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Bowen technique

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Hi I was wondering if anyone on here has tried this therapy for their children?

Our 13 year old son who has aspergers and massive anxiety problems is on a daily basis hyperventilating and being generally tense all this is causing him to have a lot of pain round his shoulder,back,neck and ribs, along with having a sleep phobia so not getting quality sleep either. So I phoned a local therapy place and they have suggested trying the Bowen technique, and we have an appointment next week only thing is I am now wondering if we are just going to be handing money over and getting nothing back from it and our poor son still going through all this pain and stress, that sounds a bit cynical doesn't it :unsure:. Any thoughts much appreciated

biker69

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I haven't heard of it, but in my opinion, I would be wary of anything that treats the symptoms rather than the cause, i.e. it treats your son's manifestations of anxiety rather than seeking to remove/reduce/teach coping strategies for the actual cause of the anxiety.

 

Have you spoken to your GP for their input/opinion?

 

I have no idea what this technique involves at all, but I would be asking about how they intend to tweak it to make it AS friendly; for instance, some of the terminology and exercises involved in other types of therapy involve work on feeling states and non-literal language which can be difficult for some individuals on the spectrum.

 

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I've heard of this but not actually met anyone who's tried it. From what I understand it's a form or relaxation in which the patient has gentle movements applied to the spine and various other parts of the body (the gentle 'rolling' of muscle, nerves and tendons).

 

Seems to be fairly well regarded and, from what I can gather, doesn't necessarily involve an never ending series of sessions (typically two to five sessions for most conditions).

 

However as your son is AS, having someone touch him could be an issue so it would be down to the pair of you to decide whether that was practical/possible.

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I haven't heard of it, but in my opinion, I would be wary of anything that treats the symptoms rather than the cause, i.e. it treats your son's manifestations of anxiety rather than seeking to remove/reduce/teach coping strategies for the actual cause of the anxiety.

 

Have you spoken to your GP for their input/opinion?

 

I have no idea what this technique involves at all, but I would be asking about how they intend to tweak it to make it AS friendly; for instance, some of the terminology and exercises involved in other types of therapy involve work on feeling states and non-literal language which can be difficult for some individuals on the spectrum.

 

 

Hi Mumble

 

thanks for the reply, I know what you mean about managing the anxieties we have tried different things but nothing seems to help. We have seen lots of so called experts over the years, and at the moment we are still attending appointments with Cahms but to be quite honest they are not much help and only seem to be interested in putting him on medication, but we are talking about a boy that won't even take a headache tablet let alone anything stronger.

Speaking to the person about the Bowen technique it did make sense what he said and it seems to have good reports for reducing anxiety. Cahms did try cognitive behaviour therapy before but it wasn't making any difference at all and aside from medication I think they are at a loss themselves, so I guess we will try this idea next week, fingers crossed it may help :rolleyes:

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I've heard of this but not actually met anyone who's tried it. From what I understand it's a form or relaxation in which the patient has gentle movements applied to the spine and various other parts of the body (the gentle 'rolling' of muscle, nerves and tendons).

 

Seems to be fairly well regarded and, from what I can gather, doesn't necessarily involve an never ending series of sessions (typically two to five sessions for most conditions).

 

However as your son is AS, having someone touch him could be an issue so it would be down to the pair of you to decide whether that was practical/possible.

 

Hi TheNeil

 

yeah what you have wrote sounds right and from what I have read it sounds like it is a very relaxing therapy without pressure touch, so there is no worry about any discomfort and our Son is ok with touch as long as its not his feet, definite no go there :rolleyes:.

Anyway I think we will give it try. Thanks for the reply

biker69

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Cahms did try cognitive behaviour therapy before but it wasn't making any difference at all and aside from medication I think they are at a loss themselves, so I guess we will try this idea next week, fingers crossed it may help :rolleyes:

If it doesn't do any harm, then it's worth a go, even if it only offers short term relief. :thumbs: It sounds interesting - wonder if I can get it on the NHS :lol: :lol: :ph34r: - I can cope with consistent firm pressure but not light touch.

 

Medication is a difficult one and has to be based on individual need. My personal opinion is that it shouldn't be used as a substitute for 'solving' the underlying cause but if it helps the individual access other therapy that they may not have been able to access (due for instance to anxiety) then it may be helpful. I for instance have used it to (literally) get through the door for other support.

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If it doesn't do any harm, then it's worth a go, even if it only offers short term relief. :thumbs: It sounds interesting - wonder if I can get it on the NHS :lol: :lol: :ph34r: - I can cope with consistent firm pressure but not light touch.

 

Medication is a difficult one and has to be based on individual need. My personal opinion is that it shouldn't be used as a substitute for 'solving' the underlying cause but if it helps the individual access other therapy that they may not have been able to access (due for instance to anxiety) then it may be helpful. I for instance have used it to (literally) get through the door for other support.

 

Hi Mumble

 

I got to say I really don't want to go down the medication route, I know it works well for some people but it scares me a bit and my Son like I say won't even take a headache tablet. This is one of the things that annoy me with Cahm's, they will not give alternative therapies a chance.

What do you mean by using it to get you through the door, what other support did it get you? hope you don't mind me asking :)

biker69

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Here's some information about it:

 

http://www.thebowentechnique.com/content/faq.htm

 

It sounds a bit like craniosacral therapy to me.

 

K x

 

 

Hi Kathryn

 

thanks for that looks really interesting, lot of information. It does sound a bit like cranialsacral. We went to see a lady a year or so ago and she practised all sorts of stuff like that and while she was treating my son she made him so relaxed that he fell asleep, now that is quite a miracle as sleep and him do not mix, we could do with having her here :lol:

biker69

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What do you mean by using it to get you through the door, what other support did it get you? hope you don't mind me asking :)

I don't mind you asking. :) I think I've confused you though because I think I've used a metaphor in a literal sense. :oops: I was too anxious to go into see the therapist. The medication reduced the anxiety to allow me to very literally open the door and go in.

 

I am currently having CBT and I have also had an assessment for specialist input. My anxiety was previously so high that even talking to these people was impossible and building up the relationship needed for therapy impossible. With medication I was able to take the edge off my anxiety enough to attend the first few appointments.

 

BUT, it's also about the therapists being willing to be flexible and adapt. I'm having a much longer course of CBT than normal and we also deal with other issues and work in a very flexible way. I now get on very well (generally - I have my off days! :whistle:) with my therapist and can talk to her quite openly - but I would never have reached that stage without the combination of additional time and medical support to get through the initial appointments (I no longer take anxiety meds).

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I don't mind you asking. :) I think I've confused you though because I think I've used a metaphor in a literal sense. :oops: I was too anxious to go into see the therapist. The medication reduced the anxiety to allow me to very literally open the door and go in.

 

I am currently having CBT and I have also had an assessment for specialist input. My anxiety was previously so high that even talking to these people was impossible and building up the relationship needed for therapy impossible. With medication I was able to take the edge off my anxiety enough to attend the first few appointments.

 

BUT, it's also about the therapists being willing to be flexible and adapt. I'm having a much longer course of CBT than normal and we also deal with other issues and work in a very flexible way. I now get on very well (generally - I have my off days! :whistle:) with my therapist and can talk to her quite openly - but I would never have reached that stage without the combination of additional time and medical support to get through the initial appointments (I no longer take anxiety meds).

 

Hi Mumble

 

its not hard to confuse me :P I confuse myself sometimes! it's good that you are able to get on with the therapist and that you are finding CBT useful :)

biker69

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I've not tried it with my son but have it myself as I have terrible problems with my back. It really works but I can't understand why as it's so non-invasive. I would now use it in preference to osteopaths or physios. Its success may depend on the therapist, of course, and how it would help with anxiety I don't know but my back and neck problems are anxiety realted and it helps with those. I hope this helps.

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I have had it once and it was a very pleasant relaxing experience.

 

My son also had a session for an hour and he loved it. It made him feel very floppy and relaxed just what he needed at the end of school. We were supposed to go back a week later but had to cancel the appointment due to him having a temperture. I have also been studying and doing exams but that is now complete I will book another session up.

 

 

Normally there are side effects of the treatment eg hot or tingling etc. My son actually experienced effects which the therapist had not experienced before. But he does have a lot of sensory problems so I think this would be expected.

 

 

I will book another session as it made my son feel relaxed and wonderful. The therapist said he should sleep very well but he did not. However, this is normal for him especially at the end of term.

 

I also prefer to use other treatments apart from medication and it is also important to address what is causing the child anxiety. But my child goes to a very forward thinking normal school, has full support and nothing is too much trouble for them to address. But my child will always have anxiety about going to school due to the sensory experience.

 

The Bowen treatment also states to use Bowen in conjuction with a chiropractor and other treatments were also suggested. This treatment can not sort out all things.

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I have had it once and it was a very pleasant relaxing experience.

 

My son also had a session for an hour and he loved it. It made him feel very floppy and relaxed just what he needed at the end of school. We were supposed to go back a week later but had to cancel the appointment due to him having a temperture. I have also been studying and doing exams but that is now complete I will book another session up.

 

 

Normally there are side effects of the treatment eg hot or tingling etc. My son actually experienced effects which the therapist had not experienced before. But he does have a lot of sensory problems so I think this would be expected.

 

 

I will book another session as it made my son feel relaxed and wonderful. The therapist said he should sleep very well but he did not. However, this is normal for him especially at the end of term.

 

I also prefer to use other treatments apart from medication and it is also important to address what is causing the child anxiety. But my child goes to a very forward thinking normal school, has full support and nothing is too much trouble for them to address. But my child will always have anxiety about going to school due to the sensory experience.

 

The Bowen treatment also states to use Bowen in conjuction with a chiropractor and other treatments were also suggested. This treatment can not sort out all things.

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I have had it once and it was a very pleasant relaxing experience.

 

My son also had a session for an hour and he loved it. It made him feel very floppy and relaxed just what he needed at the end of school. We were supposed to go back a week later but had to cancel the appointment due to him having a temperture. I have also been studying and doing exams but that is now complete I will book another session up.

 

 

Normally there are side effects of the treatment eg hot or tingling etc. My son actually experienced effects which the therapist had not experienced before. But he does have a lot of sensory problems so I think this would be expected.

 

 

I will book another session as it made my son feel relaxed and wonderful. The therapist said he should sleep very well but he did not. However, this is normal for him especially at the end of term.

 

I also prefer to use other treatments apart from medication and it is also important to address what is causing the child anxiety. But my child goes to a very forward thinking normal school, has full support and nothing is too much trouble for them to address. But my child will always have anxiety about going to school due to the sensory experience.

 

The Bowen treatment also states to use Bowen in conjuction with a chiropractor and other treatments were also suggested. This treatment can not sort out all things.

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im JUST the same as your son i very tense in my neck shoulders etc so i can personally relate to him i think mine's due to anxiety probs i have! and worry and stress over 'everything' literally! plus tend to have my head down alot due to eye contact i use lavender rub into body parts affected by this and tends to relaxs tired tense muscles etc but also may need other input too such as meds therapy to help pyschology meet his needs and explore himself and anxiety together further with advice etc good luck with everything!

XKLX

 

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Hello,

 

I am new to the group and I know this is an old line of questions but I wanted to post this eposide of the the American Autism Show for anyone who was still interested in Bowen therapy. Please watch this show that gives you details of what Bowen therapy is all about. I like the example given of the garden hose with your foot on it. It does not flow, with this therapy it is like lifting all the feet of our hoses.

 

If this link does not work you go to www.ustream.com, do a search for the American Autism Show and Bowen is eposide 5.

 

 

Bowen therapy on American Autism Show

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Hi RG -

 

As this is your first/only post on forum, I hope you won't mind me asking if you have any specific interest in Bowen technique, as it seems such an 'odd' thing to dig out for a first post, particularly from such an old thread(?). Are you perhaps a Bowen therapist, or someone who has tried/used bowen therapy?

Thinking this was new thread i quickly googled bowen technique. Not the most reliable source of info, I know, but wikipedia has an article here:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowen_Technique

 

I was going to point this quote to biker girl

 

Variations of soft tissue manipulation are practised in the UK medical system, however Bowen Therapy remains an unproven, and not widely accepted therapy.

 

and point her towards the bottom paragraph on 'application' because I couldn't see how this could be relevant to autism and stress, other than as a variation on the theme of massage, which is a more widely recognised and accepted form of therapy.

 

L&P

 

BD

Edited by baddad

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Hi RG -

 

As this is your first/only post on forum, I hope you won't mind me asking if you have any specific interest in Bowen technique, as it seems such an 'odd' thing to dig out for a first post, particularly from such an old thread(?). Are you perhaps a Bowen therapist, or someone who has tried/used bowen therapy?

Thinking this was new thread i quickly googled bowen technique. Not the most reliable source of info, I know, but wikipedia has an article here:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowen_Technique

 

I was going to point this quote to biker girl

 

 

 

and point her towards the bottom paragraph on 'application' because I couldn't see how this could be relevant to autism and stress, other than as a variation on the theme of massage, which is a more widely recognised and accepted form of therapy.

 

L&P

 

BD

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Hi,

No I am not a Bowen therapist but I am the co-host to the American Autism Show and I knew we had a show on the topic. I had not heard of this therapy until about 6 months ago. My friend is a therapist though and really speaks highly of it and so do his clients. I have not tried it on my kids as of yet to say what my opinion is.

 

I like to provide information on all therapies and parents can make up their mind if they see the value in them or not. ABA was not widely accepted when I started with my son or SI therapy but it is used in schools now. I was an iLs listening technician and I joined the list because during an autism search on google this group came up with someone asking questions about that therapy.(which changed our lives for the BETTER) I also tried Dore with great success, Learningbreakthrough, vitamins all with success and as an mom with a 20 year old I feel it is my job to share what I have learned along the journey, the good, bad, ugly, expensive, waste of time or just fun.

 

Hope that meets your group standards of what is ok. Just want to help families.

 

Rebecca

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Hi again -

 

Watched a little bit of the video, and TBH as soon as they/you started talking about how popular this therapy is in Europe (which seems to be something of an overstatement in this part of Europe!) and 'energy lines' etc I wrote the whole lot off as psychobabble... Yes, I probably am cynical, but my son's doing very well, thanks very much, without any intensive programmes like DORE, ABA or anything else, and I've always struggled to understand how once a child has been subjected to programmes of this nature you can actually define what advances they might make are down to the 'programme' and what they would have been able to achieve without the programme? I'm not surprised if your friend is a therapist that he speaks very highly of the treatments he offers. It would be a very unusual marketing strategy to not speak highly of them!

 

I noticed the programme you make is funded by donations from viewers. TBH, I'm pretty cynical and sceptical about things like that too.

 

L&P

 

BD

Edited by baddad

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Hi,

I am so happy for you that your child did so well without intervention. Did they have OT, PT, Social Skills Classes or Speech? My kids were quite severe. If I had to do it all over again I would have done all the therapies I did because I saw jumps in my kids ability with each therapy,(Not all kids did all the therapies). I do understand what you are saying but I also did the programs myself (not Bowen) because I have adult ADHD and I did feel and see the measurable results. If I could improve at my old age in my 40's....at that time. Remember my kids are 19 and over so these were all over 17 years. Plus if you are into research about neuroplasticity you will see that target activity does grow neural-pathways. Things like in the integrated Listening program where my son suddenly stopped yelling when he was next to me, are things that would not have improved on their own. Or like when my son with autism stopped covering his ears overnight after the first session of listening.

 

As for the show it is just passing along information and Bowen did not pay a cent for that show. I think I will see if I can go back and just delete that post as I see you are uncomfortable with it.

 

I wish you well,

 

Rebecca

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I think it's just that in ths country you will find people tend to use established interventions, like OT, physio and SALT.

 

We want to support our children to reach their full potential, but there is less of a movement here to want to 'cure' autistic children.

 

Bid :)

Edited by bid

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Hi,

I am so happy for you that your child did so well without intervention. Did they have OT, PT, Social Skills Classes or Speech?...

 

As for the show it is just passing along information and Bowen did not pay a cent for that show. I wish you well,

 

Rebecca

 

Hi again Rebecca - Yes, my son did receive input from OT's, a social communication group and S&LT. I'm not sure if you're trying to suggest that 'Interventions are interventions' and that the fact that my son had access to some somehow implies a double standard or validates all/any interventions, but if so I think that logic is completely flawed(?)

 

Like the Bowen system, I didn't really know anything about ILS either, but a quick internet search showed me that I could become a fully trained practitioner offering therapy and selling hugely expensive sounding systems on simply by attending a one day training course. That wasn't something I found particularly reassuring if compared to the 5+ years training representing the minimum requirement for someone attending med school, or the 3-4 years training undertaken by a S&LT.

 

I'm sorry, I wasn't suggesting that Bowen paid anything for inclusion in the show. If the wikipedia page I posted is correct, then Tom Bowen died in 1982, so if he did pay anything it would be a pretty neat trick! My concern more was that the link promoted your show - which relies on donations to keep it running - and was reporting on an

unproven, and not widely accepted therapy
that is practised if not by yourself then by a friend/business associate. That does, at the very least, imply a couple of 'conflicts of interest'.

 

As I said in my OP, I'm sorry if I come across as cynical, and please appreciate I'm not making any accusations about your motives here. I'm just highlighting the fact that the posts you have made all seem to be endorsements of very expensive therapies that either you or people you know are trained in, with one at least carrying an advert for a show you co-host which relies on donations for funding. If you've got any advice on free therapies or interventions or strateigies people could try or access it would be lovely to hear them.

 

L&P

 

BD

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