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Other advantages of reflexology when working with acute stress and PTSD include: • A person remains clothed. This can be highly significant for a client who was brutalized, raped, tortured, or otherwise feels vulnerable. • Reflexologists start at the feet with the client supine. Far from the head, viscera, and sexual organs, feet are generally perceived as a nonthreatening place to begin bodywork. Clients can talk with reflexologists face-to-face and see what is going on, allowing them to feel safe and comfortable as the session progresses. • Reflexive actions occur instantly to relieve tension and stress, promoting deep, restorative relaxation and sleep. • A reflexive area in the feet exists for every organ, gland, and part of the body. • Foot reflexology improves the function of all body systems: immediately noticeable are improvements in the flow of bioelectrical energy, blood, lymph, and nerve impulses. • Reflexology protocols address health challenges particular to the client, such as depression, diabetes, headaches, menstrual issues, respiratory conditions, and more. Protocols follow physiology, making reflexology a direct path to nudging the body toward wellness. • Reflexology also works energetically by balancing the body's energy systems. It works in harmony with a broad spectrum of energy therapies, such as polarity therapy and Asian medicine. Considerations in Setting the Atmosphere for Healing As with other forms of bodywork, a soothing environment nurtures the healing process. It is important to ask the client if the treatment details and setting are OK, as the reflexologist may unknowingly recreate aspects of the traumatic event that may actually increase stress. For example, lavender has a relaxing effect on many people. However, if an abuser wore lavender scent, the client may perceive lavender as a stressor that triggers memories of the trauma. PTSD clients who feel victimized and powerless may be unwilling or unaware of how to communicate personal needs to the reflexologist. The client must be assured that any and all aspects of the session can be altered or stopped at any time. Reflexologists and other bodyworkers can support clients' healing, regardless of what type of stress they are living through. Whether clients are experiencing everyday stress or PTSD, approaching them with compassion, communicating effectively, and allowing them to feel safe, even for one hour, can make a world of difference. Reflexology Protocol Professional reflexologists employ a full-body protocol, typically in a 50-minute session. This allows time to work reflexes for each system of the entire body, plus additional work for any health challenges unique to the client. It is best to work on all the reflexes of the body first, then budget time for protocols for specific health challenges. The important point is that all reflexes are worked during the time allotted and nothing is missed or short-changed. The Full-Body Protocol for Stress and PTSD (pages 76–77) provides a step-by-step sequence for working with clients who are dealing with the effects of stress and trauma. Refer to the image at left for the locations of foot reflexes. 4. uscaloosa Forward, "Tornado Facts," accessed T Notes 1. National Center for PTSD, US Department of Veteran's Affairs, "How Common is PTSD?" accessed February 2013, www.ptsd.va.gov/ public/pages/how-common-is-ptsd.asp. 2. American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR (Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 2000). 3. cute and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, A DVD (Naples, FL: National Educational Video, Inc., 2006), www.nevcoeducation.com. February 2013, http://tuscaloosaforward.com/ wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Statistics2.pdf. 5. harles W. Hoge, Once a Warrior, Always a C Warrior (Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot Press, 2010). 6. Richard F. Mollica, Healing Invisible Wounds: Paths of Hope and Recovery in a Violent World (Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press, 2008). 7. asmine Lee Cori, Healing from Trauma: J A Survivor's Guide to Understanding Your Symptoms and Reclaiming Your Life (Washington, D.C.: Marlowe & Company, 2007). 8. aula S. Stone, Therapeutic Reflexology: P A Step-by-Step Guide to Professional Competence (Upper Saddle, NJ: Pearson Education, 2011), 18, 55. 9. artine Faure-Alderson, Total Reflexology: M The Reflex Points for Physical, Emotional, and Psychological Healing (Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2007), 140. Paula S. Stone, MA, NCTMB, ARCB-CR, is executive director of The Stone Institute LLC in St. Charles, Missouri, and author of Therapeutic Reflexology: A Step-by-Step Guide to Professional Competence (Pearson Education, 2011). Stone's publications, seminars, classes, and research explore the efficacy of contemporary reflexology, as well as its interface with massage and other forms of bodywork. To contact Stone, visit www.thestoneinstitute.org or email info@thestoneinstitute.org. www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 79