Working with Clients with #Depression
#Depression is a very difficult condition affecting growing number of people. As a #massage therapist and #bodyworkers we do get training and how to best help these people through very physically challenging and very emotionally challenging times. Information about to be presented is not to be misconstrued as medical advice. During a standard #massagetherapist education in the United States is very calming down only to have a rudimentary understanding of anatomy and physiology but also basic training and how to prevent something called #transference which is a term used to describe the projecting absorption of emotions from client to therapist. For those clients suffering with anxiety and depression transference can be a very real concern affecting the massage therapist or bodyworker significantly. This is also trying to reverse if you are a massage therapist or bodyworker who has depression you can transfer your feelings to clients. Transference can be not only emotionally but also physically exhausting for either person. There are some helpful things from a massage therapist or bodyworkers point of you that can make the session easier for the client and to some degree is here on the therapist as well.
As a therapist always try to make sure you are projecting a inviting and safe environment within your studio space. Giving your client a chance to speak with short pauses along with making sure that you're physically speaking to someone at their level so if they are seated perhaps sitting at the same height or perhaps kneeling down and order looked him in the eye.
When you're going through medical history or changes in their medical history have a reasonable understanding of the most commonly prescribed medication's for depression. And also make sure that you are taking the time to understand the side effects of these medication's and how long they take to fully start to work and where your client may be in that process.
Understand that a client becoming emotional is very common in the early stages of medication administration this is not necessarily an indication you have done something wrong or that the client is necessarily overwhelmed emotionally. Or to make sure that the client feels safe to have those emotional moments and that pulling away from the client during the session is not necessary unless request to have some physical space.
Touching any number of areas in the body of water that client is holding stress and anxiety may release a sudden burst of emotion once you come in contact with one of those areas for some clients they may know where these locations are and for others they may not know especially if it's their first time taking medication or being diagnosed for the first time.
Make sure as a therapist that you are putting the session into context. And creating the essential boundaries that you're taught in school regarding transference and checking in with yourself during the experience to make sure that you were doing these things. If there is a moment or you feel some transference starting it can be extremely helpful to recognize it and use what you were taught in school to avoid further transference during the remainder of the session.
It should also be noted that people with depression are often times given a significant amount of information about their condition and the medication's and what side effects they will have to be sure to listen carefully. Everyone's journey is different and if you know information you can adapt. This is also another good reason to properly document within your notes where they are in the process. It is also extremely important to make sure that if you are starting to feel transference that you're not allowed to do things like giving the idea to hug a client or to act in a psychologist role by talking them through their feelings. This can increase transference or cause confusion for both the therapist and the client.
If you're a therapist it's important to remember that your depression can affect how you do your job and to recognize limits as to what you can do in order to be there for your clients and go to work. It's important to communicate with your employer when you're struggling and you have a plan in place. It is also extremely important to have documentation of a plan when you first start working for someone on what depression for you looks like and how your behavior may change so that your employer can support you. Support does not mean a lot of things when it comes to allowing the business to continue with this little interruption. Compassionate employers will work with you when you need it but you must be upfront and honest about what you need and said clear guard rails as to what will be done in certain circumstances.