F r e e m u s i c d o w n l o a d s f o r C e r t i f i e d m e m b e r s : w w w. a b m p . c o m / g o / c e r t i f i e d c e n t r a l 11
READER FORUM
VALIDATION THROUGH
TOUCH
I don't normally respond to articles I read in
magazines, but I wanted to let you know how much
I appreciated Douglas Nelson's article "Validation
Through Touch" [September/October 2014, page 29].
It hit a very personal and professional chord
that is very hard to communicate to people. This
can be such a sensitive issue. I feel many medical
practitioners miss so much and many patients go
through their lives being told [the pain is] their fault,
in their mind, or believing there is nothing that can
be done. Saying this to clients or colleagues can feel
like slinging mud, but this article said it beautifully.
I am a veteran bodyworker and was involved
in a sledding accident three years ago. The
mental turmoil of not being able to fi gure out
what was happening with my body and not
getting answers or solutions from other medical
practitioners was expensive, depressing, and
frustrating. I was told that I needed to build my
core, lose weight (I gained 52 pounds after my
accident from not being able to exercise), that
it was in my mind—all very invalidating.
It wasn't until I received a thorough
evaluation from Jerry Hesch at the Hesch
Institute that my complaints and dysfunctional
patterns of movement were validated. It was so
empowering to have someone understand my
body and teach me what to do to help it.
I can now see my diffi cult journey as a key lesson
in my own business and relationships with my clients.
When I validate their pain and help them realize that
nobody knows their body like they do, everything
changes. I can almost see the darkness lift. Validation
is very important and Douglas is right: "the
emotional effect is just as powerful." Thank you!
TAMI MOHLER
MCCALL, IDAHO
THE SIMPLICITY OF
SELF-CARE
I thought this article was really helpful [ July/August
2014, Ten for Today, "It's Time to Take Care of You,"
page 25]. The simple things in life get overlooked,
but need to be in the front of minds every day so we,
as massage therapists, can be benefi cial to others.
KAT STROYEK
MARGATE CITY, NEW JERSEY
Thank you for your inspiring and affi rming
article "It's Time to Take Care of You" [ July/
August 2014, page 25]. I own and direct Green
River Dance For Global Somatics—a private
career school in Minnesota that trains somatic
movement educators, bodyworkers, and energy
healers. I hang intentional feng shui mobiles in
our learning environment. Massage therapist/
feng shui expert LaRae Fjellman of Transcending
Art makes these mobiles, which blend art, nature,
and the principles of feng shui. They have cleared,
focused, and illuminated the transformational
work that takes place at our school. I'm delighted
to see ABMP stepping outside the box and
talking about the power of feng shui.
SUZANNE RIVER
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
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