FAQs

How do I know you are fully qualified and insured? I am a member of the Complementary Therapists Association and the Association of Reflexologists and I am listed on their websites. In order to be a member you have to pass and complete exams of a high standard which are fully approved and accredited by them. You must have insurance to practice and be listed on their website and also take part in their continuing professional development schemes. This involves attending further courses, workshops, seminars, reading professional journals and many other things. I always have current copies of membership, exam and insurance certificates available and will always show these to a new client or upon request. Who exactly are the Complementary Therapists Association, the Association of Reflexologists and the British School of Reflexology? I did the majority of my training with The British School of Reflexology during 2001 to 2002. Training was carried out over the course of a year, during which, case studies were carried out during the student’s own time. Ann Gillanders was the principal and founder of this school and she was trained by Dwight Byers, the nephew of Eunice Ingham who was the founder of modern day reflexology. Ann Gillanders brought reflexology to the UK in the 1980’s and set up her school in 1986. The school is now led by Ann’s daughter Clare Wood. The Complementary Therapists Association are part of EMBODY. They are one of the professional organisations that qualified or trainee complementary therapists can join. They have very strict codes of conduct that the therapist must agree to abide by, thus ensuring professional standards are maintained. They keep their members up to date with developments in the complementary field and any changing legislation. Links to both of these organisations can be found on the links page The Association of Reflexologists are the foremost aspirational and independent Professional Association for reflexology in the UK, providing benefits, advice and guidance to members and working with other external bodies and advising groups to promote the highest standards in the profession. The letters MAR after a therapist’s name denote their full membership status, demonstrating that they have met the strictest standards of reflexology practice, and that they are committed to continually developing their skills and knowledge, together with agreeing to abide by the Association’s Code of Practice and Ethics. What is your therapy room like? My room is warm, bright, cosy, peaceful and relaxing. There is direct access to the room via the rear of the property so there is no need to pass through any other part of the house unless the toilet is needed. It is well ventilated with large patio doors and skylights which can be left wide open during the summer. In the evening I dim the lights and use a salt rock lamp to illuminate the room with a soft, orange glow and use candles, an essential oil diffuser and soothing music to enhance and accentuate your treatment experience. Can you visit me at home? Due to high demand and the logistics of carrying heavy equipment, I no longer offer home visits. Can I chat during my session? This is entirely up to you. Some clients prefer to relax quietly and others prefer to chat. I would emphasise that the therapy will be more beneficial for you if you try to relax quietly with your eyes closed. It is also easier for me to work quietly as I am able to concentrate more on the therapy and it will be more effective. How will I feel after a therapy session and are there any side effects? The treatment may have accentuated your existing emotional state. This may explain any strong feeling you experience during and after the session. This is particularly common after Reiki. The treatment will leave you relaxed, ‘spaced out’ or very tired. You should enjoy a deep relaxing sleep that night. Some people report having very clear dreams. You may also experience increased energy levels and alertness. You may experience changes in body temperature, during and after treatment. Wrap up well if you are feeling cold. After a treatment you may experience a runny nose or headache. This is most common after an Indian Head Massage or Natural Lift Facial Massage. You may want to urinate/defecate more than usual. You may feel worse before you feel better, due to the movement of toxins in your body. Any existing condition may worsen temporarily but this should only last for 24 to 48 hours. Drinking plenty of water after a treatment will help alleviate this. It is possible to experience none or any of these reactions but it does indicate that the treatment is working and toxins are being eliminated. Please don’t become alarmed or reluctant to continue treatment as this is a natural process. Any reaction should only last for 24 to 48 hours following treatment and are normally strongest after the first treatment. Aftercare is an essential part of your treatment and will enhance your treatment experience, you’ll feel better and will potentially see more lasting results. Do you have any aftercare advice following the therapy session? Drink plenty of water to flush out any cellular/metabolic waste which has been moved by the treatment. This will help to alleviate any fatigue or reactions explained below. Please bring some water with you as you may be thirsty afterwards and aim to drink several glasses of water during the day after your session. Don’t attempt strenuous activity immediately after a treatment as you will leave with a profoundly relaxed body and mind. If possible, relax and enjoy your de-stressed state. If you have to drive, take care. Pull over if you feel drowsy or light headed. Avoid alcohol and all other stimulants for at least 24 hours after treatment. Your body will already be working hard to eliminate any existing, accumulated toxins. Stimulants include coffee, tea, chocolate, fizzy drinks and cigarettes. Avoiding these stimulants will prolong the benefits of your session and will support a more sustained feeling of well- being. Are there any times when it would be inadvisable to have a therapy session? Yes, there are circumstances where it would be inadvisable to receive a therapy. Please read the following list of conditions carefully to avoid disappointment. If you are in any doubt, please call me to ask for advice. Contraindications – Avoid treatment: If you are under the influence of recreational drugs or alcohol. If you are pregnant with severe complications i.e pre-eclampsia, placenta praevia (after 32 weeks), placental abruption, polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios. Hot stones cannot be used in the first trimester of pregnancy or during IVF treatment. If you have a high temperature, fever, severe headache or migraine. If you have an infectious disease or condition of the skin or scalp i.e. severe Athletes Foot, Ringworm, Scabies, Cold Sores or an Eye Infection. If you have any other contagious, infectious or notifiable condition including Covid-19. Even if you have mild cold symptoms, sore throat or other infectious respiratory symptoms, please don’t attend. If you have recent scar tissue, severe bruising, severe acne, cuts, sunburn, swelling, inflammation,abrasions, strains or sprains on the treatment area. If you’ve recently had any vaccination/booster. Please wait for 2 weeks after vaccination. Reflexology is contraindicated for severe varicose veins and hot stones are not to be used on any varicose veins. If you have got Thrombosis/DVT, Recent Haemorrhage or Embolism. Hot stones can’t be used when rheumatoid arthritis is in its inflammation stage. Reflexology and hot stones are contraindicated if you have got Diabetes which affects the skin tone on your legs or feet i.e breaks in the skin or ulcers on the feet. If you have had food poisoning or stomach upset in the 48 hours prior to treatment. If you have any skin disorders in the treatment area which could be affected by the treatment i.e. Eczema, Cellulitis, Dermatitis, Psoriasis or severe Oedema. If you’ve had recent cosmetic surgery or botox in the previous 3 weeks in the treatment area. If you have hair extensions, Indian Head Massage and Natural Lift Massage are not suitable. Please discuss with me when booking an appointment if any of the following conditions or circumstances apply to you, as you may need medical clearance from your G.P. or other medical professional. There may be times during your medical treatment or the severity of it where it may be inappropriate to treat you. Please make me aware of any continuing or new medical condition so the treatment can be tailored to your individual needs. Serious bone/joint conditions affecting the treatment area Cancer Allergies Very Low/High blood pressure Diabetes Recent or imminent surgery Severe heart or circulatory condition M.E. (Chronic Fatigue) Epilepsy Nervous system dysfunction i.e. Parkinson’s, M.S., Cerebral Palsy, M.N.D. Please also make me aware if you are trying to conceive Imminent medical tests or procedures Fertility treatment, i.e. I.V.F. or Clomid Frequent miscarriage My feet smell, can I still have Reflexology? Everybody’s feet perspire and there is always some natural odour. Before your session, I always cleanse both feet with anti-bacterial wipes and during a session I use a specially made reflexology wax which is scented (unscented for fertility and maternity treatments.) Your feet will smell wonderful afterwards! For hygiene purposes, I would ask that you wash your feet before coming for a reflexology session. How many Reflexology sessions will I need and how frequently? In general, I would normally recommend having between 4 – 6 sessions once weekly to begin with. To maintain balance and well being, I would recommend having reflexology every 2-4 weeks thereafter. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive then the frequency and timing can vary depending where you are in your menstrual cycle or trimester of pregnancy. Please refer to the relevant pages for further details. Will Reflexology hurt? No, Reflexology should cause no great pain. Some slight tenderness may be felt over certain areas but this usually indicates an energy blockage in the corresponding organ or structure. The tenderness normally reduces after the area has been worked over several times. Overall, Reflexology has a very relaxing effect and the amount of pressure used varies according to your age and state of health. I have ticklish feet – will Reflexology be suitable for me? Reflexology is a pressure therapy and the pressure used during a session is quite firm. You will not be tickled! Can I have Reflexology if I have a Verruca? Yes, the area will be covered with some plaster and avoided during the session. If necessary the corresponding reflex area in the hand can be worked instead. Why do you use the feet for Reflexology? The feet are generally more sensitive and all the nerves in the body end in the feet. There are over 7000 nerve endings in each foot. Reflexology can be done on the hands but the feet are more sensitive and have a larger surface area to work over, making it easier to pick out and work out each reflex point. D oes Reflexology cure diseases or ailments? Reflexology is not intended to cure or be a substitute for medical treatment. Reflexologists are not medical practitioners and are not allowed or propose to diagnose ailments or treat disease. Reflexology can indicate areas of the body where there is stress, tension, congestion or imbalance. It stimulates the body’s own healing ability and promotes well-being, relieves stress and tension and enhances relaxation. It is a complementary therapy and should not be used instead of prescribed medication. Do not alter your dosage or stop taking prescribed medication without prior approval from your G.P. or other medical professional. How does Reflexology work? The body is divided into 10 energy zones, 5 on each side of the spine, running from the big toe, up through to the head. The big toes lie in zone 1, through to the little toes in zone 5. Every organ, muscle and structure of the body lies in one of these zones. The corresponding reflexes are found in the same zones on the hands and feet. Each zone is a channel for the life force, known as ‘prana’ or ‘chi’. Any obstruction or blockage in that energy channel affects the flow of energy to the organs or functions within it, leading to disease. These obstructions can be affected by Reflexologists. By putting specific pressure on the reflexes, blocked energy can be released, restoring a clear flow throughout the body. The body is then able to restore harmony and balance and begin to heal itself. Can I have other complementary therapies while I am having Reflexology? Some therapies can complement Reflexology, like Indian Head Massage, Massage, Chiropractic or Osteopathy but there are some therapies that work in a similar way and it would not be a good idea to have too many therapies at the same time. Therapies such as Acupuncture, Acupressure and Shiatsu work in a similar way to Reflexology so if you have too many of these together then it would be difficult to assess which one is working for you. Can Reflexology cause miscarriage or stillbirth? Maternity Reflexology can’t cause a viable foetus to be miscarried as the aim of Reflexology is to balance the body and to help it function normally. If there is a viable foetus it is very difficult to dislodge it. The majority of miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities. There are many benefits to having a session during pregnancy. Regular sessions throughout pregnancy can prepare you well for labour. Please refer to my page on Maternity Reflexology. Do you have to use oil for Indian Head Massage? The use of oils is optional. If your massage is being done during your lunch hour and you need to get back to work then you may prefer to have the massage done through your clothing, without oil. I would, however, recommend the use of oil as it is excellent for keeping the hair in good condition and helps improve many of the massage techniques. If you are having the massage done in the evening, then I would recommend leaving the oil on your hair overnight for extra benefit. When washing your hair it is advisable to apply shampoo to the scalp before the water in order to help emulsify the oil. How often can I have an Indian Head Massage? For maximum benefit it is recommended that this therapy should be carried out once or twice a week as part of a stress management programme. I would normally recommend having 4 – 6 sessions, close together initially. Is Reiki suitable for everyone? It is totally safe and non-invasive, being appropriate for babies, children and adults. It is also very effective for plants and animals. Link to full Privacy Statement