Garvald Glenesk Limited

16 Avenue Road

Eskbank

Dalkeith

Midlothian

EH22 3BP

 Telephone (Office)

0131 561 9549

Telephone (Wall Cottage)

0131 654 9566

Telephone (Garden Cottage)

0131 454 0031

E-mail

information@garvaldglenesk.org

Social Therapy:

What is Social Therapy?

The concept social therapy encompasses a broad spectrum of possibilities for persons with disability of any kind; living in community, sheltered employment, shared accommodation, supervised living or living under constant care, adult education programs and so on.

The aim is always to enable the individual human being to experience a fulfilled existence in a social environment with others, to develop personally, and to be able to make a meaningful contribution to his/her community and to society as a whole – in other words, to live and experience a full biography.

In the face of the guiding principles of normalisation, integration and autonomy, social theraputic care organisations have the responsibility of ensuring an individual guidance through life that facilitates the greatest possible amount of independence, but at the same time offers a protected social environment that allows the persons to continue their development and education.

The degree of care, assistance and supervision appropriate for each individual is determined by his or her needs.

Social Therapy has the task of establishing a framework of existence that allows the individual to develop socially, in the work sphere, and in his or her cultural and spiritual life. In addition, it must provide a program of therapies and individual care.

The Challenge of Social Therapy:



Anthroposophical Medicine:

Every three months we are visited by Dr James Dyson a co-founder of Park Attwood Clinic in Worcestershre, where he worked from 1979 to 2003. He has practiced as a doctor in Steiner Waldorf Schools and in centres for social therapy. His areas of special interest are developmental psychology and adult mental health and he is a regular contributor to anthroposophic therapeutic trainings in the UK, USA & Australia.

This medicine is intended to aid the body’s ability to heal. Disease is seen as an imbalance and treatment is given to restore this balance, using homoeopathic, herbal preparations, and other allied therapies such as eurythmy and massage.

Anthroposophical doctors must first have undergone conventional medical training, and only practice anthroposophical medicine once fully-qualified



Eurythmy:

The art of movement initiated by Rudolf Steiner to meet the needs of the modern world, is known as eurythmy. As a therapy, it is used to reduce stress and anxiety, and to improve physical and mental health. Specific movements are shown to the resident who is then asked to imitate them or if they are unable to carry out the movement, support is given by holding their hands or feet in order to do the various exercises.

The various gestures are accompanied by the spoken sounds of the alphabet. These are applied according to the diagnosis given by our anthroposophical doctor, who evaluates the residents' progress four times each year.

The eurhythmist always spends some time before the first session preparing the room as a therapeutic space, and before each session begins they will take some time to prepare and meet the resident.  The movement session usually ends with a period of rest for the resident.

Hauschka Rhythmical Massage:

Our therapist in rhythmical massage works one day per week.  Her work involves a wide range of therapeutic input as well as the several massage sessions offered on the day.

Each person receives up to eight sessions consecutively and at the same time of day, so they begin to set up a rhythm. Building up trust and a therapeutic healing environment for the consultation are central to Hauschka rhythmical massage, and time is taken to create a therapeutic atmosphere in the room in order to prepare the resident for each session. The therapist offers a written and verbal report to our anthroposophical doctor who visits four times each year.