Getting to know Inès De Beer
Name:
Inès De Beer
DO (UK), MICO (UK), MBAKO (Be), MHKOA (HK)
Osteopath, Cranial Osteopath, and Founder of The Round Clinic, Hong Kong
Place of Birth:
Belgium
Year of Arrival in Hong Kong:
2000
What brought you to Hong Kong?
A sense of adventure. Having grown up in a small country, I was keen to discover other places in the world.
How did you get involved with the special needs community?
For nearly a decade, I worked in collaboration with a medical doctor who was assessing and treating a lot of children with special needs. It was during this time that I discovered the value that Cranial osteopathy can have on children with special needs.
How are you currently involved with the special needs community in Hong Kong?
Through my work as an Osteopath, at my private clinic. Parents are often referred to me via word of mouth and I help each child as best I can.
What is Cranial Osteopathy?
Cranial osteopathy, also known as Cranio-sacral therapy (CST), is a gentle manual therapy that uses highly sensitive palpation skills to screen for patterns of tension in the body. Tension can build up in various soft tissues such as fascia, ligaments, and muscles.
Using extremely gentle techniques, cranial osteopaths release these tensions with the aim to restore proper circulation and bodily functions.
Cranial osteopathy is especially known for its use in helping infants with colic and digestive ailments. In addition, torticollis, asymmetric head rotation, and reflux can also be successfully alleviated with a few sessions.
What age groups do you work with?
From the very young such as infants and toddlers, to the age of 18.
Are you able to accommodate different types of special needs?
My experience includes children on the autism spectrum, those with cerebral palsy, ADHD, visual/hearing impairment, and various types of physical disability.
My clinic and the building in which it is located are wheelchair accessible.
How do you adapt the service that you offer for children with special needs?
I adapt to the situation and condition of the child. Sometimes, I treat the child on a beanbag, on a sofa or even sitting in a pram. Since the sessions are extremely gentle, the child is usually trusting and relaxed.
We have soft music and toys inside the treatment room, and I never wear a white doctor's coat, which helps in the eyes of a child.
What are some of the more common issues that you come across when working with children with special needs?
Hyper/hypotonia in muscular strength, digestive issues often due to poor abdominal tone and posture, gait instability, lack of eye contact, sleep disturbances, and more.
Are there any specific issues that parents can look out for which may otherwise go unnoticed?
Early lack of eye contact, muscle hyper/hypotonia, visual/hearing impairment, and lack of social interaction. The sooner these signs are noticed, the sooner we can help guide parents through a possible treatment protocol to assist their child.
Do you collaborate with other professionals to address a child's needs more holistically?
From experience, I have noticed that a combination of various health services gives the best results. I often refer parents to other health professionals to ensure their child is supported through a variety of different therapies.
Dietary changes, speech therapy, and functional medicine can all be helpful as part of a course of action.
What have been some of the rewards and challenges of working with children with special needs?
Children respond quite quickly to the treatments, and the smallest of changes means so much e.g. increased eye contact, more stable gait, or sitting posture. These are all skills that we take for granted but make a huge difference for a child with special needs.
The rewards are the positive changes and the gratitude from the parents.
Where can parents find more information about your work and how to get in touch?
The Round Clinic has a website: www.theroundclinic.com
Enquiries can be made via email: reception@theroundclinic.com or by phone/ WhatsApp: 2648 2612
From the website of Transformative Movement Ltd. https://www.transformativemovement.com/
Transformative Movement Ltd. is a Hong Kong-based practice providing Anat Baniel Method®
NeuroMovement® lessons for children and adults of all abilities.
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