Guided Imagery Anyone?

[Marie]

I am hoping to work with clients suffering from chronic pain once I finish MT school. I'm interested in finding a way to incorporate guided imagery. Does anyone do this? What can you tell me about it. I've found some wonderful CD's for this. Should it be done during the massage or before/after the massage?

 

[arcusx]

I've had a couple massages from one therapist that uses guided imagery at the beginning of each session. She is really good at it! Makes me think about using it as well!!

 

[Reba]

Guided Imagery

Hello,

I use Guided Imagery for certain clients. Some people enjoy it and a few have told me they just could not get into the imagery mind set. When I use it, I explain to the client how I'll be using it, they don't have to answer or speak during the imagery, and they should just relax and see how they experience it. Some have told me it's very relaxing and they felt like they went away somewhere!

 

[johnny 99]

Wow!

I have been thinking about this particular topic the last few days and had not posted about it yet. In the new ABMP 2007 Touch Resource Guide (which came in the mail after I renewed my CMT insurance for the year) I stumbled upon something called "Hypnomassage" -- complete with CEUs -- and checked into it out of curiosity.

The website is http://www.hypnosispower.com and there is a special section for massage therapists and what he calls "hypnomassage." His name is Dr. Lee Overholser and he has been both a hypnotherapist and massage therapist for 30 years. According to him, you are not doing actual hypnosis at all -- just using the semi-trance like relaxation that naturally comes with massage and adding some visualization and guided imagery to help clients with specific problem areas. And of course the clients are totally aware that you are doing so -- and are hoping they will have greater results boosting self-esteem, letting go of the past, reducing stress, losing some weight, stopping smoking . . . etc.

But I am so, so suspicious of scams! And I would like to have some professional feedback from the group!

Sandyrose . . . where did you find the CDs you mentioned in your post? And is anyone else out there using some visualization and guided imagery along with massage?

I think its wonderful that we will have something or other on our minds and then hear about the same topic from someone across the country or the world without even posting at all! Great "vibes" in this group! :dancingparty:

I haven't found any other links to this subject -- but if ye who are more knowlegeable in searching topics care to point them out I would appreciate it!

Sherry

 

[NoPro]

I use guided imagery pretty often in my work. Depending on the client will determine when in the session I will use it. Sometimes in the beginning to help them to relax and open the body and sometimes at the end to help carry over the massage into their day or complete whatever it is that we were working on.

I have been a therapist for several years and incorporate many techniques into my work, not just the hands on portion of massage. When you do a massage on someone you are touching someone not just from the physical portion of the muscle and fascia but the emotional and energetic portion of them as well. You are impacting them on a very deep level. It's important to remember not to create an image that you want them to see but to allow them to create the image. Thus it is "guided" not created.

 

[farid]

I use a very basic form sometimes... I'm sure we've all noticed when you hit a tender spot and our clients stop breathing. Usually I back-off pressure and try again or change up my angle but if it's not working and the client is still resisting then I "guide" them through the pain and back into a normal, steady breathing pattern. I was lucky to treat a sports psychology therapist who said to remove all negative speech from my sessions. A good example is "Now just relax and breathe"... sounds innocent enough, but it does suggest that the person is not relaxing and thus isn't breathing properly. Now I just say "continue to breathe, that is perfect"... it re-enforces breathing without making the client feel that they have been doing it wrong. This simple switch works wonders and can be applied on so many levels.

 

[Yhyamhmd]

Yay! THis is right up my alley. I am a part time seforum.xxxe hypnotist, I am blessed to hold an apprenticeship with a well known hypnotherapist turned seforum.xxxe hypnostist for the past year now, and that is still going strong.

I initially got involved with hypnosis because I wanted to take that route with my massage therapy practice - guided imagary and progressive relaxation, however that was frowned upon by my teacher so I shifted my plan. I understand now that there is a big differance between guided imagry and hypnosis - so I am eager to look into Dr. Lee Overholser website, thanks for posting it Sherry!

People hold chronic tension for so many reasons - emotional trauma, inner turmoil, etc. To release someones protective mechanism without the proper training to replace it with productive thought reprogramming can be opening a can of worms that the novice is not prepaired for.

There is a difference, of course, between simple relaxation techniques, guided meditation or guided imagery and bonafied hypnosis. Personally, I have not utilized what I have learned for my massage practice for that fear listed above. However, it can be a wonderful tool if handled correctly and respectfully. Research and knowledge are key when considering adding this to your 'toolbox'.

 

[ross097]

Now I just say "continue to breathe, that is perfect"... it re-enforces breathing without making the client feel that they have been doing it wrong. This simple switch works wonders and can be applied on so many levels.

That's a really nice reframe Steve. Gets me thinking about what I may be saying to clients that's not as supportive as I'd like to be.

Lisa

 

[Jennifer T]

Hi all.

You are welcome for the website, ThatMassageGal. I thought about it and thought about it, and finally ordered the package from Lee Overholser. I just kept getting "curious-er and curious-er" and went for it.

As I said in my post above, it is not using actual hypnosis -- just the relaxation "trance" most people get into during a massage. It includes a booklet (which is wonderful information I can use in stress workshops -- all about high beta, beta, alpha, theta and delta wave levels) and how the brain works. I found it fascinating! There are also two DVDs and two CDs (perhaps not the best production work I've seen, but still got all the points across!) The one Cd (always try them out myself, obviously!)had me so relaxed I could hardly get out of the chair.

Still trying to work on how I am going to incorporate it into massage (I like to do things my own way! :twisted But I plan to take the test and do a couple of sessions and get the 12 CEUS offered.

I am in the process of so many other things, so it will take me awhile to decide how I want to apply this during sessions for some of my really stressed-out clients. But since I am also interested in expanding my stress workshops -- this gave me great information!

I will tell you, it is very, very different. And takes some time to figure out how you are going to include it in a session. But for the types of things I want to learn, I did not regret the purchase. I just don't think it would be for "everyone" out there.

I am really enjoying this thread!

Sherry