Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/867515
A B M P m e m b e r s e a r n F R E E C E a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / c e b y r e a d i n g M a s s a g e & B o d y w o r k m a g a z i n e 67 A GUIDE TO GRIEF-SENSITIVE MASSAGE 1 FOCUS ON THE FIRST YEAR. In my experience, physical discomfort seems to be most intense in the early stages of mourning. The first weeks and months following a loss seem to be an important time for offering a grief- sensitive massage intervention. Early bereavement was the focus of Berit S. Cronfalk's research, and I have seen a profound benefit when working with early bereavement, too. Benefits are likely to be seen throughout the first two years, but in my experience, the earlier interventions seem to offer the most benefit. 2 KNOW YOU'RE PROVIDING A WORTHWHILE SERVICE. Many grieving people want massage. Long before reaching out for counseling or other traditional means of grief support, I have seen bereaved people seek out massage therapy. In my experience, many grieving people are open to massage because they need relief from their extreme stress and physical discomfort. At The Respite, our massage program was far more popular than any other grief-support offering. 3 STICK WITH YOUR SCOPE OF PRACTICE. Because massage is often the first support tool sought out by grieving clients, we must be extremely diligent about restricting our focus to only body-oriented stress relief. Grieving clients can be very vulnerable and are often in need of additional support. Be extremely cautious and mindful of your scope of practice, and be prepared to make referrals for counseling and other forms of grief support. 4 REMEMBER A GENTLE TOUCH IS KEY. In my experience, many grieving clients display increased sensitivity to pressure. Even when requested, a firm or deep massage can be overwhelming. Many grieving clients seem especially prone to next-day soreness, and there also seems to be an increased potential for emotional release. Err on the side of caution and use extremely light pressure. Note: Cronfalk's study used gentle to firm Swedish-style massage for the hands and feet, while my program primarily utilizes full- body, light, Swedish-style massage (skipping upper legs and gluteal regions). experience of loss and grief just as surely as we do the joys and happiness that life brings us. To say to someone, through touch, that it is OK and safe to fully experience whatever it is you're feeling in the moment—that's a great gift." Massage therapist Janice Thompson also participated in both of the MTF- funded grief massage programs and says, "Our clients often had a palpable sense of sadness, despair, and hopelessness when they entered into our program. While grief massage doesn't alleviate these symptoms, our clients generally left their sessions feeling more physically relaxed, less anxious, and less depressed. It is humbling that these clients were willing to allow us a glimpse into their pain and place their trust in us in their efforts to move through their grief processes." Thompson says her first experience working with a grieving massage client was eye opening. "Massage therapists routinely learn about the importance of forming boundaries with clients, and I felt reasonably skilled in this area. I was also well versed in the symptoms of grief based on my background and training, but coming into the situation as the professional was an entirely different experience," she admits. "During my first grief massage, I found myself deeply affected by my client's situation and continued to dwell on it after the session was completed. "I ended up calling Aimee later that day, as I felt myself becoming sad and overwhelmed by my client's story. As we talked through how I was feeling, Aimee assured me that I was experiencing a normal reaction as a grief massage trainee, and she was able to help me regain my perspective by reminding me I would not be able to help my clients if I was too enmeshed in their pain."