JAY Carpenter was born in Axminster, living in the South West all his life before settling in Bridport last year. The former chef qualified as a healer 12 years ago and now runs a business specialising in energy therapy. The 43-year-old also works for the NHS, specialising in addictions, eating disorders and adult mental health. He is married to a psychologist who also works for the NHS.
WHAT is energy therapy?
Energy therapy involves working within the human energy system, or Aura, which has several layers or bodies. It is within this system that I work using a variety of healing tools such as crystals, coloured silk scarves, light-box and torch, flower and gem essences. I work intuitively connecting to a person’s energy system, meaning that every session is different and I will most often not know how a session will go until I’m with the person.
WHO can benefit?
People come for many reasons. Somewhere, within a person’s life there will be some disharmony and this can manifest itself as a physical, emotional, or mental symptom which can become a stressor within the body’s energy system. My role as a therapist is to offer a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space in which a person can share their issues. It’s about helping the person to find how they can best heal themselves. At the very least a session will leave a person more relaxed by having their energy centres re-balanced.
People are not the only ones that benefit - animals too are very receptive and I have worked on cats, dogs and a couple of horses in the past.
HOW do people react when you tell them you are an energy therapist?
I get a mixture of reactions from raised eyebrows and silence to people launching into 101 questions. Sometimes people sneer thinking that they know all about therapies or I get labelled as a hippy.
AND how do people react to the therapy?
Reactions after therapy vary. Some people are very quiet, saying nothing except thank you. Some feel very energised and beam with joy. Some go into floods of tears as they have experienced something very deeply or because they have experienced complete freedom from pain after many years, and while this will usually be a short-term effect, the fact that they have had this experience gives them hope that life can be better.
THERE are so many therapies available to people. How can they choose which one is right for them?
It depends on what a person is seeking support with. For instance, if someone has stiff or achy muscles then it is unlikely they would seek out my services and more likely they would look for someone who offers some sort of massage. Searching the internet and looking at professional associations will help guide a person to what they require. Visiting a health/holistic show is a great way of sourcing treatments as you can see a therapist working in a public area which helps put people at ease and allay any fears of approaching a stranger. Also GPs now refer patients to therapists.
DO you ever see a regular GP?
I have seen my GP twice in 30 years. I take my health very seriously as we only get one body and it’s worth looking after.
IS there anyone in particular you would like to treat?
I would like to treat Stephen Fry because I admire him for being a great wordsmith and he has been quite open about his depression.
WHAT gets you up in the morning?
Knowing that I have dreams to chase and do not want to die without making an effort to attain them. Also I have many places that I would like to visit plus I’ve yet to sell a piece of my own artwork or win a big poetry competition.
WHAT do you like about living in Bridport?
Living where I am is heaven because I live within walking distance from the town centre, the coast is less than three miles away and I’m surrounded by such beautiful countryside which I am free to explore whatever the season.
IT was recently reported that middle-aged men in London and the West Midlands were the most unhappy people in the UK. What can they do?
Culturally males are going through quite a change. Years ago they were the breadwinner, there were jobs for life, and they knew where they were placed in life. Now there is pressure placed on them because they have to work longer and jobs are scarce while society tries to tell you that once you hit mid-life you have little to offer the working world. Emotionally, men need to start coming out of their caves and kick off old thought patterns such as the idea that men don’t cry. We need to evolve.
DO you have any guilty secrets when it comes to health?
My guilty secret is to enjoy a steaming mocha coffee and panettone, or when in France to have a fruit tart or chocolate éclair.
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