Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1358392
L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 61 Here's my take on this: I think intuition is just processing information really fast. An intuitive person skips from point A to point G without being conscious of passing points B–F in the process. So in the context of clinical decisions, when someone feels "intuitively" drawn to a specific action, I suggest that if they examined that choice, they would be able to identify the subtle factors that drew them in that direction. Intuition strengthens with experience because we have a bigger catalog of experiences that surprised us. When you have the most access to intuition is when you don't know which way to go. —Cal Cates Let's bear in mind too that those intuitive choices don't always work out well, possibly because the knowledge or observations on which they are based is incomplete. Not surprisingly, intuition gets more accurate with more experience. My personal confirmation bias interprets this to mean that "intuitive leaps" are actually the result of subconscious analysis. The more aware and conscious we are of these steps, the more able we are to perform safe and effective actions on purpose, rather than by accident. HUMILITY VS. EXPERTISE One of the greatest challenges I see in our profession comes down to balancing appropriate humility that helps us stay open and teachable, with appropriate confidence in our own expertise. I think the element that goes into critical thinking most for me is humility. After 45 years of practicing, I could imagine that I knew something. But critical thinking is standing before my client as an utter innocent each time, and to not make presumptions. —Tom Myers A place where this tension is borne out most acutely is when a massage therapist is given a direction from someone who appears to have more authority: a doctor massage incrementally, while collecting feedback and gathering more information as we go. It's not a realistic expectation that a massage therapist will fully comprehend all the details that matter for every decision, but it is important that we add to our knowledge as our relationship with, and understanding of, our client deepens. NUANCE VS. CERTAINTY Humans like to know what the facts are. We are sometimes less tolerant of ambiguity that requires deeper understanding. As it happens, it is easiest to teach in this paradigm too—facts are easier to test than understanding. Open questions and answers that start with "It depends on . . ." can be uncomfortable and frustrating, especially for people who don't have a lot of experience. Critical thinking requires practitioners to hold onto multiple, sometimes conflicting, possibilities until enough information has been gathered to take action. Then we must be willing to change our strategies, depending on what happens along the way. I think that's the biggest challenge we have in education—we teach in black and white. The problem with that is that the world is composed of various shades of gray, with virtually no black and white. I think that good quality education around critical thinking is diving into that ambiguity. —Michele Renee Critical thinking is a commitment to let go of certainty. —Cal Cates The more certain I notice myself feeling, the more suspicious I get about my understanding of a situation. —Til Luchau CRITICAL THINKING VS. INTUITION The concept of intuition as a contrast to critical thinking came up in several of my conversations with colleagues. But the meaning of intuition in this context is hazy. Intuition is knowing without knowing how I know. —Til Luchau Based on all this, what is my session plan? It's time to turn thinking into action. The session plan will be guided by Leo's goals, plus the therapist's set of skills, and what the therapist finds in the way of information about Leo's situation. (Look: it's client values, practitioner expertise, and research—evidence-informed practice!) Decisions will include what kinds of techniques or strategies to use but also specific accommodations in positioning (given his back pain issues) and for whatever medications he uses (which may or may not be in the context of his knee and back pain). What worked well, and didn't work well, in that session? What will I do differently next time? At the beginning of this relationship, the client and the therapist mapped out some goals for Leo, and some strategies to achieve them. If their work together is fruitful, then Leo will be satisfied, and the therapist will have another success story. But if the work isn't successful, then it will be necessary to make adjustments, try new things, or reassess whether Leo's goals are realistic for a massage therapist. None of this will be possible without reflection on the session, and appropriate adjustments and changes as the work continues.