Autogenic Training is accessible and acceptable to almost everyone and provides a new skill which, once learned, can be used throughout life. You don’t have to be ill to benefit from AT.  It is a safe, practical, structured form of complementary therapy.

Before the course starts there is an initial consultation, which includes a fairly comprehensive general health questionnaire, and takes about an hour. During this time I can discover whether or not AT is appropriate for the individual and the client can ask further questions about it. Some medical conditions may need to be monitored by the GP as there may be a need to reduce drug dosages (e.g. high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes).

AT can be learned individually or in small groups (up to 8). An AT group is not a support group as such (but can end up that way depending on the individuals on the course).  One of the unique aspects of AT is that it teaches you how to deal with your issues by yourself; no-one attending the course needs to know why anyone else is there and may never know even after the 9 week course. It is just an efficient way of teaching more people at once. Even in a group situation the course is tailored to the needs of the individual.

The Autogenic Training course involves one session of 1 – 1 ½ hours a week for 8 weeks with a follow-up session about 2 months later.

The regular weekly sessions can be adapted to allow for flexibility in learning rates or life interruptions if learning one to one.

During the course you learn aspects of stress reduction and management. Relaxation exercises, off-loading exercises, stress management techniques and how to construct personal formulae.  The postures you learn to relax in are simply safe positions that enable you to relax completely (e.g. lying down or sitting in an armchair).

Each trainee is expected to complete a brief diary of their practice of the exercises during the week so that I, and they, can monitor progress and possibly alter the course to suit. You will be expected to carry out the exercises for about 10 minutes 3 times a day.