Overview

This project will create a Transition Town Totnes Complementary Therapy Resource Directory. This directory aims to increase public awareness of local complementary practitioners and the physically–based* (see list below) therapies they offer, and to enable and encourage cooperation between practitioners and practices in preparing for a post-peak oil Totnes.

Whilst NHS mainstream medicine is far more vulnerable to peak oil, vulnerabilities do exist for complementary therapies which need to be identified in detail, solutions planned and implemented. Effective planning for health and wellbeing in a post-peak oil Totnes will depend on collaboration and open communication between all health workers, and with their patient community. It is for this local community, practitioners, patients and carers that this Directory is being created.

The area covered includes: Totnes, Ashprington, Berry Pomeroy, Cornworthy, Dartington, Dean Prior, Diptford, Halwell and Moreleigh, Harberton and Harbertonford, Littlehempston, Marldon, North Huish, Rattery, South Brent, Staverton, Stoke Gabriel.

Contact: Carol Wellwood at healthdirectory.totnes@transitionnetwork.org or call 01803 862750.

Planned approach

The information in the Directory would first be published on the TTT healthcare website, with a disclaimer like the one below, acknowledgements for any sources of information used, and a list of the professional bodies for each therapy.

The format of the hard copy Directory will be similar in appearance to the “Celebration of Local Food” published by TTT’s food group, with suitable illustrations. We will make a small charge for the booklet, hopefully as little as £1. There is no charge for inclusion in the Directory but we require you to be affiliated to a recognised professional body for the therapy you practise.

It will begin with a Caution/Disclaimer, something like the following: "This Resource Directory is the work of Transition Town Totnes’ Health & Wellbeing Group to inform local people of the complementary therapies available in the area. The information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation and is not intended to be relied upon by you in making (or refraining from making) any specific treatment or other decisions. When seeking the help of a health professional, it is your responsibility to check their credentials. Each of the complementary therapies have regulatory organisations that specify training standards, a Code of Ethics and hold a register of their members. For further information please refer to relevant links on this website [or: TTT Health and Wellbeing website, with address]. The information on this website [in this booklet] is given for general interest and information purposes only. While the authors have tried to ensure that the information contained on the website/in the booklet is accurate and up to date, they cannot be responsible for any inaccuracies therein."

Organisation

Then there will be an introductory article by someone with general understanding of the field, not one of the therapists listed, explaining the intent behind the Directory.

The first section of the Directory will be arranged by therapy (provisional list below), with an introductory article for each therapy (of 200 words or less: if you would be interested in contributing such an article for your therapy, please contact me), and links to/addresses of the regulatory organisations for that therapy, following which each practitioner will be listed, in alphabetical order, with the following information:

• Name
• Location (general area)
• Contact details
• Other therapies offered
• Experience
• Training and qualifications
• Statement (something like a “mission statement”)
• Regulatory body(ies) affiliated to

The second section of the Directory will be arranged by practice or practitioner, where they work aone, and each will be listed, in alphabetical order, with the following information:

• Name of practice
• Contact details
• Location/Address
• Hours practice office is open
• Practice Statement
• Practitioners and the therapies they offer (list in alphabetical order)

At the end (or maybe at the front?) of the booklet/web page would be a “Help us to help you” form for users of complementary therapies to fill in and return, in order to help us build a proper picture of current usage of therapies in the town. Questions would include:

How do you stay well?
What complementary therapies do you use?
How often do you use them?
Do you consult a practitioner or buy products over the counter?
How do you decide which therapies to use?
What information do you need to help you to decide what to use?
Have you found this Resource Guide helpful (and if so in what way)?
Is there anything else you think should be added to this Resource guide?

We welcome further suggestions and will consider them all. We plan to have the Directory online by the summer and hard copy published by the end of the year. If you would like a Word version (or similar, e.g. .pdf or Appleworks) of the practitioner and practice ‘Details’ sheets, I can send them as email attachments on request.

*List of therapies

In listing the therapies, we have had to create categories to organise the information but, to be honest, it’s hard to make them fit neatly. So we will use a lot of links on the website and cross-referencing in the booklet. If there are links/cross-references you think we should add, let us know. We will not list diagnostic tools such as iridology or kinesiology separately from the therapies/therapists they are used to inform.

As you will notice, the list excludes counselling, hypnotherapy, NLP, psychotherapy, spiritual, shamanic and other forms of healing. These, being for or operating exlusively through the mind and spirit, are more properly the realm of TTT’s Heart and Soul Group, and may be covered by them at a future date. That said, if you know of a therapy for the body that should be included, please let me know. We hope for as complete a list of therapies available as possible.

Therapies covered will include:

• Acupuncture
  • Western
  • Chinese traditional (link to Oriental Medicine and Bodywork)
• Herbal Medicine
  
  • Aromatherapy
  • Ayurvedic (link to Oriental Medicine and Bodywork)
  • British/European/American
  • Chinese traditional (link to Oriental Medicine and Bodywork)
• Homeopathy
• Traditional Massage
  • Deep Muscle Therapeutic
  • Lymphatic
  • Remedial & Sport
  • Reflexology
  • Swedish
• Naturopathy
• Nutritional therapy
  • Ayurvedic (link to Oriental Medicine and Bodywork)
  • Chinese traditional (link to Oriental Medicine and Bodywork)
  • Macrobiotic
  • Western
• Structural Body Therapies
  
  • Alexander technique
  • Bowen technique
  • Chiropractic
  • Cranio-sacral therapy
  • Osteopathy
  • Rolfing
  • Trager
  • Movement
  • Amerta psycho-somatic
  • Chi kung
  • Capoeira
  • Feldenkrais
  • Pilates
  • Tai chi
  • Yoga
• Oriental Medicine and Bodywork
  • Acupuncture- Chinese traditional (link to Acupuncture)
  • Acupressure
  • Ayurvedic Massage
  • Indian Head Massage
  • Shiatsu
  • Thai Massage
  • Tui