At ITH we offer standard medical treatment, a range of allied and complementary therapies, a herbal dispensary, specialised health education and services designed to promote social contacts and needs.They are all experienced and well qualified therapists with professional accreditation

PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE:

Our GPs are members or fellows of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. While each of them has particular clinical experience and expertise (click on Our Practitioners) they offer the following services:

• family health care,
• skin cancer clinic,
• care for acute and chronic illness,
• palliative care,
• counselling
• minor surgical procedures

ALLIED AND COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH CARE

Currently, these practitioners at Invitation to Health are a clinical nurse specialist, clinical psychologist, osteopath, acupunturist/chinese herbalist, dietician/nutritionist, Bowen therapist and homeopath/naturopath/massage therapist.

Specialist Nursing.

The doctors at ITH are supported by our clinical nurse specialist, who maintains the treatment room and also conducts minor surgical procedures. He interviews all new patients, taking their vital measurements and conducting nutritional assessments. He also conducts health assessments and designs care plans for patients with asthma, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Brenton acts as a patient advocate, answering any further questions after the doctor’s consultation, streamlining procedures for tests and scans, organising services and agencies to assist patients in their homes and clarifying any other outstanding matters. He offers advice and education to patients on a broad range of topics, including supporting pregnant women in his capacity as an experienced midwife.

Clinical Psychology.

Psychologists are experts in human behaviour, having studied the brain, memory, learning, human development and the processes determining how people think, feel, behave and react. Clinical psychologists have specialist post-graduate training in the assessment, diagnosis and provision of evidence-based interventions for the major psychological disorders and mental illnesses, as well as for addressing ordinary, everyday problems.

Common reasons for seeing a psychologist are for

• Depression
• Stress, phobias and anxiety disorders
• Coping with chronic illness
• Eating disorders
• Acute and chronic pain disorder
• Assessment for educational, insurance or legal purposes
• Rehabilitation and return to work programmes
• Help for parents with childrens’ behavioural and emotional problems
• Families or couples with relationship problems
• Help adjusting to life transitions such as pregnancy and childbirth, marriage, separation and divorce, ageing, retirement, bereavement and grief
• Cigarette smoking and alcohol and drug abuse

Osteopathy.

Osteopathy embodies a holistic approach to patient care. It is based on the belief that the human body operates as a total functional unit with all parts interrelated and structure being closely associated with function. Damage to one part of the body can have an adverse effect on the other systems or organs.
Osteopaths emphasise and work to support homeostasis; the body is a self -regulating mechanism. This potential to repair and heal is optimised when the musculoskeletal system is mechanically sound, allowing sufficient circulation of blood and other body fluids, nervous system conductivity, optimum function of internal organs and adequate production and delivery of the body’s natural nutrients. Treatment may involve a variety of manual techniques such as massage, gentle mobilisation (also know as articulation), muscle stretching and indirect release techniques. They can also be augmented by the use of acupuncture.

Osteopathic treatment is most commonly sought for musculoskeletal conditions such as:

• Back and neck pain
• Postural and or mobility problems
• Arthritis
• Joint pain
• Sports injuries
• Back pain during and after pregnancy
• Repetitive strain injuries(RSI)
• Head pain such as: migraines, neuralgia and headaches.
• Direct manipulation of joints.

Osteopathy can also be of great benefit for the treatment of menstrual problems, chronic fatigue, digestive problems, circulation and breathing disorders.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) comprises an ancient group of therapies that have been practiced in China for at least 5000 years. TCM includes techniques like acupuncture, massage, moxabustion (burning herbs on acupuncture needles), cupping and herbal remedies.

TCM is based on the fundamental principle that everything changes or moves. In TCM, health is represented as a balance of yin (negative, dark, and feminine) and yang (positive, bright, and masculine). These two forces represent the bipolar manifestation of all things in nature, and because of this, one must be present to allow the other to exist. The shift in the balance of yin and yang is very natural. Such as when one is angry, yang is said to predominate. It is when the balance is consistently altered, and one (be it yin or yang) regularly dominates the other, that health is compromised, resulting in illness and disease.

In Chinese Medicine, the same diseases will manifest in slightly different ways for each individual. So five people with, for example insomnia, may receive five different herbal remedies and five different acupuncture prescriptions, and these may change over time, depending on the changes in the patient.

Some of the conditions that respond well to TCM are:

• Gastrointestinal complaints
• Cancer support
• Women’s health, including fertility and symptoms of menopause
• Child health
• Pain management
• Stress reduction

Dietician and Nutritionist

Dietitians are trained to give expert, scientific advice on a variety of food and nutrition issues. In private practice, they address the specific health and lifestyle needs of their patients. These can be related to chronic medical conditions or to improving quality of life. Dieticians and nutritionists need a basic university degree in science and a post-graduate diploma or degree in nutrition and dietetics. They work in a variety of hospital and community settings as well as in health promotion and public health.

Dietary advice can be sought for:

• Diabetes or Insulin resistance
• Weight management, either weight gain or weight loss
• Athletic performance
• Optimising health
• Food allergies and sensitivities
• Many other diet related medical conditions

Bowen Therapy

Bowen therapy is a gentle hands-on treatment consisting of rolling moves done over precise points on the body. The moves stimulate the body’s healing processes through correcting disease-causing imbalances. It has been called a vibrational medicine technique. It has also been described as the equivalent of a “hands-on homeopathy” whereby the moves are like diluted sensations at key points, that trigger the body to go into repair mode, rather than being forced to make a change, as with physio-type mobilisations or manipulation.

This therapy is indicated for:

• Back pain and sciatica
• Neck and shoulder problems
• Migraines, headaches and vertigo
• R.S.I. conditions, such as tennis elbow
• Hip, knee and ankle problems
• Sports and work related injuries
• Respiratory conditions, hayfever and sinusitis
• Chronic fatigue and M.E.
• Women’s health problems
• Digestive system problems

For further information, the official Bowen Academy website is: www.bowtech.com.

Naturopathy

Naturopathy aims to prevent and/or treat disease by supporting the healing capacity of the body. It also helps patients to deal with emotional hurdles in their lives. The main area of focus in naturopathy is the “vital force” or constitution of the person, with treatment being chosen according to the strength of the constitution.
Naturopaths use specialised diagnostic techniques, including iridology and kinesiology. The remedies that they prescribe principally include homeopathy, herbs and nutrition. Whether you are recovering from an illness, striving to prevent illness, beginning a health building program or looking for ways to achieve your ideal weight, natural health care offers you many choices.

Naturopathy can assist you to:

• Boost your energy levels and vitality
• Speed your recovery from illness
• Strengthen your immune system
• Understand how the body heals itself naturally
• Introduce simple health building habits

As well as the range of educational activities carried out in our conference facility, ITH offers mentoring and supervision to undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, and students in the various complementary health disciplines.

Activities in The Shed

Our conference facility, The Shed, offers an open, creative and healing space where patients of ITH and the general public can explore different and complementary pathways to health. It contains an office/reception area , library, board room furniture and kitchen facilities. The Shed can be used either as one large hall, or divided into two more intimate, but generously sized meeting rooms. There is also a “wet area” for art therapy activities.

Morning teas where socially isolated patients can meet and chat and staffed by volunteers from the community, are held on a regular basis in The Shed.

The Shed is available for hire for conferences, courses, workshops and meetings of community groups.
Currently the regular classes held in the shed during school term times include Pilates, Meditation, Yoga and Arts for Health. Other health programs are offered throughout the year, such as Art Therapy, Chronic Pain Management using the Feldenkrais technique, and Buteyko breathing techniques for asthma relief.

One of our most exciting new initiatives is the Arts for Health programme. Classes are held every week during school term time. Arts for Health offers a combination of artistic practices - visual art, drama, movement, storytelling, creative writing and craft – made accessible for everyone. NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY - we are all artists at heart! These classes give us a chance to explore our creative potential, share and have fun in a relaxed environment.
A new theme is explored each week.
Sessions are from 10-12 every Thursday starting 27th May.
The cost is $20 (or $15 concession) per session, including materials and morning tea.

During each school holiday period, a 5 day, intensive stress-management program is run by clinical psychologist, Dr Susan Ballinger. Brochures on this course are available from reception. A referral from your doctor or therapist is required for participation in the course.

Links with Universities and Professional Societies.

Dr Penny Caldicott at ITH is accredited with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to provide mentors for GP registrars undergoing general practice training. She is also expecting medical students from the University of Newcastle to undergo supervision at the Centre from 2005.

The University of Newcastle’s Department of Herbal Studies plans to establish a student clinic in the ITH Centre, to enable students to have supervised contact with patients as an integral component of their studies.