What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy does not treat the symptom but the cause.
We don’t treat diagnoses. We treat humans and help the body to heal itself. If your body says no, we will find out together, what it needs to be able to say yes. Most of the time, we can understand, why your body does not act how you would like it to, and instead does what it wants. Osteopathic treatment gives your body the opportunity to evolve.
Everything is connected - Also in your body
We know, that healing always means self-healing. Our job as Osteopaths is to create optimal conditions for your body to function again. In the way that it was meant to. And by doing that, we do not focus on performance or self-optimization, but on well-being and saving energy - Because that is what our body and brain want - to waste as little energy as possible.
Treatment
More than one hour of time
For your first appointment we take 1,5 hours of time. For every other appointment at least one hour. We like to take our time for you and smooth processes without any stress and hectics are important to us. Ideally you tell us in advance, if you have to leave the practice at a specific time. Then we can adjust our treatment and keep your timing in mind.
We will never be able to grasp you fully as a human, but we do our best to find out all relevant things that can be connected to your symptoms.
In order to do that, we will ask you about your present physical condition but also your lifestyle and living conditions. Also we will have a look at your medical history. If you have any, please bring relevant X-Rays, bloodwork or medical plans.
We focus on you, not your disease
After a full examination we will start treatment. Your diagnosis will be explained in a comprehensible way and we will agree on your treatment plan: The frequency and intervals of your treatment sessions. Our treatment approach will be adjusted to you and your individual needs. You will learn, what Osteopathy can do for you and what you can do for yourself.
Interdisciplinary treatment
If necessary, osteopathic treatment can be coordinated with your GP or your specialized doctor: Your orthopedist, internist, dentist, gynecologist or your midwife. For us as Osteopaths it is important to find out, which „tool“ you as a patient will benefit from long term. We have no interest in making you dependent on us - That is as unsatisfying for us as it is for you. And of course we also cooperate with other medical specialties.
How I found my way into Osteopathy
The end of school
Once upon a time there was a young woman from Osnabrück who wished school to end. On her way to the Abitur, she wondered, what to do with her new found freedom and the rest of her life. That was me. And suddenly out of nowhere there was the wish to study medicine. Because of very bad grades in catholic religion I was not able to study immediately, which gave me the time to recheck my wish in reality. That was exactly what I needed.
First steps in medical professions
After a few months of internships in patient care I had understood two things: Professional distance and the fact, that a hospital is not a place to become healthy. Now I wanted to learn more and understand, wether medicine was right for me.
So I became a licensed paramedic and still was not discouraged. In contrary: I was fascinated by the deep understanding of how the body works.
What I learned during that time
Due to my different hospitations I understood, that I didn’t want to work in a hospital and limit damages. And after two more years of not being able to study, I finally looked for alternatives. And randomly landed on the website of the back then only College of Osteopathic Medicine in Germany, that provided a full-time training. I had no idea, what I was getting into, I just knew it was right and a couple of weeks later I attended my first lesson.
My philosphy
Primum Nihil Nocere – Do not harm
Osteopathy can have a very positive outcome if it is performed conscientiously. The only contraindication for osteopathic treatment is an inattentive therapist. In my work I respect the needs and boundaries of my patients. I treat to make them feel better. Because, when things are already bad, there is room for improvement. In the worst case scenario, your condition remains unchanged - In that case we will look together for alternatives.
Selfcare
don’t want you to be dependent on me. But I want to make your life easier: Less pain, less pain medicine, better sleep, better flexibility etc. There is no contra to regular treatment, especially older patients or those with severe diseases can profit from them. But the goal is always the best possible outcome.
Pain is unavoidable. Suffering is optional.
As an Osteopath I belong to the optimists in medicine. Because I believe, that the body has the basic strive for and all necessities to be healthy. My professional ethics do not allow me to believe in untreatable diseases or in the idea, that pain is part of life. Yes, there is no life without death and no health without disease. But I look at the range of colors in between and at all the possibilities to deal with that better and easier.
If I was not convinced that health was possible, there would not be a point in going to my practice in the morning. Because the patient will fulfill the prognosis of his therapist. So let us not exclude any possibilities
You alone can make it. But not alone.
This sentence hung in the corridor of the psychosomatic clinic used to work at. It is mostly used in addiction therapy, but I find that it works for all forms of therapy. Even the most competent and empathetic therapist can only improve the conditions, so that healing can be possible. We guide towards self-help, which always has to do with orientation towards oneself and the understanding, what helps and what harms.
I don’t see it as my job, to tell you what to do and what to stop. I will only give recommendations, that might be helpful. Then you can find out, wether they are useful and have the desired effect. If not - leave it. Good is, what does good. And everyone can only find out for themselves.
Less is more. More or less.
Often only a little is required to achieve a lot. Very often, we just have to omit something. And sometimes we just have to let it be. For my work that means, that I will give your body as many impulses as necessary, but always as little as possible. The same principle is applied to your frequency of appointments. Any additional therapies should be selected and effective.
And regarding what you can do for yourself, I am a big friend of simplicity: Drinking enough water, sleeping enough, moving in fresh air, eating calmly, chewing well, being surrounded by loving people and learning to say no… All that are basic human needs, that are necessary for our wellbeing and easily to apply.