27th November 2006.

Increased focus on therapy helping to improve quality of life for adults living with severe epilepsy.

Independence Homes provides residential care and supported living programmes for over 50 adults with epilepsy. Improved care means many of our service users now have fewer seizures than when they first came to Independence Homes. We also look for ways to help our service users to cope better with the seizures that remain.

Independence Homes emphasises the value of many different types of therapy. Over the last two years we have worked with Pam Harris, an innovative therapist who specialises in neuro linguistic programming

Neuro-linguistic programming works by identifying and seeking to eliminate negative or unwanted behaviors that aren’t helpful to an individual’s well being, and replacing them with more desirable behaviors.

As Pam explains:

“The body can quite often outwardly express physically exactly what is going on inside. The body often demonstrates through physical symptoms what we cannot express in words.”

“NLP can help to resolve underlying emotional trauma possibly caused by the consequences of epilepsy and may also help to alleviate the physical symptoms of epilepsy.”

NLP does not interfere in any with the medical treatment of epilepsy. Nor can it prevent seizures. However it can help service users to:

• Be aware of possible changes before a seizure
• Overcome doubts and fears
• Increase confidence
• Eliminate unwanted behaviours

A number of our service users are receiving this kind of therapy, often with immediate benefits. Many people with epilepsy can become extremely depressed as a result of their epilepsy. Many emerge from a session of NLP feeling calmer, more self confident and more at ease with their world.

We may not be able to help our service users to become seizure free, but we will always strive to make life as comfortable and positive as is humanly possible.

Independence Homes was formed in 1997 specifically to help people with epilepsy and learning difficulties to fulfill their potential and achieve their own objectives. Independence Homes provides accommodation and support for adults living with epilepsy, other medical needs and learning disability. Today, Independence Homes employs almost 200 staff and support over 50 adults in both supported living programmes and community based residential care.

For further information on Independence Homes please contact Jacqui Barclay on 0208 781 6960.