Communication skills include the ability to listen to and understand another person and the capability to convey ideas and information in both spoken and written language. These skills affect every aspect of your massage training and professional practice. In addition, students must be able to communicate effectively with instructors and classmates to get the most […]
Lesson 8-0: Introduction Read More »
Massage directly affects the bodymind and overall health of the client through the power of touch. As explained in Lesson 7-1, touch is a unique form of nourishment that is essential to life. When touch is therapeutically structured, as in a massage session, physical tensions are softened and the chemical information system of the body
Lesson 7-5: Managing Emotions in the Therapeutic Relationship Read More »
The term bodymind describes both a philosophical or scientific viewpoint and the personal experience of connection or disconnection felt by an individual. Prominent viewpoints (philosophical, political, societal, religious, etc.) have influenced the way that people experience their bodies throughout history. Early people accepted the intimate links between the body and mind without question. The Greeks
Lesson 7-4 Bodymind Factors in a Therapeutic Relationship Read More »
Boundaries are conscious and subconscious imaginary lines that mark the limits of an individual’s personal space or territory. Boundaries create a separation or border between a person and other people and between a person and the environment. People who are not aware of boundaries can cross into another person’s space, causing discomfort or even harm.
Lesson 7-3: Boundaries and the Therapeutic Relationship Read More »
Lesson 7-1 explored the power of touch, and you learned that touch is a profound form of nonverbal communication. Professional touch may cause various feelings, thoughts, memories, and behavior in both clients and therapists. To establish and maintain a healthy therapeutic relationship, it is important that you understand something about the psychological factors that might
Lesson 7-2: Psychological Factors in the Therapeutic Relationship Read More »
In the Oxford Dictionary of English, the word touch has eight verb definitions and seven noun definitions. So this is a loaded word! As massage therapists, we think of touch as something skilled, practiced, and professional. We understand that touch has power because we have already felt muscle change, witnessed the reduction of pain, and
Lesson 7-1: The Power of Touch Read More »
A large body of psychology research suggests that the relationship between the therapist and the client is the single most important predictor of therapeutic outcome, even more important than the types of techniques that were used in the session.2 One group of researchers refer to the therapeutic relationship as an alliance and define it as
Lesson 7-0: Introduction Read More »
Laws are rules that are recognized by a community as binding and enforceable by authority. Regulations are directives that give official guidance about how laws should be followed. Massage laws are enacted at the local and state level with the aim of protecting the safety and welfare of the public. State or local authorities determine
Lesson 6-3: Massage Law Read More »
A professional is an individual working within the framework of a profession. A profession is a career that requires an academic preparation to acquire a recognized body of knowledge, which is often demonstrated through standardized testing. In the massage profession, the scope of practice (see Topic 6-3) defines the methods and techniques a professional can
Lesson 6-2: Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice Read More »
Massage therapists’ ethics influence how they behave in professional practice and how fully they comply with regulations. A historical perspective helps one understand ethics. Philosophers have long sought to understand the origins of ethics, the factors that motivate humans to be moral, and the ways in which humans determine ethical values. Massage therapists need to
Lesson 6-1: Ethics Read More »
Interactive and engaging digital textbooks and online continuing education for the 21st century massage therapist.