From people I've worked with

I had a series of Jin Shin treatments from Hugh, on the strength of recommendations from a friend and because Hugh claimed that this therapy had helped him resolve some long running RSI issues after years of unsuccessfully trying other approaches. The neck and shoulder pain I suffered with, originated from chronic RSI, probably caused by decades of using a digital mouse for computerised drawing, plus frozen shoulders from sports injury and various life events.

I approached the sessions with an open mind and read only minimally about the background theory. I liked the fact that no overblown claims were made about cures and that Hugh was proposing that I could learn the techniques he employed and use them myself to form the basis of a ‘self-help’ practice to alleviate my symptoms.

During the sessions I experienced a peaceful floating feeling and usually fell asleep at one point or another, which was something I also experienced during previous Shiatsu massages. Like Shiatsu, the touch in Jin Shin is gentle, which for me seems to stir up powerful emotions. Hugh has an ability to be very present and very still which I believe is an important part of what makes the therapeutic connection work. Hugh was always interested to explore how I’d found the experience either at the beginning or end of a session.

After the sessions I felt a calm aliveness in my body and each time some small steady improvement in my symptoms. More surprising were a series of remembered dreams during the week following the sessions. These dreams held meaning for me and seemed to have been released in some way by the treatment. I am not someone who regularly remembers dreams, so I regarded them as a psychic bonus, an incentive to repeat the treatments.

A year or so ago, following the illness and death of my partner, I learned that I now had a heart problem and needed medical treatment. Alongside this, I thought it might be useful to have some other more holistic treatment that would help both my mind and body. I went to see Hugh to talk about Jin Shin and I was immediately attracted to the treatment. Its combination of focus on breathing and a light acupressure type touch along with its philosophy of energy flows or blocks in the body made profound sense to me.

Since I began treatment, I have found it enormously beneficial. It can be calming sometimes while at others very energising. Alongside this, Hugh’s own particular commitment and presence — calm, focussed, and thoughtful — has been a real balm. He is able to be mindful of the particular needs of the moment while keeping in mind the overall presenting issues. I have been very impressed and reassured by my experience of Jin Shin with him.

Professionally, I worked as an analytic psychotherapist, and remember how concentrated and alive the silence in the consulting room could feel. I have found Jin shin has a similar impact and appreciate the meditative quality of it.