|
| LYMPHLAND |
| Name: Terry Kemp
Address: 313-260 Wyse Rd Dartmouth Nova Scotia, Canada & 301-5663 Cornwallis St Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Email: terrykemp@ns.sympatico.ca What inspired you to become involved in Lymphedema Therapy? I became interested in lymphatic drainage therapy through treating my massage therapy clients with very basic lymphatic drainage techniques that I had learned in massage therapy school. This client didn’t have any visible lymphedema however I suspect that her lymphatic system was under stress. The results were very positive and I began to experiment with using the techniques with other conditions with success. A Manual Lymphatic Drainage course was offered locally and I took it. 3 more MLD courses later and the rest is history. I am amazed every day with how powerful this therapy is for many conditions and of course lymphedema being one of most important. Where did you study and how long? I have taken 4 courses in MLD with the last course covering compression bandaging therapy. These were offered through the Dr Vodder School NA. I took the first two courses in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the last two in Victoria British Columbia with my graduation in November 2007. All together these courses add up to 160 hours of training. My previous training is in Massage Therapy through a provincially accredited school in Halifax. I graduated from this 2200 hour program in medically oriented massage therapy in 2002. How long have you been practicing? I have been a practicing massage therapist since 2002 and have included MLD therapy since April 2007. Do you have other areas of expertise? Expert is a strong word however I do focus on restoring healthy biomechanics in my clients. My background as a mechanical engineering technologist definitely helps with my understanding of body mechanics. What insurances do you take? Do you offer any fee reductions for cash clients? I do not generally bill for my clients with the exception of one insurance provider and under section B of the motor vehicle act. Other than that I issue a receipt which can be used for reimbursement. What is your approach to understanding the individual needs of your clients? Honesty, encouragement, and listening are the three things that come to mind. I make no bones about what it takes to get better and at times I can be hard on my clients especially when I discover them not following through with home care. At the same time I understand that situations can be difficult and offer encouragement to work with what is happening as best possible. I am definitely not an all or nothing type person so there is always some way to work with things as they are. Most of all I listen. Listen not just to signs and symptoms but what is happening in their lives without crossing personal boundaries. If someone is going through a particularly rough patch our treatment plan needs to be realistic about how much therapy can be achieved during this time etc. Are you involved or affiliated with any professional Lymphedema, Physical Therapy, or Massage Therapy Associations? I am listed on the Vodder NA site and through the Massage Therapy Association of Nova Scotia. |
