Rachael Wardle Unit 35
P4 explain how complementary therapies can be used to maintain health and wellbeing
Complementary therapies are often used alongside conventional treatment in order to
improve the quality of care and ensuring that if possible they make improvements to the
health and wellbeing to the service user. They can provide both long and short term benefits
to the service user.
An example of how a complementary therapy could be used in this way is if an individual
with a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety used these therapies to control
their disorder.
Complementary therapies such as massage therapy can be used to relieve tension in an
individual struggling with high levels of stress or anxiety. This will improve both their health
and their wellbeing as it will help them to relax and sleep. By improving an individual’s sleep
and lowering their overall stress levels it will reduce their risk of serious health problems in
the long term.
If someone with major depressive disorder used a complementary therapy such as cognitive
therapy to learn how to deal with the negative thoughts and low moods that come with their
disorder then this will help to improve their well being in the long term as they will learn
techniques from their therapist on how to recognise and deal with thinking errors. Cognitive
therapy can have both long term and short term benefits which can improve the symptoms of
a depressive disorder. This type of therapy will help them in the long term because if they
learn how to put the techniques into practice so that if they relapse into a period of low
moods and negative thoughts then they will be able control it before it becomes serious.
By learning these techniques it will help to ensure that they don’t miss time at work or
school, or hanging out with friends because of their disorder. This will mean that they aren’t
missing time socializing with people or falling behind at work or school. The stress and
anxiety which often follows missing out on school or work can cause low mood or negative
thoughts because it is common for people with these disorders to worry about the long term
effects of missing time off work or school, for example getting fired from work, not earning
enough money to being able to pay bills, being evicted and being made homeless etc.
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/complementary-and-
alternative-therapies/#.XAftPvn7Tcs
https://www.rethink.org/diagnosis-treatment/treatment-and-support/complementary-and-
alternative-treatments
Complementary therapies can also help individuals undergoing cancer treatment or who are
recovering from cancer. These therapies can have both long term and short term benefits
which overall improve the wellbeing of the individual using them. For example a patient
having chemotherapy may have their well being improved from the usage of complementary
therapies such as aromatherapy or massage therapy. This is because some people get a lot
of comfort from touch, talking, and the time that these therapists offer. For example, an
aromatherapist can take the time to make an individual feel cared for and this may help to
improve the quality of life of an individual undergoing cancer treatment. This is because the
therapy will help to make them feel good and will reduce their stress levels. Although this
benefit is most likely to be short term, it is possible for the individual to feel the long term
benefits if they undergo the therapy on a regular basis and for a prolonged period of time.
This is because the body will get used to releasing chemicals in the brain which lower stress
and improve overall happiness and relaxation. As well as this the patient could learn stress
management from their therapist during their time receiving the therapy.
P4 explain how complementary therapies can be used to maintain health and wellbeing
Complementary therapies are often used alongside conventional treatment in order to
improve the quality of care and ensuring that if possible they make improvements to the
health and wellbeing to the service user. They can provide both long and short term benefits
to the service user.
An example of how a complementary therapy could be used in this way is if an individual
with a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety used these therapies to control
their disorder.
Complementary therapies such as massage therapy can be used to relieve tension in an
individual struggling with high levels of stress or anxiety. This will improve both their health
and their wellbeing as it will help them to relax and sleep. By improving an individual’s sleep
and lowering their overall stress levels it will reduce their risk of serious health problems in
the long term.
If someone with major depressive disorder used a complementary therapy such as cognitive
therapy to learn how to deal with the negative thoughts and low moods that come with their
disorder then this will help to improve their well being in the long term as they will learn
techniques from their therapist on how to recognise and deal with thinking errors. Cognitive
therapy can have both long term and short term benefits which can improve the symptoms of
a depressive disorder. This type of therapy will help them in the long term because if they
learn how to put the techniques into practice so that if they relapse into a period of low
moods and negative thoughts then they will be able control it before it becomes serious.
By learning these techniques it will help to ensure that they don’t miss time at work or
school, or hanging out with friends because of their disorder. This will mean that they aren’t
missing time socializing with people or falling behind at work or school. The stress and
anxiety which often follows missing out on school or work can cause low mood or negative
thoughts because it is common for people with these disorders to worry about the long term
effects of missing time off work or school, for example getting fired from work, not earning
enough money to being able to pay bills, being evicted and being made homeless etc.
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/complementary-and-
alternative-therapies/#.XAftPvn7Tcs
https://www.rethink.org/diagnosis-treatment/treatment-and-support/complementary-and-
alternative-treatments
Complementary therapies can also help individuals undergoing cancer treatment or who are
recovering from cancer. These therapies can have both long term and short term benefits
which overall improve the wellbeing of the individual using them. For example a patient
having chemotherapy may have their well being improved from the usage of complementary
therapies such as aromatherapy or massage therapy. This is because some people get a lot
of comfort from touch, talking, and the time that these therapists offer. For example, an
aromatherapist can take the time to make an individual feel cared for and this may help to
improve the quality of life of an individual undergoing cancer treatment. This is because the
therapy will help to make them feel good and will reduce their stress levels. Although this
benefit is most likely to be short term, it is possible for the individual to feel the long term
benefits if they undergo the therapy on a regular basis and for a prolonged period of time.
This is because the body will get used to releasing chemicals in the brain which lower stress
and improve overall happiness and relaxation. As well as this the patient could learn stress
management from their therapist during their time receiving the therapy.
