The power of touch for supporting menopausal clients

This month we opened a pre-launch special offer for our new Hormonal Wellness Touch Therapies qualification. The qualification comes following the successful launch of our Diplomas of Hormonal Wellness Mentoring and Coaching, with a view to giving therapists more resources through which to support menopausal clients. Here’s why…

No one’s listening to women

The launch of our Menopause Plus (MPlus) website and associated therapist training, was inspired by hearing the many stories of women who did not and do not feel that they are listened to when it comes to their experience with menopause. Through our work with oncology touch treatments, we often work with women who are experiencing menopause - both naturally, and brought on early through cancer treatment. It is a consequence of the treatment of a conservative 42,000 women affected by cancer per year in the UK alone.

Despite 90% of women experiencing symptoms of menopause, only 40% speak to their doctor about it, and of those, so many feel unseen and unheard.

Dionne said: “I felt like an object. There was no conversation and nothing mentioned about holistic care. When I tried to talk about it and ask questions, there was an air of impatience.”

Naomi said: “I was given three options by my doctor: injections, an operation that was not a hysterectomy but where I might die, and the third option was a hysterectomy. I didn’t want any of those. As a holistic therapist I wanted to do everything naturally and I haven’t had any medical interventions.”

Jane said: “I used to feel like I was a zombie walking the earth and there was nobody to help me because no one understood. My family, my doctor - they just wanted to give me HRT, and it’s about so much more than that.”

While therapists are not doctors, and cannot provide medical support, most of the women we speak to, are not looking for that - they simply want someone to listen. Therapists are in a strong position to fill that gap, and in many cases are already doing so. Our Mentoring and Coaching diploma was created to make sure therapists have what they need to provide that support.

Read about the menopause gap in therapist training

Why create touch therapies especially for menopause?

Offering empathy and an understanding ear is only part of the power that therapists yield when it comes to supporting women through menopause. As we know, the greatest tool in our arsenal are the touch treatments that we are able to offer.

Therapist, Naomi, who has also been through menopause, says: “We are able to help, as a listening ear but also in the nurturing treatments we give - things like reflexology and aromatherapy. Those things that are great for grounding women and reminding them they’re a person, they exist and they deserve this care - don’t feel guilty about it.”

The treatments protocols that we have created give therapists the ability to understand and provide tailored support to menopausal women, from the moment they step into the room. 

The consultation is designed to gain information but without being intrusive, while treatments combine the touch, acupressure and aromatherapy to support the hormonal wellness and circadian rhythm (daily fluctuations in hormone levels which make us sleepy or wake us up) of the client. The treatments are all designed in combination with our plant-oestrogen fuelled MPlus skincare collection, crafted for women to help them to enjoy their menopausal years, and available for retail purchase as well.

Aromatherapy for menopause

Aromatherapy can be extremely supportive for anyone going through menopause, as long as you know what you’re doing with your blends. For example, geranium has been linked to helping menopausal women manage hormonal changes.

In our treatments, aromatherapy isn’t just just used in skincare products. We have also developed MPlus diffusers that start supporting clients from the moment they step into the treatment room.

Hormonal touch therapies

Treatments such as massage and reflexology, can provide relief and support for menopausal symptoms. Lots of people find that reflexology helps to aid relaxation, improve mood, release tension, enhance sleep and ease water retention, amongst a variety of benefits that are much appreciated during menopause! Of course, massage is generally a great way to relieve stress and tension. It can also help with water retention, which some may suffer with during menopause. 

Our hormonal wellness touch therapies use movements that work on the client’s circadian rhythms and hormonal wellness. Treatments are matched to the client’s symptoms, concentrating on the acupressure points which Traditional Chinese Medicine tells us are most effective in managing your symptoms. When the client leaves, you will put a magnetic acupressure plaster on the points that you have matched to their needs, and give them a symptom specific wellness and lifestyle guide and a product prescription.

We also have a beautiful facial, which is matched to the symptom group you have identified as being significant to your client. We acknowledge Ayurvedic wisdom during the facials, concentrating on the relevant marma points using a kansa wand to lift and sculpt the face whilst addressing the underlying concerns.

The hormonal wellness courses have been created in an acknowledgement that there is a gap in how menopausal women are supported, and it’s a space that therapists are in a wonderful position to fill. 

This qualification takes touch therapies to the next level. If you would like to sign up early and take advantage of our special offer, please follow the link below.