Nurturing women has long been a passion for me. I think it probably started when, as a teenager, I started to have a deeper, more meaningful appreciation of my maternal grandmother. Up until this point I had really seen her as a typical nan. She was tall, gently rounded; always wore a pinafore and had long white hair that she plaited and coiled up into a bun. She represented a welcoming, safe space for the grandchildren that regularly frequented her home to drink tea and eat banana sandwiches. In time, through stories that she and my mother would tell, I would come to learn about, not only her life, but probably that of a generation of women.
My grandfather was a miner and they had 5 children. My grandmother literally was the family linchpin. She bought the house; managed the home and finances and raised her grammar school educated children. She did this with a backdrop of harsh times including the Great Depression, World War 2, and rationing. On the home front, she supported a family through some toe - curling tragedies, mine closures (yes, they were closing mines even then!!) and loss. She was incredibly bright – a natural mathematician, very articulate and had a strong interest in current affairs.
Living in a different era, she would undoubtedly have added a career into the mix while continuing her usual multi - tasking, nurturing family and domestic management status. Crucially, I cannot EVER remember her having time or space to call her own.
Moving forward a decade, after some time as a staff nurse in Gynaecology theatre I worked on a Gynaecology ward. Through my experience in theatre, I knew how much of a battering women’s bodies were taking when they had their surgical procedures. I also recognised, that as soon as they were home, they would find them selves back to their usual domestic drudgery – No timeout allowed here you see – I AM WOMAN!!
This was the era that saw the start of early post op discharge. Realising the road ahead for the women in my care, I quickly gained the reputation as a bossy cow – because I refused point blank to let visitors bend the 2 to a bedside rule - ‘she needs rest’ I would say. The women regularly thanked me for it!
So, how have these early experiences shaped who I am and what I do? They helped me realise how much women give of themselves without always factoring in space and time to redress the balance. This, of course, is not a little known fact, and I have seen it in a lot of different settings throughout my nursing career. However, for the first time in MY working life, I now can nurture women holistically with their life journeys whether it is through therapies; pregnancy, birth and postnatal support or by just being there – all to give guilt free peace and joy!
What can Lynne Bell Therapist and Doula plus Lynne Bell Hypnotherapy offer you?
Reflexology
Indian Head Massage
Pregnancy Massage
Hypnobirthing
Birth support
Post Natal support
Baby Massage
Baby Reflexology
Hypnotherapy for trauma, phobias, depression, anxiety, weight management and more
Further information about the services I offer are on the Lynne Bell website.
For Hypnotherapy: www.lbhypno.co.uk
Book an appointment with me and you will have a warm welcome!
PS – Your menfolk are welcome here too - so if father, brother, partner requires a Reflexology or Indian Head treatment – book away!
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