Multiple Sclerosis

John has a particular clinical interest in working with people who live with multiple sclerosis.

This interest has developed through changes he has observed in individual people with MS during his clinical work. Those observations have led him to develop a particular way of working with some of the patterns he encounters.

These are clinical observations rather than the findings of a formal research study. They have not yet been systematically documented or evaluated through controlled clinical research.

What have we observed?

John has worked with people who have come to the clinic while experiencing an MS relapse.

During these sessions, he has sometimes felt marked tension or stress within the person and worked with it using the Boulderstone Technique. In a number of these cases, the symptoms of the relapse settled during or following the work.

He has also worked with people who had previously been experiencing repeated relapses. Some have subsequently gone for long periods without the pattern of relapses they had been experiencing before.

An important part of this work has been teaching people how to use aspects of the technique for themselves. The intention is that, when they become aware of the particular stresses or internal responses that they have learned to recognise, they can work with those responses rather than necessarily waiting until their next appointment.

These observations are the reason John has developed a particular interest in MS. They are clinical observations from individual people rather than the results of a controlled study, so we cannot yet say from research whether the Boulderstone Technique caused the changes observed, how consistently they would occur in other people, or what effect, if any, it has on the underlying disease process.

How does John work with people who have MS?

The work begins in much the same way as other Boulderstone Technique sessions.

John starts from his own still point and uses gentle physical contact, usually at the head, to become aware of areas of tension or stress within the person.

Rather than trying to force that tension to change, he follows the response as it develops and allows it to settle.

With people who have MS, particular attention is paid to stresses or patterns that appear to be associated with a worsening of symptoms.

Where appropriate, John may also teach the person how to recognise and work with some of these responses for themselves.

The aim is not simply to provide something that can only be done in the clinic, but, where possible, to help the person become more able to recognise and respond to these patterns independently.

Can I learn to work with this myself?

In some cases, yes.

As the work progresses, John may help you recognise the particular tensions, stresses or internal responses that seem important for you.

He can then show you a way of bringing attention to these responses and allowing them to settle, using principles drawn from the Boulderstone Technique.

The intention is not to teach you the whole practitioner method. It is to give you a practical way of responding when you notice a familiar pattern beginning, rather than simply waiting for it to become stronger.

Some people have found that, with practice, they become increasingly able to recognise these responses early and work with them for themselves.

When should I seek medical assessment?

The Boulderstone Technique does not provide a medical diagnosis and cannot determine whether a new neurological symptom is caused by multiple sclerosis or by something else.

If you develop a new, severe or unexplained neurological symptom, medical assessment may therefore be important. Sudden weakness or numbness on one side, sudden loss or blurring of vision, or sudden problems with balance and coordination can also be signs of a stroke and require urgent medical attention.

What you choose to do about your ongoing MS medical care remains a matter for you and the healthcare professionals involved in that care.

Thinking about an appointment?

If you have multiple sclerosis and would like to know whether John’s way of working may be relevant to what you are experiencing, you are welcome to contact us before booking.

A brief description of what has been happening is usually enough.

We can then explain how John would approach the work and whether an appointment seems appropriate.