Julie Wren Complementary therapies
The Irish Cancer Society funds a haven on St John’s Ward in Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, which provides massage, reflexology, mindfulness and meditation to children.
The Julie Wren Complementary Therapy service in the National Children’s Cancer Centre in Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin opened in December 2011 thanks to the generosity of Esther Wren & supporters in loving memory of her daughter Julie who sadly passed away of cancer at the age of eight.
Irish Cancer Society took over funding the service in CHI in 2023.
What services are available?
The Complementary Therapy Service in the Haematology/Oncology unit at Children’s Health Ireland provide a range of holistic complimentary therapies to patients and their parents/guardians when in hospital. The complementary therapist provides ongoing support through a range of therapies that include Massage, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage, Baby Massage Aromatherapy, Mindfulness, and Meditation. These therapies are conducted in a warm, safe and confidential space.
Treatments are gentle and relaxing. Applied appropriately, they do not cause unpleasant side effects. However, you may feel sleepy afterwards. When deeply relaxed, some people find that emotions surface. If this happens, your therapist will support you and may suggest someone to talk to if you wish. The majority of people just feel pleasantly relaxed during their treatment and refreshed afterwards.
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils (plant extracts) to help promote health and well-being. Aromatherapy is used during treatments, and the oils are absorbed through the skin during massage. The essential oils are diluted in a carrier oil or beeswax balm. Inhalation of essential oils occurs during treatments, while using a diffuser and aroma tissues.
Meditation can help to relax and calm the mind and body. The practice of meditation involves focusing your attention on one thing. There are many types of meditation. All methods work by really concentrating on something specific and when the mind wanders to refocus the attention back to the original object of concentration. Our meditation practices include guided visualisation, breathing, body scan and mindfulness.
Mindfulness is the practice of purposeful, focused awareness on the present moment without judgment. Practising mindfulness can help to create resilience and hope. Mindfulness practices may involve breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to help relax the body and mind.
Indian head massage is carried out using a variety of massage strokes and acupressure points along the head, face, neck, shoulders and upper arms. Indian head massage is used to promote relaxation and relieve tension.
Massage involves the gentle rhythmical touch with movements varied to suit individual needs, to promote relaxation and ease tension or pain.
Reach out for support
How to make an appointment
Referral to this service is through your Children’s Health Ireland Cancer medical team. If you would like to receive treatment, speak to a nurse or any healthcare professional in the Cancer Unit in CHI at Crumlin. A member of the complementary therapy team will contact you to discuss your referral and arrange an appointment, which will take place in the Julie Wren complementary therapy room or in your own patient room.
This service is provided Monday to Friday.
How long will treatments last?
You will be allocated an appointment time, and each session lasts from fifteen minutes to one hour. Your therapist will adjust the length of your treatment depending on your needs.
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