What is a holistic therapy?

If you have ever left an appointment feeling like nobody actually asked how you were, you will understand the appeal of holistic therapy.

The word holistic simply means whole. A holistic therapist is interested in more than the sore shoulder or the headache you came in with. They will usually ask about your sleep, your stress levels, what is going on at home, how you have been eating. Not to be nosy, but because these things rarely sit in separate boxes. The shoulder that will not settle is very often connected to the six months you have spent braced against something.

What counts as a holistic therapy?

It is a broad umbrella. Underneath it you will find reflexology, massage, Reiki, aromatherapy, bio energy, craniosacral therapy, counselling approaches, yoga therapy and plenty more. They look quite different from the outside. What they share is the starting point: you are a whole person, not a list of symptoms.

What happens in a session

A first session usually begins with a chat. Your therapist will take a history, ask what brought you in, and explain what they are going to do. The treatment itself might involve touch, or it might not. You will usually stay clothed unless you are having a massage. Afterwards you might feel deeply relaxed, a bit spaced out, or unexpectedly emotional. All of that is normal.

One honest note

Holistic therapies are complementary, which means they sit alongside medical care rather than replacing it. A good therapist will never tell you to stop taking your medication or skip your GP. If anyone does, walk away.

If you are curious to try something, have a look through our directory of holistic therapists across Ireland. Every practitioner listed has been checked by hand, so you can start from a place of trust.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.