Massage for Abuse/Trauma Survivors

Comment

Comment by Darcy Neibaur on June 26, 2011 at 10:04am

Hi Dave,

 

It has nothing to do with you. It is all about her. Yes, she had a break through and you did all the correct things. You were the channel that was used. Don't be surprised if at some point in the future you hear from her again. She just has to sort it all out for herself.

Comment by Dave Brower on June 26, 2011 at 9:55am

Hello every one that offered help. I thought I'd post a followup.

 

I guess, I didn't truly follow the core advice, to just keep doing what I was doing. Although I had only listened and said little when she told me, after I proceeded making a huge change, studying the issues and increased my knowledge. She must have also been reconsidering that she had expressed it to me and that that somehow changed it all. Maybe my increase energy focus had effects even though we had not had another session since. I really don't and probably won't understand.

Bottom line is she has informed me that she now no longer feels conferable continuing to see me and canceled her next session with no expectations for another.

I still want to thank you all for the support and info, it has opened a new aspect to my work and one that I will approach very carefully in the future.

I take comfort in that I had done well up to that point and allowed her to reach a new level in her healing. Maybe that was all I was meant to do and I succeeded perfectly.

 

thanks again all

Dave

Comment by Dave Brower on June 19, 2011 at 10:41pm

Thanks for all the encouragement. Darcy, Char, Julie, Gloria, and Sue for the info and links too.

One Question Julie, I understand the strict physical and emotional boundaries, and have always made them clear verbally including tracing a line at the draping edge. I say that's the line the first or second time but always keep tracing when ever the draping is adjusted so its always known. Are you also saying I should maintain strict professional boundaries such as not providing reduced rate, extended hours or other special accommodations? That's how I read your message and I wouldn't have thought of that but I think that makes sense as it is linked to the emotional boundaries. But from a healer point of view the hardest to maintain, I'm quite flexible in that area in all cases. Am I missing something specific to abuse cases?

 

thanks again everyone,

Dave

Comment by Sue Heldenbrand on June 19, 2011 at 7:50pm

I offer CE workshops using an energy based technique that works with the fight, flight or freeze response often felt by those affected by trauma, abuse, PTSD, or chronic stress/anxiety. It works with releasing stored cellular memory without reliving or talking about it.  For more information, please visit my website,

www.SynergisticCenter.com

Energy Healing with trauma

Comment by Darcy Neibaur on June 19, 2011 at 1:08pm

Thank you Char.

Comment by Gloria Coppola on June 19, 2011 at 11:06am

http://www.MassageProCE.com

Ethics ~ Compassionate Touch Classes - Live and Online

Comment by Gloria Coppola on June 19, 2011 at 11:03am

Dave I agree with Juli Onofrio.

Also, there is a wonderful book "Compassionate Touch" that gives many exercise you can use /practice with trauma and abused clients.

I also studied CST and Somato Emotional Release - learned a lot about working with all sorts of trauma. Very beneficial.

 

You must have clear boundaries

It is important to empower not dis-empower

Comment by Julie Onofrio on June 19, 2011 at 10:52am

Dave -the best thing you can do is to just do massage and encourage the client to give feedback about what they feel or what you are doing.  The thing that massage does is gives people awareness and also a sense of comfort.  You don't really have to do anything.  They may or may not have an emotional release.  They may just feel cared for.  The most important thing is just maintaining your boundaries so that they can continue to learn about themselves.  If you start doing longer sessions without charging or trying to fit her into your schedule on times you don't usually work or something like that - it affects the therapeutic relationship that you have with her.  It is that relationship - clear boundaries that allows for healing.

Comment by Char Huber on June 19, 2011 at 8:46am

To continue...there are a lot of books out there. I have been fascinated for the last 20 years with how our bodies hold trauma and there is a lot more information available now. For a deeper understanding of sexual abuse E. Sue Blume wrote Secret Survivors. And Peter Levine's latest book Unspoken Vooice explains the dynamics of trauma. (He teaches a method called Somatic Experiencing and some of his early students have developed other methods from that). There is some information on my website if you'd like to check it out. I practice and teach a resolution method based on his work, www.thecfct.com .

Comment by Char Huber on June 19, 2011 at 8:33am

Hi Dave. I want to thank you for wanting to develop your skills to serve your clients, that alone says a lot for you as a therapist. I have specific training in a method used as a massage therapist and want to add to Darcy's words of "keep massaging". Abused clients have had their sense of personal power disrupted so giving them a strong sense that they are in control of their massage experience is very important. I assume you already are doing that which is a contributor to these things coming up now, taking it a little deeper will help even more. If you can trust that everything is exactly as it's suppose to be you will make no "mistakes".

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• …
• 8
• Next ›
• Page