Twenty Five Years Devoted to Promoting Health
Twenty-five years ago, in July 1980, Joyce Griffiths, an experienced osteopath, established the first Osteopathic and Natural Therapy Clinic in Trearddur Bay on Anglesey. From the outset it was Joyce's intention to provide a service that would help the people of North Wales enjoy a better quality of life.
Initially Joyce practised a number of complementary therapies herself but as other professionals joined the team she began to concentrate her efforts solely on osteopathy. Joyce has been an active member of the governing council of the British Osteopathic Association. She has pioneered the development and acceptance of the osteopathic profession both locally and internationally over the last two and a half decades. Awareness of the benefits of osteopathy has increased greatly since 1980 and the demand for osteopathic treatment has grown enormously. Now there are 4 Osteopaths working at the LEAF clinics. Joyce, Dr John Griffiths (her son), Amanda Schofield and Andrew Garty. The osteopaths offer help for painful backs, necks, or any other joints and muscles. They also specialise in sports injuries and arthritic problems. Osteopathy can help to maintain mobility in the spine and joints, whilst reducing stiffness and the need for painkillers. Treatment usually involves the use of gentle forms of manual manipulation as well as advice on exercises, posture and diet.
There has been an Osteopathy and Natural Therapy Clinic in Menai Bridge since 1990. The current clinic, now called the LEAF Health Centre, at 2 Nant Terrace was opened in April 2001. There is also a clinic at The Quay Hotel and Spa in Deganwy. LEAF stands for Life Enhancement and Fitness. LEAF Ltd is a UK registered company that was incorporated in May 1998 and now has three directors: Joyce Griffiths, Dr John Griffiths and his wife Franki. John has been an osteopath since 1983 and has also actively promoted the development of the profession. As chairman of the Guild of Osteopaths from 1997, John instigated and managed a merger with other organisations in Great Britain to form the BOA, a single professional association for all osteopaths, and was its first Vice-President. With both a bachelor's and doctorate degree in psychology, John is passionately interested in how people keep themselves healthy. Franki Griffiths developed her lifelong interest in complementary therapies when, after completing her bachelor's degree, she was managing a health shop in Manchester in the early 1980's. She qualified in reflexology and remedial massage in 1991 and, whilst running a successful practice, Franki added several other therapies to her repertoire before joining the LEAF team in 2001.
LEAF Health was created to establish centres where the people of North Wales could come to seek help and advice from a number of different therapists offering a comprehensive range of complementary medicine. These centres create a platform for health experts with different backgrounds to come together to exchange ideas for the benefit of their patients and the health of local people. The LEAF team has also developed good working relationships with many GPs in the area.
LEAF Health currently has 6 employees and 12 consultant therapists providing their services at both locations. The therapies include osteopathy and remedial massage, acupuncture, aromatherapy, allergy testing, beauty therapy, facial rejuvenation, Indian head massage, herbal medicine, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, nutrition advice, psychotherapy, reiki and reflexology. All of the visiting therapists and the staff are motivated by the same ambition that has driven the endeavours of Joyce, John and Franki for so many years "to help people of any age or physical ability improve their quality of life".
