Preparing for Emotional Issues: Existing or Brought on by Massage Techniques
Giving a good massage also means being ready to address clients’ emotional issues. Sometimes, an emotional memory may come up during an otherwise routine massage. Clients experience muscle tension due to emotional stress, and when addressing the physical ailments of a client, thoughts and memories of the related cause of the stress may occur.
Even if your client is not emotional when they 강남텐프로스타안마 arrive for the massage, techniques used during the session may bring up feelings or memories related to an event or injury. Don’t worry! This isn’t necessarily a sign that you aren’t giving a good massage; most people have varied reactions to touch, and some of these emotions may manifest as crying. It’s important to understand that while these situations can be awkward and potentially embarrassing, they are fairly common and should be treated with respect and compassion before, during, and after a massage. Clients should not be counseled by you during these emotional situations, as this is outside of your scope of practice.
As a massage therapist, it is your job to use effective massage techniques to the best of your ability, while giving a good massage, and maintaining a professional relationship with your client. Sometimes, it may be tempting to give advice to someone experiencing an emotional trauma or problem, but a better way to support your client would be to simply provide them with focused, caring touch therapy through massage. Clients, whether dealing with emotional issues or not, deserve your open communication with them to either address, or redirect options for therapy.
Use a Closing Technique
Finally, it is best to select closing massage techniques that bring the massage to a relaxing and mindful end. Simply stopping can feel sudden, and leave the body feeling unbalanced at the end of giving a good massage. Clients each enjoy specific methods, but light tapotement, a series of light effleurage strokes, or perhaps traction of the neck and legs can leave your client feeling whole. As always, be sure to let the client know how you plan to close so that they’re informed and aware of your massage techniques. Clients who have a smaller frame may not enjoy tapotement, and clients with a larger frame may not enjoy light effleurage. By utilizing a closing technique at the end of the massage, clients will feel whole and leave happy and relaxed.
Laurie Craig, the 2007 recipient of the prestigious Jerome Perlinski American Massage Therapy Association National Teacher of the Year award, is a respected health science educator, who serves as a subject matter expert and test item writer for the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. She has also participated in test item writing for the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork