Water
Therapy
Water- Therapy ( WT)
Water Therapy ( WT) is an innovative method of emotional therapy, utilizing water as the core therapeutic environment in which the sessions take place. As such, WT is a unique approach for emotional therapy, which is founded on empirically-based knowledge of a variety of current emotional therapeutic methodologies and water treatment methodologies. Unlike currently available methods of water therapy that designed to deal specially with physical condition and restoration.
WT method is intended to provide remedy in different emotional situations such as:
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Bereavement and loss
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Post traumatic stress disorder
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End of life guidance
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Illness and disease
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Fertility treatments, pregnancy and birth
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Growth and development
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A crisis related to severe illness, chronic illnesses and support for terminally patients and their families.
When patients enter the water therapeutic space their body is going through several physical changes:
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The body is in the water and experiences pressure of the water.
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There is a change in the surrounding temperature – from the outside temperature (that could be hot in summer and cold in winter) to the pool's controlled temperature, which is 34-35ºc.
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The body position is changing from vertical (on land) to horizontal (while floating in water).
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The patient is being held by the water and the therapist, and not by the patient.
In addition, on land the patient has many definitions: his or hers profession, expertise, position in groups etc. While entering the water, the patient agrees to put aside these definitions and meet the therapist and the water therapeutic space from a primary and even primeval place.
In WT method we treat patients by a modular protocol, ranging from a short term treatment of 14 meetings up to long term treatments. In this therapy we use techniques from the Watsu (water shiatsu) method combined with a variety of holding techniques and motility inside the water.
This allows the patients to experience a deep process of meeting their difficulties in a safe, accommodating and embracing place. The patient's body learns how to release without experiencing loss of control or helplessness.Therefore, this process allows shifting in the ability and options of living in and within a body.
Many patients sense a regressive experience (the water is warm, the therapist is holding them) which simulates a "beneficial womb". This experience allows the patient to reconsider attachment issues and try safer communication methods. The therapist functions as a regulator, he "loans" himself to the patient in this process . The steady physical support of the water and the therapist assistance in the regulation process provide the patient with an experience of safety.
The WT method, is experiential and non-verbal. This learning is done through breathing techniques, relaxation and giving up control. We teach the patient an alternative way of living by utilizing the "water quality" that was experienced during the water therapy. Emotional treatment increases the sense of control and living . By using these alternative ways we expect to see a change in different aspects of the patient, whether during the water treatment or during the flowing days outside the water.
In every encounter with the water, both the body and mind are considered and treated. Water Therapy provides a dual treatment process for the body, mind and soul and effects the patient's emotions and physical condition.
In addition, WT is also adequate for groups and professional teams: educators, therapists, medical staff and more. We invite them to experience Water Therapy workshops which provides them a unique chance to create a change and growth processes, while exposing them to the great benefits of water learning. They can apply this water learning in their different practices.
Meeting Structure
Verbal Session 1
Body Session
Verbal Session 2
Many patients sense a regressive experience (the water is warm, the therapist is holding them) which simulates a "beneficial womb". This experience allows the patient to reconsider attachment issues and try safer communication methods. The therapist functions as a regulator, he "loans" himself to the patient in his re-regulation process. The steady physical support of the water and the therapist assists in the regulation process and provide the patient with an experience of safety.
In WT method, we invite the patient to experience water learning , which is experiential and non-verbal. This learning is done through working on breathing techniques, relaxation and giving up control. We establish with the patient an alternative way of living by utilizing the "water quality" that was experienced in the water.. By using these alternative ways we expect to see a change in different aspects of the patient, whether during the water treatment or during the following days when the patient is outside of the water.