PERMANENT
STAFF
Gretchen Stevens:
Gretchen
was born in America a very long time ago, and her least
favourite question at seminars and conferences is: "How did
you find out that you had a healing gift?" The answer, basically,
is that the realisation dawned upon her slowly in the same way that
other people begin to recognise they have a natural ability to draw,
or pick out a tune on a piano, or put words together entertainingly
on the page. She doesn't believe that her ability is unique …
rather that it's a talent we all possess to a greater or lesser
degree, but with which most of us have lost touch. Her approach
to healing is informed by her own Christian faith, but she never
proselytises and expects no reciprocal belief from those who come
seeking help. People who arrive at the Centre for the first time
are often nervous, vaguely expecting something mystical or new-agey.
They are always pleasantly surprised by Gretchen's - and indeed
the Centre's - relaxed and resolutely down-to-earth attitude. The
most common sound issuing from behind the treatment room door is
that of laughter.
Moira Briggs:
Moira
is the Centre Manager (at least, that's what it says in her Job
Description). She originally started as a Saturday morning volunteer
in 1990 and nobody seems at all sure how or why she ended up running
the place 14 years later. They just turned their backs one morning,
and there she was - office, computer, large mug of tea and a
three-legged dog. Everybody blames someone else and leaves it
at that. Her background is nothing if not varied - arriving at the
Centre by way of the Civil Service in Oxford, a Solicitors' office
in Cornwall, the Health Service in Cumbria and - as a final flourish
- Outward Bound Eskdale. Her qualifications are diverse, but chiefly
seem to involve typing with one hand whilst eating ginger nuts and
drinking tea with the other, producing newsletters that teeter precariously
on the brink of social acceptability, stamping around moodily on
Monday mornings and going all gooey in the presence of small furry
creatures. If absolutely forced into it (and when she thinks no-one
is looking), she can be quite nice to people, too.
If you
have nothing better to do, you might like to visit Moira's blog:
From the Centre Manager's
desk
VISITING
THERAPISTS:
Sonia Norton:
Sonia
joined the Centre in the Autumn of 2004 when she "retired"
after many year of working within the National Health Service. She
is a Chartered Physiotherapist and has had extensive experience
in the treatment of orthopaedic and musculo-skeletal problems, neurological
conditions (including stroke) and respiratory conditions. She has
specialist knowledge in the management of COPD and asthma. We are
delighted to welcome her to the Centre, as she not only brings with
her years of invaluable experience as a "hands-on" practitioner
but also adds substantially to our mix of available skills. We look
forward to many years of happy co-operation.
Jenny
Bailie:
Jenny
has been with us since the beginning of 2005. She is a Counsellor
and Psychotherapist and a practising member of the Institute of
Transactional Analysis (TA). TA helps us to understand personality
and how people interact with each other. It can be used to
help people understand and change their feelings and behaviours.
We are very pleased to welcome Jenny to the Centre and have no hesitation
at all in recommending her to those who are seeking counselling
and/or psychotherapy.
Angela
Pollard:
Angela originally trained as a nurse and it was through nursing
that she first became interested in complementary therapies - especially
reflexology. She is still nursing, but qualified as a Reflexologist
in 2004 and is continuing her studies. She particular wishes
to use reflexology in a clinic setting with palliative care patients,
the chronically ill and their carers and relatives.
We are
delighted that Angela has joined us and look forward to a long working
relationship with her.
Wendy
Dawes:
Wendy
is a practicing Person-Centred counsellor and a member of the British
Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Person-Centred counselling
offers an understanding and non-judgemental environment in which
to explore our feelings about our troubling issues. This can
help us to find ways forward in our lives that feel right for us.
Pippa
Furlong-King:
Pippa
is an holistic therapist offering – amongst other things - aromatherapy,
reflexology and massage.
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