14 Jul 2020
Psychology professor trains Preidlhof’s therapists how to help guests recover from lockdown
BY Megan Whitby
Italian destination spa and hotel, Preidlhof, in South Tyrol, has reopened with new measures and offerings designed to address the guests’ needs and challenges following global lockdown.
The spa team will support guests in dealing with any trauma resulting from months of lockdown having undergone intensified training with Preidlhof spa director Patrizia Bortolin, in conjunction with a Professor of Psychology who is also a practising psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher.
This cross-disciplinary therapeutic approach to training will prepare therapists for all the potential psycho-dynamics, attitudes, fears, and reactions that guests may present following lockdown. The training has focused in particular on listening skills in relation to picking up and interpreting both verbal and non-verbal communications from guests.
Bortolin spoke to Spa Business about the new training.
“The professor I partnered with helped reinforce that to help others we first have to look after ourselves. Just talking about happiness is not enough at this stage.
“Therapists, beauticians, and trainers need the chance to better understand, from a psychological point of view, what they all lived through during lockdown and how others may have had a completely different experience.
“In turn, this will help them understand how to welcome, understand, sustain and help to transform what is in the heart, body and mind of our guests after the global lockdown.”
In addition, the resort is offering all guests a series of free weekly meetings with its pool of specialists to help treat anxieties and concerns that have emerged over recent months.
This includes dedicated sessions with trauma-healing specialist Stefano Battaglia, who will guide guests towards recovery from shock and trauma in its various forms, as well as time with therapist and TCM expert, Martin Kirchler, to help guests understand themselves better while identifying and strengthening their talents.
Furthermore, Bortolin and Preidlhof’s in-house Doctor, Dr Angerer will work with guests to reduce psychophysical stress through heart rate analysis, psycho-aromatherapy, laughter yoga and forest bathing.
Bortolin highlighted that Preidlhof’s Integrated Healing Programme will be particularly useful to help guests’ recovery after lockdown as it includes trauma touch therapy during daily 80-minute Glowing Flow sessions, claimed to release emotional blocks, anxiety and tension using refined bodywork techniques designed to reconnect and harmonise the mind and body.
Upon reopening, all areas and services of Preidlhof’s 5,000sq m wellness space will be available to guests, including the six-floor Sauna Tower, fitness and yoga classes, and the varied programme of inclusive daily activities and excursions.
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