My Personal Experience of Using Therapies United - by Lorna Jane Elliott

This article explains how someone with cancer used Therapies United to find a complementary therapist, and her experience.

Background

In October last year I received a diagnosis of secondary breast cancer (bones and lungs). Knowing that I had some tough treatment ahead of me, having had surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy twice before, I decided that this time, I would definitely benefit from and actively seek out some complementary therapy.

I knew I needed to:-
• Stay positive and focused,
• Have as much energy as possible,
• Keep my immune system healthy,
• Alleviate my aches and pains,
• Look after my emotional, spiritual and physical state,
• Relax and feel less stressed,
• Have ‘me’ time to feel pampered.

Choice of Therapies

I wasn’t sure which type of therapy would be the best one for me, considering the treatments/medications, type of cancer etc, so I went to Maggie’s Centre and they gave me the e-mail address of Therapies United. I had a lot of questions in my mind in relation to complimentary therapies for example: -

• Was it alright to have certain therapies and would the therapist be knowledgeable in working with patients who had cancer?
• How would I know that the therapist was qualified?
• Which therapy would benefit me the most?
• What were the therapies available and what did each one do?
• I was housebound; would I be able to find a therapist who would come to my home?
• Would I be charged a fair price?

Making the Right Choice

After reading the information on the Therapies United website, all of my questions were more than answered and I felt confident enough to contact a therapist (Dee Taylor), whom I felt, and of course now know, was the right therapist to understand my needs as a cancer patient, give support and advice, to help me in my healing process throughout all of my treatments and to encourage me to stay positive and get through what can be a very isolating experience.

Therapies United Experience

I think it’s very practical that there is a compiled therapist register and that I can look at all of the therapists' profiles. It provides the personal touch, for example, it was nice to put a face to a name and to read not only about each therapists’ qualifications and experience, but to also find out their ‘Personal Anecdotes’ too.

The register also states the sex of the therapist, which for some people might be an important factor in deciding whom to choose. I felt safe in the knowledge that all of the therapists on the register had undergone complete and rigorous background check.

I enjoy and look forward to receiving the e-newsletter keeping me up-to-date. I often visit the website to read up on the ‘Useful Articles’ page, which I find interesting too.

Feedback

If you would like to share your experiences of using the Therapies United to find a therapist, please let us know. Remember that you can find therapists experienced of working with cancer by selecting the tick box 'cancer' - this helps to filter your search.