Bach flower remedies alongside counselling
What is Bach flower therapy?
Bach flower therapy is a complementary approach that uses flower essences to support emotional wellbeing. It was developed in the 1930s by Dr. Edward Bach, a British physician, bacteriologist and pathologist. The remedies are highly diluted extracts of certain wild flowers. They are gentle and non-invasive, and are often used alongside other care.
The system rests on a simple idea: overall wellbeing is closely tied to emotional wellbeing, and emotional imbalance plays a part in many of our difficulties, physical as well as psychological.
We all face situations we are not ready for. The remedies aim to help us steady our emotions, so we can see a difficult situation more clearly and handle it without losing ourselves in the process.
Where it can help
In my practice I use Bach flower remedies as a supporting tool alongside many forms of counselling and psychotherapy, including:
- Depression and anxiety counselling
- Relationship and marital counselling
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT)
- Systematic desensitisation
- Family counselling
- Pre-marital counselling
- Stress management
- Post-traumatic stress (PTSD) counselling
Counselling and flower remedies together
It is easy to advise others in a crisis. Yet when something similar happens to us, clear thinking often escapes us, largely because our emotions are unsettled. When emotions are steadier, the problem itself usually becomes easier to work with.
In my experience, the remedies help clients feel less overwhelmed, which can make counselling smoother and make it easier to act on what we discuss in sessions.
Bach flower therapy is not a replacement for counselling, psychotherapy or medical care. It is a complementary tool. I have used the remedies for over a decade with family, friends and clients, and I continue to value them.
Further reading
- PubMed 20014621
- PubMed 32174632
- PMC3373469
- SAGE Journals, 1533210107300705
- Bach Centre: Japanese pre-operative study (2005)
- Bach Centre: remedies and pain (2007)
- Bach Centre: ADHD study (2002)
This article was first published on Practo Health Feed. Read the original on Practo