Continuing our series focusing on all the treatments we offer at WNT this time we are focusing on 'Other Treatments' - read on to find out about what these are and the practitioners who offer them. (And see our earlier focuses on Acupuncture and Massage) Our interviewees here are: Veronica Massa - Facial Therapist extraordinaire Laura Devonshire - Reflexologist, Reiki and Sound healing practitioner Miha Rosta - Acupuncturist and Holistic Coach (here with his holistic coaching hat on) Please tell us a bit about your individual approach and style of treatment? ![]() My approach is 100% natural and holistic. My training background comes from clinical and holistic therapies rather than beauty training which makes my sessions really individualized and focused on the overall wellbeing of the person rather than just limited to the skin. In creating my treatments, I didn’t want to follow a brand but develop them through my experience and knowledge and using my own hand-crafted pure botanical skincare that, over the years, has proven healing even for the most sensitive skins. I create unique therapeutic sessions integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine and Face Reflex Therapies, Clinical & Spiritual Aromatherapy, Women Mysteries, Energy and Sound Healing and Plant Spirit Healing. ![]() My intention for my clients and holistic treatments is to create a space for deep nourishing rest. A space where they can press pause on their busy lives and leave feeling relaxed, grounded and at their most optimal. When it’s the first time working with a new client we will talk through an in depth medical history and lifestyle consultation then start with a general check-in for all subsequent treatments. This is so I can ensure each treatment is tailored specifically to meet them where they are at the time: physically, mentally and emotionally and work accordingly. When working with reflexology and reiki I use my hands to listen and guide and when working with my singing bowls, I listen to how they ‘sing’ to help identify areas and aspects that may require attention. Each of the modalities I work with help to down regulate the nervous system, bringing the mind & body out of the ‘fight, flight, freeze’ response, into ‘rest, digest, repair’, where the body’s own natural healing processes take place. The body’s innate wisdom knows what it needs to do to heal and rebalance, for me it is about helping create an optimal environment to encourage homeostasis. ![]() What I have found over the years of working with people in Mental Health care and as an Acupuncturist is that the most challenging situations are a result of stuck, stagnant mental patterns and beliefs. Which lead to inter-personal challenges and health issues. By changing how we relate to ourselves, we can create a huge impact on how we relate to our life and thus actualizing the desired change. In my approach I utilise my expertise of: - Chinese Medicine, and its understanding of how mental health relates to physical disease - Reflective practice, which I find the most fundamental aspect of learning about ourselves (and each other!) - Embodied practices of Tai chi, Qigong, Self-massage and Meditation, which are excellent at supporting us on our journey towards joy and freedom - The framework of Buddhism, Daoism and basic Psychology so we can put things into a different perspective. Allowing deeper processing. What kind of clients do you mostly treat? ![]() Although men are also welcome, my ideal clients are women that, in their busy lives, need to find a calm moment for themselves to pause, reconnect and re-balance. People come to see me with all sort of health issues that are addressed during the sessions, as well as receiving support in the healing process while receiving palliative health care. Facilitating self-healing is at the core of my work and so my treatments are delivered with caring attention and a heart-centred approach. My sessions work strongly on stress release/management and stress related symptoms as well as emotional & facial tension release. We don't realise how much tension can build up in the muscles of our face, we use our face hundreds of times a day and communicate through our facial expressions. Expressed and suppressed emotions may result in an accumulation of facial muscle tension which the specialised techniques of reflex therapies may steadily dissipate - achieving a corresponding improvement in your sense of well-being. Any health issue and imbalances can benefit from facial therapies and in particular Facial Reflexology including deep emotional disharmony and trauma, post stroke symptoms, hormonal imbalances, ADHD, pain, headaches, fibromyalgia, lack of concentration and memory to just mention few... or as a regular practice to maintain wellness and well-being. People don’t have to be affected by a medical condition to enjoy the benefits of Facial Reflexology – as it is very calming and grounding, it will help you to cope with stress and keep your health in optimum condition. ![]() I work with a range of clients of varying ages. I have on occasion worked with children with wonderful outcomes, however on the whole my clients are adults, often with very busy lives, juggling many different responsibilities and the sessions help them to unwind and destress. Reflexology in particular has a wonderful gift of helping to slow down busy minds and brings clarity of thought and decision making ( one of the MANY beautiful benefits). I work with clients to support them on their fertility journey, with helping to regulate menstrual cycles, overall support for the endocrine system, preparing for IVF and managing stress and anxiety levels whilst navigating through their journey. I support expectant mothers throughout their pregnancy, helping to manage the full range of symptoms: from morning sickness to aches and pains, constipation and sleep disturbances, all the way through to labour preparation. I have also supported birthing partners, teaching them some of the reflex points to help during labour. ![]() Most of the people I see for coaching are those who are having difficulty in terms of personal relationships. We work on those issues by establishing clarity over their priorities, creating healthy boundaries and introducing practices that support them in dealing with any arising overwhelm. In my eyes, Self-compassion and self-care are the foundations for resolving most of our romantic and familial relationship issues. What do you enjoy about using your therapies to work with clients? ![]() An open face is an open heart. Our life story is written in our face. The face displays our thoughts, feelings, emotions, stresses and joys effortlessly and instantaneously. Taking care and attention to your face has a tremendous affect not only to your skin and the way you look but on a deeper level, rebalancing emotions, causing confidence, positivity and self-love to flourish. I see my facial therapies as a way of “healing through the face”; they are soul nourishing practices that help cultivate self-love, self-awareness and mindfulness for empowerment, re-harmonizing the emotions, and realigning with the true self. By working on the face, we can have direct access on the nervous system. The face is richly supplied with nerves and blood vessels. Its closeness to the brain means that stimulus perceived by your senses take the shortest possible route to the control centre of the body to potentially address your health imbalances. It is not a case that most of our senses - vision, smell, hearing, taste - are in our face so that the messages to the brain have a short route to travel. ![]() I love how deeply and profoundly the holistic therapies support my clients through all the different chapters of their lives. It’s really beautiful to see how relaxed clients are when they leave and how this accumulates over time. I feel it is important to have time and space to turn one’s attention inwards and tune into the subtleties that can often get missed living and working in a busy city and world. I feel really grateful to be able to help support them and give them some space to ‘fill their cup’ and go back into their day feeling nourished and revitalised 💫 ![]() For me, this work is about connection and freedom. Building a framework between the clients and I, where we can kindly explore their wishes, desires, fears and concerns. Where they can feel more intimate with themselves, so they can share this intimacy with those they love. My favourite bit is about hearing how they feel more confident in standing up for their needs and slowly making progress towards their desires. What clients say: ![]()
![]() "I wholeheartedly recommend Laura to anyone looking to heal, destress or just relax. The reflexology session I had was amazing!" "I can honestly say I felt like a new person after my session." "It felt like a week’s holiday in one hour!" "The treatment has left me feeling very calm relaxed and with less aches and pains." "I thoroughly enjoyed my reiki session, Laura couldn't have been nicer and the treatment felt very intuitive and personal. I came away feeling better in myself but also with an improved understanding of how I can continue to heal in my own time." "It felt like being in good hands and the relaxing effect stayed with me for a while. I felt rebalanced. She could also identify areas of attention I had not talked about."
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Our acupuncturist and tuina massage therapist Miha is now offering online coaching sessions. Here he explores how a common barrier to good health and well-being, shame, can be met and worked with through online coaching as well as acupuncture and tai chi and quigong (which he also teaches) Coaching: From Shame to Freedom – A Holistic Journey to Healing
Shame and guilt are emotions that can quietly run our lives, but there is a way to move from shame to freedom. As a holistic therapist (Acupuncture, Massage, Tai Chi, Qigong, Coaching), I integrate ancient healing techniques with modern coaching to help you release those heavy burdens. This article will explore how holistic coaching can assist you in overcoming shame, so the pain can transform into empowerment, offering you a gentle, compassionate path to emotional freedom. How Does Shame Affect Your Life and Well-Being? Shame is a deeply ingrained emotion, often showing up as feelings of unworthiness or inadequacy. Whether triggered by past mistakes, societal pressures, or internalized judgment, shame can weigh us down, keeping us trapped in harmful patterns of thought and behavior. When I began my own journey of self-compassion, I realized how much shame had been quietly shaping my life. I thought I had cleared most of the debris, but during the past year, I had to acknowledge that some of my core beliefs still carried the heavy burden of shame. Once I started addressing how I related to myself and my environment, I began to experience lightness and freedom in my own life. How Can Online Coaching Help You Overcome and Release Shame? One of the most effective ways to work through shame is by acknowledging and accepting it for what it is. This may sound counterintuitive, but getting closer to the discomfort is key. In coaching, we create a safe and accepting environment. Gently embracing our vulnerabilities helps us to let those shameful parts come to light. You don’t have to carry that weight forever. Just as in Tai Chi or Qigong, where you embrace discomfort to release it, coaching helps you engage with these emotions in a safe way. Together, we identify where the stuck energy lies—those “anchors” that have held you down for years. What Is Radical Self-Compassion, and How Can It Help Overcome Shame? Radical compassion is an essential tool in the healing process. It involves offering complete self-acceptance (Maitri, in the Buddhist traditions) and kindness to yourself, especially to the parts of you that you may not like or feel most vulnerable. It’s about meeting your shame with curiosity, not judgment. I used to struggle with perfectionism, which was deeply rooted in shame. I thought that if I didn’t perform perfectly, I wasn’t worthy. Through practising radical self-compassion, I began to accept those parts of me that felt ashamed. I even gave my inner critical judge a name—the ‘shamer’—to soften the relationship with it. Think of the “Shame Bell” scene from Game of Thrones. By embracing my imperfections, I was able to release unrealistic expectations and feel a deeper sense of freedom. How Can Chinese Medicine Support Emotional Healing and Release Shame? Chinese Medicine, with its ancient wisdom, offers an almost magical (yet widely researched) approach to addressing emotions like shame and guilt. In Chinese philosophy, emotions are connected to different organs in the body. For example, shame is often linked to an imbalance in the Liver, Heart, and Kidney energy. By addressing specific organs and meridians, Chinese Medicine works to restore balance in the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—releasing stuck emotions that may have shaped your personality over time. Would you like to read more about how Acupuncture and Acupressure can help with shame? [Click here to learn more about emotional healing through Chinese Medicine.] How Can Qigong and Tai Chi Help Build Self-Confidence and Heal Shame? Both Qigong and Tai Chi are gentle, yet appropriately challenging, forms of movement that focus on unity. These practices integrate the body and mind, leading to an increasing quality of stillness and harmony. Over time, this helps form a deeper sense of self-confidence and creates a more compassionate relationship with oneself. Certain Qigong exercises are also immensely helpful in balancing internal organs, directly addressing emotional imbalances. I often suggest these practices in my coaching sessions to enhance the release of shame by engaging the body and breath. It’s not about becoming an expert—it’s about creating a safe space to practice compassion and acceptance while remaining open and reflective. How Does Coaching Help Break Negative Coping Mechanisms Like Perfectionism and Avoidance? Many of us develop maladaptive coping strategies to avoid discomfort, including shame. These strategies might include perfectionism, avoidance, addiction, or self-sabotage. Coaching provides a space where we explore these coping mechanisms, understand why they formed, and develop healthier ways of dealing with life’s challenges. For example, one of my clients used to be avoidant in expressing themselves to their parents. This avoidance was a shield, protecting them from vulnerability. Once they understood this, they were able to develop new habits, deepen their connection with their parents, and create a sense of compassion for their own needs and emotions. Why Is Practicing Self-Compassion Essential for Healing Shame? Self-compassion is the foundation for healing from shame. It’s the practice of treating yourself with the same kindness you would offer to a friend or loved one. This can be difficult, especially if you’ve been your own harshest critic for a long time. In our coaching sessions, we work to build your “muscles of compassion.” You’ll learn to soften your inner dialogue, forgive yourself for mistakes, and embrace your imperfections. This daily practice will help counteract the harsh inner critic that often fuels shame. We’ll also explore the core beliefs and perceptions that contribute to your inner critique, helping you see the world—and yourself—with more clarity. How Can Coaching Help You Embrace Your Authentic Self and Heal Emotionally? Coaching is an adventure of self-discovery, not just a way to fix what’s wrong. It’s about finding healthier ways to be fully present and take up your rightful space in the world. It’s about discovering the hidden parts of yourself that shame has buried. I often see a pattern where people feel they must hide parts of themselves because they don’t feel “good enough.” The truth is, when we fully embrace our shadow sides, they dissolve, leaving behind gems we can use to help ourselves and others. How Does Holistic Coaching Differ from Traditional Therapy in Overcoming Shame? Traditional therapy often focuses on talking through problems to understand the whys. Holistic coaching integrates mind, body, and spirit to help discover the what’s, that can bring about meaningful change. In our sessions, we won’t just talk about shame. We’ll explore how it impacts your body, energy, and daily life. Practices like meditation, movement, reflective writing, and energy work will support your healing journey in a practical and empowering way. How Can You Start Your Journey to Overcome Shame and Find Emotional Freedom? Letting go of shame is a journey, but you don’t have to take it alone. In our holistic coaching sessions, we’ll co-create a space where you can feel safe to explore your emotions, release what no longer serves you (overcoming shame), and step into a more empowered version of yourself. When I first began my healing journey, I didn’t realize how much support I needed. Today, as I continue working through the remnants of my shame with the help of others, I’m finding freedom in ways I never thought possible. Ready to start Overcoming Shame and Step Into Freedom with Holistic Coaching? If you’re ready to release shame and embrace a life of compassion, joy, and freedom, I invite you to explore coaching with me. Together, we’ll work to create a life where you feel empowered, whole, and inspired for the future. Do you have any questions or feel ready to rumble? [Click here to contact me for more information about coaching sessions.] |
AuthorBlogs from the WNT team. For our blogs from before June 2020 please see individual profile pages - it's a good way to get to know practitioners too. Archives
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