and support program. We aim to support patients, families and their carers.
Complementary Therapies are termed complementary rather than alternative, because they complement/work in harmony with most conventional medical treatments.
An informal assessment with a qualified Complementary Therapist will be offered prior to commencement of treatments.
This aims to ensure that the therapy chosen is the safest option to use alongside your current diagnosis/medication regime, and is tailored to suit your individual needs.
Why access Complementary Therapies?
Patients, families and their carers may be offered or may request Complementary Therapies for a variety of reasons:
- To help manage anxiety and balance mood
- To give emotional support
- To aid in pain reduction
- To help reduce breathlessness
- To improve the quality of sleep
- To reduce tension and muscular discomfort
We offer therapies that are known to be safe and for which there is evidence of their helpful role in supporting people who are living with life-limiting conditions. Our Complementary Therapist will adapt treatments to suit the individual needs of the patient, family or carer.
We currently offer Mindfulness, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, and Reiki, which are briefly described here.
Available Therapies
Leaflets containing more detailed information are also available.
Mindfulness
A simple method that allows us to train our minds to be more focused on the present moment, as opposed to dwelling on unhappy memories from the past or trying to see what is going to happen in the future.
Aromatherapy
A holistic technique that involves the use of essential oils from various plants and fruits to promote relaxation and relief of tension.
Reflexology
A therapeutic technique based on the study and working of the reflex points on the hands and feet that are believed to correspond to other areas of the body, thus helping to increase feelings of well-being.
Reiki
A natural, non-invasive therapy that can help to relieve tension and anxiety by channelling universal, positive energy via the therapist to the recipient.
How can I access the team?
• You can speak directly to our Patient and Family Services team
• You can telephone 0151 529 5352
• You can email pfs.support@liverpoolft.nhs.uk
• Or you can ask a family member, a friend or a health care professional to contact the team on your behalf.
The team are available from Monday to Friday, 9 am - 5 pm. (Out of these hours, you can leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible)