Practice Articles Complementary Therapies and Depression

Consent should be thought of as an ongoing process and not a one-off agreement. It is not uncommon for people with dementia or depression to want a treatment one minuite, but not the next. Explain to the client ( prior to treatment) that they can stop the treatment at any stage. Alwalys seek `continued consent`ask the client at regular intervals if they are `OK`and happy to continue with the treatment. If the client walkls or pulls away from you, assume this to mean that they do not want to continue treatment at this time.

In Clinical Reflexology, Knowles and Higgins write that: ``left (200) maintains that reflexologists in private practice should decline to treat people who are obviously experiencing extreme changes in mood, such as severe depresionm, manic states, paranoid ideas, or where there is an altered state of consciousness, as the impact of reflexology could potentially trigger a mental health crisis which the therapist will be ill equipped to resolve ``- perhaps a warning that would apply equally to most therapists, and not just reflexologists (and particuarly those who are recently qualified/have little experience): Remember: if in doubt, do not treat.