MM Therapy
Can reflexology prove effective for children with special needs? MM investigates
The power of
Studies into the effects of the power of touch in children with special needs have been examined for some time now. In 2015, for example, a massage
treatment developed for children with autism was found to lessen its severity by a third in the first five months after diagnosis, making the treatment an effective early intervention. The treatment, which was developed
by Dr Louisa Silva from the Oregon-based Qigong Sensory Training Institute, was found to be effective for both high- and low-functioning autistic children. While most autism treatments require
some degree of language and ability to focus, Dr Silva’s treatment removed those barriers by centring on a fifteen-minute, whole-body massage. Dr Silva also trained parents to use the treatment on a daily basis with children under the age of six, and it quickly became the subject of a two-year replication study to assess its effectiveness. RoseAnna Gallop is one of only six
people in Northern Ireland who can currently deliver innovative reflexology courses for both children with special needs and their parents. RoseAnna was previously a classroom
assistant and, as such, understood only too well the pressures and stresses that children can often go through, even without the complexities of conditions like autism. ‘Through my work, I witnessed the
difficulties and stresses that were particularly prevalent in children with special needs,’ RoseAnna told MM. ‘I felt that I wanted to do something to help ease these stresses and so, Once I’d completed my training in aromatherapy and reflexology, I decided to take a career break and work in an area in which I could help them.
42 Modernmum ‘I decided to train in The Children’s
Reflexology Programme, which is specifically designed to coach parents to do reflexology on their own children. I then qualified qualified in delivering the course to both children with special needs and their parents, and the results have been just incredible. ‘Reflexology empowers parents and
carers to be able to offer their children a non-invasive complementary therapy at home at any time of the day or night from something that they love and feel safe with. The therapy not only helps a child to cope with the ordinary stresses of everyday life, but also helps to strengthen the bonds between carers and children.
Case study
As a former beauty therapist, Gosia was familiar with reflexology and the benefits it could bring to clients, so when her six-year-old son, Matthew, was diagnosed last year with Asperger’s Syndrome, Gosia knew that he would benefit from the practice. ‘There’s so little practical help around for both children who are diagnosed on the
spectrum and for their parents,’ says Gosia. ‘As a parent, you feel helpless and want to do something that will help your child. I knew that Matthew would benefit from reflexology and I knew that it would help me too, because it made me feel that I was doing something proactive and positive for my child.’ Gosia contacted RoseAnna through Facebook and went along for a session. At first
Matthew didn’t want to co-operate because, as he told his mum, he didn’t ‘want tickled’. RoseAnna explained to Gosia what to do and gave her various materials. Over time, Gosia managed to convince Matthew to let her touch his feet. ‘What I found was particularly useful was to let him read the ‘story of reflexology’ as I
was massaging his feet,’ she says. ‘Matthew is very bright but it’s difficult for him to stay focused for a long period of time. He’s definitely more willing to participate now because he’s more interested in the story. He needs to understand what’s happening and why. I know that, over time, I will see the benefits for him, but, thanks to my previous experience with reflexology, I know that it’s not going to be a quick ‘fix’. Just knowing that I’m doing something positive is helping me feel more empowered and not in a position of helplessness.’
touch ‘Reflexology has so many benefits for
children with special needs. In children, for example, who are non verbal, or who struggle to deal with their emotions, it can help to improve speech, social interaction and communication, and also help to improve self esteem and confidence. ‘The primary benefit that reflexology
provides to children with special or additional needs is relaxation. As in adults, relaxation can combat fatigue and anxiety, improve energy levels and the quality of sleep and also have a beneficial effect on the thought process. After a soothing massage or reflexology session, children with special needs have been shown to have more focus and seem less highly strung. It’s incredible how effective it is.’
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