Questions and possible uncoordinated venting?

[Dotbo1978]

I have something I've been wondering about, the more experience I get and as I graduate. I don't know really how to approach this question so bear with me!

I'm just wondering how others have felt about dealing with the aspects included in massage, beyond the mechanical, particularly how you felt your schooling prepared you for dealing with the mind/body/spirit aspect of our work. Many talk about massage being holistic and involving the mind/body/spirit. "Mind/Body/Spirit" phrase was even mentioned several times during school, but that was about the extent of addressing it. It seems inherent to me that whenever we touch someone there is a lot more there than muscles and bones (and the physical properties of our body.) I realize the more clinical approaches to massage are probably more focused on addressing just the body in the session, but even then there's not really a way to cut off the mind and spirit from the work being done. Is there?

I guess I'm writing the all because I am just learning how emotional issues can manifest in the body. (I always knew/believed but now it is the first times I'm experiencing this with a client-that makes it all different! ) It's real physical, palpable things going on causing the client a lot of pain. The client wants out of the pain and wants a MT (or PT or MD) to do the job and make it better...but "fixing" it is elusive because while it is physical it's also emotional on the clients part. If I didn't have the feedback of more experienced practitioners that I've found on my own, I would have no idea how possible it is for this to occur.

Did you just learn this kind of stuff after school on your own as you practiced? Also, did your school focus on therapists building a foundation of self-care skills...? I know we are responsible for self-care on our own and all of our ideas of self-care can be different, but the extent of it being covered in school was "You need to make sure to do self-care." and a couple wrist stretches.

Ughhhh....I'm graduating and feeling so overwhelmed with what I feel like I need to build to be up to speed. I guess I am now I am especially realizing the training that was lacking in my program and how simple it would be to make it better! (For starters, I'm chomping at the bit to teach at least a 12 or 16 hour self-care class--addressing all aspects Mind/Body/Spirit-covering the care and keeping of a therapist. How else can we stay open to what is oging on with our clients? And how else can we not fall apart or burn out or lose interest in 2 years (or less)?

Maybe I'm really just venting. But I'd really like feedback from others if you have it about how you dealt with some of this. How did you feel upon graduating? Did you feel prepared? What did you like about your school program, and what do you think could have been added that would have been helpful (now that you're working? What's the first thing you did out of school (work wise, self care, anything) and what was the most helpful to you?


Thanks for this space and for everyone here!!!

 

[nette]

Well, first I would say the it is pretty normal to feel completely overwhelmed when you are just getting out of school.

Second, I would highly recommend readingJob's Body. It is a mix of scientific physiology and an energetic/emotional based tome on the power of touch and bodywork. It can be very dense at times, but equally beautiful.

And most importantly, give yourself time to learn and grow. You will make mistakes, you will not be able to "fix" everyone- and some would argue that we don't do the fixing anyway. It's OK.

Enjoy the journey.

 

[Engel -]

Take a deep breath and relax! It is completely normal to feel overwhelmed as you are getting out of school. Many of us feel that one of the biggest things we learned in school is how much is still left to learn. No one school is going to be all things to all therapists. Before starting school, some have an idea of what direction they want to go and can choose their school accordingly. The two schools most convenient to me were very different. One was very much mind/body/spirit connected and the other was much more muscles/bones/anatomy/technique. I found the mind/body/spirit one a little out there for me and also lacking in academic basics, so I opted for the other school. I figured I could always pick up some of the other stuff with continuing education. It was a good choice for me and for the direction I want to take my practice. Sounds as if the other school might have been right up your alley. You are where you are and just because you haven't received certain education, doesn't mean that the school is not a good school. There are lots of good books, videos and continuing education classes that can help you develop in the areas that you want to expand upon.

I think the fact that you feel there is still so much you need to learn is GOOD thing! You're still hungry for more! I'm sure that upon graduation you will be set with enough skills to get yourself started. Each new experience will teach you something valuable.

 

[queen of answers]

I have to agree with the other posters.

I graduated in 2004 and I am still learning (even quite a few things today).

Sometimes I forget a subject we covered in school and I reference back to my old materials... funny how they become new again!

As with feeling that connecting with mind/body/spirit... I believe it may be more 'natural' for some to feel it than others...

I can only state that sometimes I am intuitive and 'just know' and other times... well, :undecided:

If I feel that I don't have the skills/knowledge to treat a client, I refer them to another therapist/s where that client falls into that therapists scope of practice.

 

[rona]

Hi palpable, KneadedMassage, and massagengel...


Palpable, thanks for the Job's Body recommendation. It's actually sitting here right now. I finally ordered it after so many recommendations were made for it to other people here, lol. Except I haven't had a chance to actually crack it yet! I've still got homework to complete for my last day of school on Monday, ha. I'm also just finished reading Trager for Self-Healing: A Practical Guide for Living in the Present Moment by Audrey Mairi and it's REALLY good. I've been trying to incorporate some of the exercises from it and it's helpful but currently it's too little too late...but I'm trying to catch up!

Thanks for the assurances that it will be ok with where I am....I guess I want to be a "know it all", but not be a know it all, lol. I didn't have a lot of options for schooling in my area. I think the school I picked was probably the best from what I had to pick from, and I didn't have the luxury or moving to go to a school I'd really love because I'm a single mom. This actually may be part of what is adding to my sense of overwhelm as I have been literally living from school loans and now I have to find something fast to get me on my feet (even if it's not 100% massage related...and well, anyway)

I'm not really worried so much about being intuitive or connecting with the mind/body/spirit aspect of massage. In some ways it's kind of the other way around. I don't feel prepared for the connections, even though they are there. Does that make sense? I guess what I'm sort of talking about is how to protect myself energetically and how to not get energies all mixed up with people as I'm working. I'm not doing energy work specifically even (or at all!) I'm basically just your run-of-the-mill, new out of school therapist now. I've taken a few CEU courses which have been great, but I don't have a ton of experience behind me to go from. I just want to make sure it's clear that I am not TRYING for this energy stuff to happen. It just happens! and that is what I wish I had better education about because I didn't realize it was going to be so much. What I'm talking about it sort of like needing to learn how to have energetic boundaries and still be open to my clients. Along with that, it seems toward the end of clinic (I'm done with clinic now!) I really started attracting clients with really active energetic issues going on....mentally, emotionally or whatever. I don't know how else to explain this. Maybe it sounds weird. The reason I say I somehow attracted them is because they would rebook with me. This of course was wonderful,...but ackkk!!! I truly enjoy working with them, but at the same time I want to be more prepared. I guess I will refer out like you said, massagengel...one client I already gave another therapist's name who I thought could maybe help and she might like.

Ok, back to pausing, breathing, feeling the weight (that good Trager stuff )........oh so many lessons for me to learn!!!!! (btw, no Trager Approach mt's in my area or I would go to one, lol-money is also another pesky little issue too to get the bodywork that might help right now...so you know--oh my back to the present moment and no more of this trying !)

Thank you for listening!!!!!

 

[Abbagail]

...

I'm not really worried so much about being intuitive or connecting with the mind/body/spirit aspect of massage. In some ways it's kind of the other way around. I don't feel prepared for the connections, even though they are there. Does that make sense? I guess what I'm sort of talking about is how to protect myself energetically and how to not get energies all mixed up with people as I'm working.

I know how you feel- I finished school in November and have just passed the and am awaiting the receipt of my license in the mail (I show up on the state's web site search, just don't have the piece of paper in hand yet- should get it next week!)

I think what you're worried about can be helped by learning how to "ground" yourself. Different people do it differently.

I wasn't/am not so worried about it because it's something that a) I learned about a long time ago under different applications, and b) I got real familiar with as my husband went through school/started working, and he'd tell me tales of his "good" and "not-so-good" experiences with grounding or forgetting to ground. But everyone can get "ungrounded" from time to time, so don't feel bad.

I'd suggest to practice whatever techniques help you get through your normal day in a more "grounded" way- I mean, even going to the grocery store and driving in heavy traffic can require some sort of grounding, especially if you have to deal with very rude people! Some folks can get through 3 hours of bumper-to-bumper, rush-hour traffic without so much as a blink, and others... well, not pretty!

 

[pikko]

"Mind/body/spirit" can become a euphemism for "emotional baggage" that some misguided bodyworkers think they should try to resolve for the client. There are even some well-known CE providers that teach classes on resolving emotional issues through body and/or energy manipulation.

We are bodyworkers. We do massage. We help people to relax and use tissue manipulation techniques to stimulate physiological processes that we hope will support increased wellbeing. Mental/emotional/spiritual issues are outside our scope of practice.

Clients with emotional issues may be attracted to you because they sense your boundaries are weaker and that you have a desire to please. But you are having mixed feelings because you sense that they are seeking something beyond what you are trained to provide. Pay close attention to this instinct and trust your gut. Strengthen your boundaries and give yourself time to develop as a therapist.

 

[epic failure]

Ditto on what others have already said. However, keep in mind that over time you will develop more of your sense of direction. You could end up heading into a practice that includes other things from nutritional support to other holistic healing methods, counseling & the like. School is a foundation from which we build on, as we go throughout our careers.

Consider building a network of other practitioners to whom you may want to refer clients out who need additional support. In that way you can serve your clients other needs, without feeling you are their only support person!

Remember that their life, & their issues are not up to you to fix, or you'll be over-identifying with them. Keep in mind that the comfort of touch alone, does go a long way toward soothing the person, who has come to see you. As they relax & let go of the physical tension, they are releasing the breath, & letting go of the place in which they've been stuck.

If you are very emotionally or intuitively sensitive, you may easily "pick-up" your client's "stuff". Should this be the case it may be helpful for you to look into books or classes in intuitive development, so that you are better equipped to handle whatever you may find yourself dealing with. You are welcome to PM me for more info if needed.