| The therapeutic relationship or container (we will | | | | human being is there to support them.In this |
| refer to as the therapeutic container from now | | | | realm we must be very careful to not overstep |
| on) is the space you are able to create or provide | | | | the limitations of our scope of practice and |
| for your client during a massage session. This | | | | wander into the ground of psychological counseling. |
| container is a safe space for your client to | | | | A good general rule when it comes to scope of |
| experience and express emotions while being | | | | practice as it pertains to counseling is to avoid |
| supported and comforted and without fear of | | | | trying to deepen a discussion.For instance if a |
| shame or abandonment. Here we will attempt to | | | | client begins to cry during a session it is |
| make this abstract idea more concrete and easily | | | | completely appropriate to ask questions like "Are |
| implementable in your practice.The 'space' referred | | | | you okay?" or "Would you like me to continue the |
| to above is an emotional, mental, and spiritual | | | | session?"; at this point if a client opens up to you |
| space that requires the consent and participation | | | | and wants to talk about something it is fine to let |
| of both the client and the therapist. As therapists | | | | them talk. There is never an ethical problem with |
| it is our responsibility to make this space as | | | | letting a client say whatever they want, as long |
| available, expansive, and secure for the client as | | | | as you, the therapist, remain comfortable.Likewise |
| we possibly can.This means that we accept into | | | | it would be inappropriate to try to deepen the |
| this space what we can handle and keep out that | | | | experience by saying something like "Why do you |
| which we cannot. This is especially true when we | | | | think you are crying?" or "Let's explore your |
| are well bounded, dynamically bounded. If our | | | | sadness." Unless you are certified as a counselor |
| boundaries are too open an experience may find | | | | these would be inappropriate conversations for a |
| its way to us that we feel unprepared for. A | | | | massage therapist to start. Unfortunately it is |
| natural reaction to feeling overwhelmed is to | | | | hard to give specific guidelines across the United |
| retreat into yourself and away from the | | | | States as each state has it's own rules governing |
| overwhelming stimulus.If the emotional situation is | | | | the appropriate actions, statements and wording |
| overwhelming to you, the massage therapist, | | | | around healthcare and massage therapy.Maintaining |
| then you must break the container and not | | | | a distinct and balanced therapeutic container during |
| remain in the situation. Perhaps this means that | | | | a massage therapy session ultimately allows for |
| you simply aren't willing to discuss something with | | | | emotional and physical release by a client and |
| a client and that's the end of it. It might be that | | | | increases the potential for self-healing because it |
| you need to leave the room. I recommend trying | | | | helps to relax and reassure clients. And remember |
| to find a 'soft' reason to leave, like you need | | | | the therapeutic container is predicated on the |
| water, instead of telling the client that they are | | | | massage therapists level of comfort. If you are |
| scarring you.However, if you are comfortable with | | | | uncomfortable you have a responsibility to |
| the highly charged situation that often | | | | yourself and your client to address the issue by |
| accompanies emotional release or a trauma | | | | either working through it or avoiding it.Brandon |
| processes of our clients you can help to reverse | | | | Thomas is a Nationally Certified massage therapist |
| patterns of abandonment in their psyche and | | | | in Boulder Colorado with 7 years of experience in |
| promote the healing process they are attempting | | | | the field of massage therapy. He currently |
| to undertake. When things get intense it is of the | | | | operates a nationwide chair massage service and |
| highest importance that (if comfortable) we stay | | | | enjoys working with clients on a regular basis. You |
| in physical, mental, and emotional contact with our | | | | can find him at Chair Massage. |
| clients to make sure that they know that another | | | | |