At The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre, we offer a safe, relaxing, friendly and homely environment, without the pressure of time constraints (except for complementary therapy treatments, which must be pre-booked).
We know that making that first approach can seem very difficult – but we encourage you to knock on our door. You’ll always receive a warm welcome.
“Visiting Pickering was the best thing I could have done. The people at the Centre are amazingly caring and supportive and have guided us in so many different aspects of life that we have had to face as a result of my diagnosis. If you have a cancer diagnosis and you don’t know where to turn or you know somebody with cancer who is struggling at home, I really would encourage you to get in touch with Pickering. You will immediately feel the warmth and love of the people there.”
Depending on the skills and experience of our amazing volunteers, we currently offer complementary therapies and activities, including:
Reflexology is based on the idea that the feet and hands have ‘reflex’ points that correspond to the various organs and systems in existence throughout the body. By stimulating these points through gentle pressure, the therapist can facilitate the body’s own natural healing processes. Visitors to the Centre find that the treatments are often very relaxing.
This treatment involves a fully-clothed hands-on massage treatment whereby the visitor is sat in a specialised chair and pressure applied by the therapist to the back, neck and shoulders where tension is often held at times of stress.
Lymphoedema can be a side effect of cancer treatment and this speciality treatment is designed to stimulate the flow of the lymphatic system to facilitate the body’s own natural draining processes.
In a reiki treatment the practitioner uses their hands (either placing them lightly on parts of the body or holding them nearby) to deliver energy to the recipient which improves their own energy flow and supports healing. It aims to relax, ease stress and tension and help generally with wellbeing.
The facials offered at the Centre are intended to be pampering and relaxing with gentle natural aromatherapy skincare products used while accompanied by a gentle hand massage.
The acupuncturists at the Centre deliver their treatments to the parts of the body needing attention at the time of the appointment, applying fine needles to the affected part or parts. If appropriate, and desired by the visitor, the practitioners sometimes also use moxibustion and infrared light therapy to further facilitate healing. Acupuncture can be used to facilitate relief from a wide variety of issues consequent on cancer treatment, including peripheral neuropathy and hormonal issues.
The art group at the Centre is facilitated by an art therapist with the intention of providing a space for relaxation and exploration of the creative side of visitors. Groups are small and a suggested theme is provided at each session where visitors can both learn technical aspects of art while chatting to other visitors. There is usually a short time for peace or meditation within the group. All materials are provided in the Centre.
The ceramics group is another small group intended to be a space of relaxation and creativity where visitors come together and model clay into something which can be then taken away by our therapist for painting and/or firing. The finished items are then returned to the Centre for the visitor to take home. All materials are provided.
One-to-one counselling is provided at the Centre on a weekly basis at a set time by trained professionals. This resource is limited and a waiting list held where we cannot fit people in immediately for the service. In the interim, many people find great benefit from being heard by our volunteers and sharing their journey with other visitors as they feel able. Our counsellor follows standard protocols in a therapeutic relationship of this nature.
Traditional full body massage therapist who has done extra training to cover cancer patients.
The Centre is entirely non-medical and all our complementary therapies are provided by volunteer therapists that are fully qualified, insured and DBS checked. We add more treatments as therapists become available to us.
