"Professional Boundaries for Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers"
This is an incredible resource for someone in my field - it has application that extends far beyond my field and could apply to many different careers. I wish I would've read this years ago and I should re read this every year.
A rabbit trail on massage modalities:
Some people might wonder what is included under the title "bodyworker." Since I started my business as a massage therapist in 2013, I have been on a journey to discover and unveil the mysteries that shroud all the different types of massage that seem to be out there. Well, I guess the word massage connotes smooth strokes with oil or cream while bodywork is more inclusive - somatic, cranio-sacral, reiki - I'm just dropping terms like hot cakes here. I'm still trying to get to the bottom of some of this stuff myself.
somatic therapy - "is a holistic therapy that studies the relationship between the mind and body in regard to psychological past. The theory behind somatic therapy is that trauma symptoms are the effects of instability of the ANS (autonomic nervous system). Past traumas disrupt the ANS"Sep 12, 2014" - psych central.com
This is an example of a label for a bodywork modality that goes beyond the basic muscle manipulation and tension relief. I took a week end course entitled "Touch, Presence, and Healing" - which was amazing - it didn't get me a certificate in any of the above mentioned modalities, yet seemed to fall under the category of what I understand to be cranio-sacral therapy. Nor, was it psychological therapy in the sense of dialogue which involves detecting sources of present or past pain and resolving them. I've been practicing these techniques and integrating them into my massage routine (which involve steady holding on certain points of the body (usually joints) or particularly the base of the head and sacrum area) - the idea being that they link to the central nervous system.
Back to the Book
This book really helped me unpack assumptions and perhaps practices that I intuitively try to follow, but often haven't succeeded at completely in pursuit of conducting business in a professional manner. I transitioned from doing massage as a hobby to tentatively experimenting with it as a business to thinking "hmm, I might actually make a career out of this." Along this self directed journey there have been many mentors and helpers and many floundering jump into the deep end alone moments.
This book helped me to really ponder what experience clients might have, need, expect etc.. My boundaries and ethics training in school consisted of reading over a list of ethics. My teacher had a lot of practical tips and advice but our coverage of boundaries was bare bones compared to what counselors, therapists, doctors, nurses (and other professionals) undergo - and our work is often incredibly intimate - so this book is soo helpful. My next step is to create a support group of massage therapists in my area and perhaps do a study group based on this book. (2017 goals?)
Just to encapsulate some topics included in this book in a well organized fashion with lots of examples, quotes, and even funny cartoons - Client practitioner boundaries and the power imbalance, Ethical boundaries from theory to practice, boundaries and the power of words, sexual boundaries - protecting our clients, sexual boundaries - protecting ourselves, financial boundaries, dual relationships and boundaries wearing many hats.
This is a must read for massage therapists and/or Bodyworkers!
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