Treetops Hospice has announced a significant new research partnership with Nottingham Trent University (NTU) to examine how complementary therapies can benefit children and adolescents coping with bereavement.
Treetops, based in Risley, provides counselling and complementary therapy services for children and adults, and has seen encouraging anecdotal evidence of the positive impact these interventions can have.
All complementary therapy sessions for young people take place in The Saplings, the hospice’s bespoke children’s centre. The building was created as part of the BBC’s DIY SOS Big Build for Children in Need, which was filmed at the hospice just over two years ago.
The new study will gather insights directly from service users and explore how therapies such as aromatherapy, reflexology, Reiki and Indian head massage can help improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety in young people experiencing grief.
The research collaboration was initiated by Dr Mike Vernon, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at NTU, and Paulo Karat, psychotherapist and academic at Nottingham Law School, part of NTU, following Paulo’s therapy training placement at Treetops.
Paulo said: “Having completed a placement at Treetops, I came away with huge respect and admiration for what the charity does and what it stands for. As academics, Mike and I wanted to find a way for NTU and Treetops to work together. Fortunately, they had the same appetite to work on a collaborative study.”
As a qualitative part of the research, NTU will also explore the experiences of Treetops’ talking therapists, inviting counsellors to reflect on how complementary therapies shape the emotional engagement, wellbeing and progress of the bereaved children and teenagers they support.
Sarah Upton, Complementary Therapist at Treetops Hospice (left), and Alex Silvester, Senior Complementary Therapist at Treetops Hospice (right).
Alex Silvester, Senior Complementary Therapist at Treetops Hospice, said:
“We see every day how complementary therapies can make a real difference for children and young people – helping them relax, easing anxiety, improving sleep and giving them a safe space to process their emotions.
“This research gives us the chance to understand that impact in a more scientific way and gather meaningful evidence about the benefits we witness in our therapy rooms. Working with Nottingham Trent University will help us show the true value of complementary therapy and continue developing the support we offer to bereaved children and teenagers.”
With demand and awareness of complementary therapy continuing to grow, Treetops Hospice is seeking qualified complementary therapy volunteers to support its team and contribute to this important research project.
Find out more about Treetops Hospice’s therapeutic services by visiting its website:https://www.treetopshospice.org.uk/our-services/therapeutic-services/complementary-therapy/
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Lead Photo: Treetops Hospice’s complementary therapy team will be conducting research with NTU into its benefits for children and adolescents coping with bereavement.
About Treetops Hospice
Treetops Hospice is a leading end-of-life care charity in Derbyshire, for adults with life-limiting conditions, people who have been bereaved, and their families.
The charity offers support from the point of diagnosis onwards for patients living with conditions such as cancer, motor neurone disease and heart and respiratory illnesses.
Last year, the Treetops nursing team supported over 2,000 patients, with over 34,000 hours of end-of-life care delivered.
The bereavement counselling team provided more than 5,000 hours of sessions – including over 1,500 for children and young people. The Wellbeing team also offers vital information, guidance, and emotional support to those who need it most.
A donation of £34.50 helps provide a counselling session for a bereaved child. A donation of £108 helps provide nursing care through the night for a patient at the end of life.
Donations are warmly welcomed to help secure the future of the hospice and its services: www.treetopshospice.org.uk/donate
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