Massage for Abuse/Trauma Survivors

Comment

Comment by Don Solomon on October 15, 2009 at 5:28pm

Now that we have put that subject behind us!!! Lets hear some of the progressive ideas people are using to help their patients heal!! I am particularly interested in some of the ideas Inika Spence touched on in her last posting where she wrote "Thanks for this discussion. I have just finished Peter Levine's 3 year program in Somatic Experiencing and have been using it in Aquatic Bodywork and table work." Indeed, I think others in the group would be very interested to hear about your work and Ideas surrounding Somatic Experiencing and the combination of hands on body work with Aquatic body work. What a powerful combination! I wonder about issolation tanks and the somatic experience model?
Yours,
Don Solomon, RMT (Vancouver, BC, Canada)

Comment by Dustin T. Fox, CMT on October 15, 2009 at 5:23pm

My last comment was rather immature of me so I offer my apology. Heat of the moment thing and a lapse in judgement. Of course not every woman has been abused but until every woman reports abuse nobody really knows do they? It is rather obvious to me and other members Jennifer that you seem to have some issues with my comments, especially regarding sources of information. Why don't you just call me a 66 year old phony who doesn't have your level of expertise in information gathering or anything else on the subject of abuse and get over it. I believe that I have responded to all of your individual concerns so I no longer feel the need to pursue this line of discussion since I feel that it is counter productive to the image that this group and it's endeavors offer us to help heal those who have been abused. I only ask that you understand that physical, emotional and sexual abuse are very general titles that encompass a much larger field and are far from the only three that exist in our society and when you have had the priveledge to work with over 20,000 individuals in your career then you maybe you will, I believe have a better understanding of the many facets the abuse stone has to see. Our role as massage therapist isn't, in my humble opinion, to gather knowledge as much as it is to use what we know works and what works for me is Unconditional Acceptance & Love both through touch and lifecoaching the abused I work with. I hope in the future that if you choose to communicate with me that you do it with the level of respect that I hold for you.

Comment by Dustin T. Fox, CMT on October 15, 2009 at 4:50pm

And what is your source for that comment Jennifer?

Comment by Dustin T. Fox, CMT on October 14, 2009 at 9:11pm

Well Jennifer, although I usually don't challenge my fellow therapist regarding any subject, I do feel that you need some closure on my last comment. I did mention the sources that provided that information although it was rather dated and also that I was unable to verify that figure. Having read Inika's comments and based on my 49 years of experience in working within the field of women and men in crisis due to neglect and abuse both as a victim of PTSD from my time in Vietnam, counselor, couples counselor, minister, life coach and massage therapist, I simply expressed my own personal observations regarding the 90% figure, hence I didn't name an outside source. Having said that, some sources that you may find interesting are www.webmd.com and click on mental health and then ptsd or www.scientificmusictherapy.com or www.miami.edu/touch-research/home.html or www.health.nih.gov/category/MentalHealthandbehavior where the subjects don't deal directly with the outcomes of abuse but with the various social and economic symtoms and conditions that may lead to group and individual abusive conduct. I like to keep things simple Jennifer because life is already to complicated for those we strive to help through their time of crisis. To me, the application of unconditional touch combined with patience and supportive interaction is one of the methods we can use to facilitate the climb out of the dismally burdensome pit of dispair that so many men and women carry as a result of emotional and physical neglect and abuse. Drugs and the traditonal mental health "OBJECTIVE TREATMENT" methods where endless time and money is spent to treat and discuss the symtoms of this subject are apparently not working. In my experience, getting to the cause of the problem usually results in a more positive outcome. Personally, I like the Dr. Patch Adams model for interacting with those I work with. I highly recommend the film. I would hope that this is the ultimate intent of this entire group.

Comment by Dustin T. Fox, CMT on October 13, 2009 at 5:14pm

Dear Jennifer, Don and Group, My apologies for not being more specific regarding the source of the 98%. I actually read that in the New England Journal of Medicine some years ago. Then again on the National Health Institute site about 2 years ago. As with all surveys they are usually off on the numbers in all areas and especially regarding this subject since many many cases go unreported. Checking back on it last night I was unable to get a difinitive number that I was able to verify but based on the potential number of unreported cases mentioned in Inika's reply, I wouldn't be shy about placing it in the 90% range. In the future I will be more specific about sources and I sincerely thank you all for your very constructive comments. If you wish to know more about Vibrational Attunement Massage please visit www.vam.abmp.com. It is a technique specifically designed for those who are or have suffered abuse / neglect.

Comment by Don Solomon on October 13, 2009 at 4:11pm

Dear Group
I was just in touch with Dr Brooks. At present, she does not have a link to the Peggy Pace interview. I requested that she inform me when she does. I will post the link here as soon as I get the info..
Yours,
Don Solomon

Comment by Don Solomon on October 13, 2009 at 3:36pm

Dear Group
Fantastic discussion!! I have always enjoyed the alternated way of thinking in our profession. Truely, Art!
I re-read my post and thought, yes, it may have come across as critical of Jennifer L. Hensley, I assure you it was not ment to be. Rather I hoped to support her position that when statistics are quoted in a posting, they should be credible and added that they should be cited so a person reading the post can go to the source and evaluate the sorce inforemation for themselves. Inika Spence post is just such a great example of this. Her argument is clear and a person reading it can easly go to her cited references. Sulis (Sara Firman) position is very valid as well. Indeed statistics can be very deceiving. This is and area of care that is very badly reported (for many of the reasons 'Sulis' outlined). All the more reason to be careful when we use figures to back up our arguments..
In an earlier posting I had suggested people have a look at Peggy Pace's work at: www.lifespanintegration.com I had forgotten that she was interviewed on World Talk Radio by Dr. Kathleen Brooks on behalf of darkness2light. I believe the interview can be found on Dr Brook's web page at http://www.ethicalife.com/
Your,
Don Solomon, RMT (Vancouver, BC, Canada)

Comment by Inika on October 13, 2009 at 9:26am

This from http://www.darkness2light.org/KnowAbout/statistics_2.asp
Statistics from a huge source of references:
"The statistics are shocking
1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18. (96)
1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18. (96)
1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet. (30, 87)
Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under. (76)
An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today. (1)"

"Most children don't tell even if they have been asked
Evidence that a child has been sexually abused is not always obvious, and many children do not report that they have been abused.
Over 30% of victims never disclose the experience to ANYONE.
Young victims may not recognize their victimization as sexual abuse.
Almost 80% initially deny abuse or are tentative in disclosing. Of those who do disclose, approximately 75% disclose accidentally. Additionally, of those who do disclose, more than 20% eventually recant even though the abuse occurred.
Fabricated sexual abuse reports constitute only 1% to 4% of all reported cases. Of these reports, 75% are falsely reported by adults and 25% are reported by children. Children only fabricate ½% of the time."

If most children don't tell, this makes the statistics low. I think we can safely say that it's more than 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys. And this is only childhood sexual abuse. There are more statistics of abused women on:
http://www.now.org/issues/violence/stats.html

Thanks for this discussion. I have just finished Peter Levine's 3 year program in Somatic Experiencing and have been using it in Aquatic Bodywork and table work. What I know for sure is unconditional positive regard is by far the most healing thing we can do for anyone. It doesn't need any extra training except your own personal growth work to be able to hold space for what comes up.
namaste,
Inika Spence

Comment by Don Solomon on October 13, 2009 at 1:35am

Dear Dustin and group
I think it is very important to cite our statistical references. Vague or poorly quoted references serve to undemine the credibility of our discussions. And provoke responces like Jennifer L. Hensleys 1 hour ago in which she asked "98%? Where did you get that figure?" ..
Dustin, your treatment sounds like it is ounded on good theory. If I could hazard a suggestion, the comedian Demetri Martin said this best "you can make any line sound really creepy if you tack the word Ladies!! on the end" "for example: Thanks for coming to the show tonight Ladies!!!
and can be found on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBcxwrNTpGg at time counter 1:39...
Great point about the "Endorphin flow increases and cortisol flow decreases as the stress of a lifetime of negative experiences leave the body"
Yours truely,
Don Solomon, RMT (Vancouver, BC, Canada)

Comment by Dustin T. Fox, CMT on October 12, 2009 at 9:49pm

I have read all comments with great interest. What a powerful group considering that the Government stats indicate that over 98% of western women either have suffered abuse/trauma or will in their lifetime. 99% of the recipients of my technique are ladies. They are allowed to "BE SAFE" - allowed to stop the massage or modify it whenever they choose - allowed to feel and express without judgement or interference from their facilitator. During the research process developing a seminar I learned from phsycologists, counselors and neurologists that the body always follows the emotional triggers that are associated with various events that have an negative or positive impact in a persons' life. I don't like to complicate massage with any verbiage that gives the appearance that I know more than them about how they are feeling so I just accept unconditionally what they are willing to disclose and move into the session. Since music can create and enhance positive emotional outcomes, the entire session is music driven. I use it as a tool to open them up to the power that they have to heal from within. It appears to provide them with a way out of the depressive state as they merge with the vibrational qualities of the music. Our physiology is also in constant vibration and when we "relax" emotionally to our favorite uplifting music we begin to relax physically. Endorphin flow increases and cortisol flow decreases as the stress of a lifetime of negative experiences leave the body. It becomes more than a vibrational massage to the recipient and when followed up by effective and supportive counseling the effects of the negative controlling issues may also be alleviated.

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