Pursuing wellness through Total Approach Therapy’s total approach gives you the benefit of owner and practitioner Marilyn Zurwaski’s extensive experience and knowledge of traditional western medicine techniques in neurological rehabilitation and orthopedic injuries as well as her understanding of techniques used for over 3,000 years from ancient Chinese medicine . Her approach puts emphasis on how an injury or illness can affect a person’s function. Drawing upon this knowledge and applying the most effective use of techniques from traditional rehabilitation, acupressure, ergonomics and craniosacral therapy; Marilyn provides many avenues to help her clients regain health and feel like themselves again. Her total treatment approach often includes education, exercises for stretching and strengthening, resources for adaptive equipment, myofascial technique, work station analysis, Acupressure and Craniosacral Therapy.

Many insurances are accepted. With the addition of so many different new plans, please check with the office in advance to determine coverage and payment options.

Occupational Therapy helps people of all ages and abilities live life to its fullest. By taking the full picture into account including a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social makeup; Occupational Therapy enables people to achieve their goals, function at the highest possible level, concentrate on what matters most to them, maintain or rebuild their independence and participate in everyday activities that bring meaning to their lives. Various techniques or therapy approaches are utilized to achieve the highest level of function. Occupational Therapists treat the entire body while specializing in how an injury, disease or disability affects daily life.

The type of acupressure practiced at Total Approach Therapy is Soul Lightening Acupressure founded by Aminah Raheem Ph.D. It is a combination of Jin Shin Jyutsu, Jin Shin Do, Zero Balancing, and acupuncture theory. It brings balance to the body’s energies, which promotes optimal health and well-being, while it facilitates our own profound healing capacity. It is a valuable complement to conventional healing methods decreasing pain while promoting relaxation and reducing the effects of stress.

The touch, known as Interface, is unlike other manual technique skills as it distinguishably maintains a clear boundary between the therapist and the patient. In other words, it is the patients own energy that is at work during these sessions, facilitated by the therapists touch.

A basic definition of ergonomics is the relationship between a job/task and the person performing it. Simply put, it is adjusting the work environment to the person, not the person to the work environment. An ergonomically designed task or job is one that can be completed easily by a large percentage of the population. Risk Factors identified by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) are the basic principles for ergonomic analysis. The more risk factors present in a given situation, the more likely it will result in fatigue and/or over use of working muscles. Solutions are designed to minimize risk factors which often include education of ergonomic principles, job rotation, engineering controls, stretches and work station redesign.

A meridian, also known as channel in traditional Chinese medicine, is the common name of a vessel, that is to say that it is regarded as the path of running qi (pronounced “chee”) and blood. Qi is the term used to describe the life force or flow of energy within every living being.

The techniques and doctrines of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including acupuncture, acupressure, and qigong focus on Meridians. According to these practices, the body’s vital energy, “qi”, circulates through the body along specific interconnected channels called meridians.

In Traditional Chinese medicine, patterns of disharmony (ie, bad health and emotional disorders) in the body are thought to be caused by disruptions of the body’s energy flow along a series of acu-tracts. To correct those disruptions, specific points on the meridians called acupoints are accessed.

From WebMD …

Some proponents claim acupressure not only treats the energy fields and body but also the mind, emotions, and spirit. Some even believe that therapists can transmit the vital energy (external qi) to another person.

Not all Western practitioners believe that this is possible …. Instead, they attribute any results to other factors, such as reduced muscle tension, improved circulation, or stimulation of endorphins, which are natural pain relievers. … (however) … Many patient reports support its use for a number of health concerns. …

The type of Craniosacral Therapy practiced by Marilyn Zurwaski is from the Upledger Institute in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Dr. Upledger, an osteopathic physician developed Craniosacral Therapy which is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system – comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.