Complementary Therapies

Our experienced and highly skilled Complementary Therapies team is passionate about delivering therapies in a palliative care setting.

At Claire House, we use Complementary Therapies alongside conventional medicine and treatments. Our therapists use a variety of therapies to help develop and enhance a sense of relaxation, well-being and resilience within our babies, children, young adults and families.

Our Complementary Therapists work collaboratively with other teams from across the hospice, to provide a holistic approach to care. The team provide therapies for the following areas:

• Perinatal
• End of Life Care
• Bereavement
• Stress and relaxation

Benefits of Complementary Therapy

• Can help improve quality of sleep by increasing relaxation.
• Aims to improve the feeling of well-being by reducing anxiety.
• Can ease symptoms of pain therefore improving quality of life.
• Can reduce signs of stress and tension to enhance resilience.
• Aim to reduce symptoms caused by illness or treatment e.g. constipation, nausea, side effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy and fatigue.
• Can help to provide emotional stability, easing fears and anxieties.

What therapies are available?

We offer complementary therapies from our beautiful dedicated treatment rooms at both our Wirral and Liverpool sites.

We offer a range of therapies which may include:

• Reflexology: A non-invasive therapy, based on the theory that different points on the feet, lower leg, hands, face or ears correspond with different areas of the body. Using gentle pressure applied to these points, it can be effective in promoting deep relaxation and well-being.

• Massage: A manual therapy that includes holding, moving, and applying pressure to the muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia. It can help to ease day-to-day stresses and muscular tension and promote relaxation. It helps to increase delivery of blood and oxygen to the treated areas and can also be used in support of other therapies to assist in the rehabilitation of muscular injuries.

• Aromatherapy: The use of essential oils to improve relaxation and well-being. You may apply essential oils (properly diluted) to your skin through techniques like massage and roller balls, or you may choose to inhale the aroma using an essential oil diffuser or aroma stick.

• Reiki: A non-intrusive therapy technique that can give a feeling of well-being in mind, body and spirit. Reiki is the Japanese word for ‘Universal Life Energy’ which is channelled by the practitioner to create a deep state of peace and relaxation.

• Guided Imagery and Visualisation: Relaxation techniques that enable a person to use all their senses and their imagination to help relax the body and develop a sense of well-being.

Find out more about Complementary Therapies

All children and young adults staying at the hospice are offered a treatment during their stay.

Referrals for family members/carers are made to the Complementary Therapy Service via the family’s key worker.

For any questions or queries please email the Complementary Therapy Coordinators on: comp.therapies@clairehouse.org.uk