Having been a massage therapist since 1997 in addition to
working as both a nurse and a midwife, combined with my own personal experience
of domestic abuse, PTSD and unresolved trauma, it will probably come as no
surprise that one of my specialist areas is PTSD and trauma. I see many clients
with these issues who have unexplained pain, high levels of depression and
anxiety and fatigue among other things, yet there still seems to be such a lack
of understanding in the industry about trauma and PTSD.
I offer a range of services to help with recovery following any trauma, including trauma massage, breathwork, vagus nerve toning, nervous system reset, reiki, hypnotherapy and the transformation workshops.
I also offer a self help guide for Understanding trauma and special 6 month packages for those who have just fled domestic abuse or have been sexually assaulted, so if this applies please message me.
You may also be referred via the sunflower Project, Look Ahead or the Rape Crisis Centre.
The common belief is that trauma is simply a
psychological issue and so should be treated with psychological therapy such as
counselling, EMDR etc These therapies certainly have a place in treatment
programmes, but the problem is that they only address the symptoms and not the
root cause of the trauma.
When
most people experience high levels of stress, they do what they need to do to
survive and then heal, but clients with untreated trauma, have spent too much
time in survival mode and not enough time in healing mode, meaning that they
have had to disconnect from their own bodies, because the nervous system was
unable to cope physically, emotionally or mentally. This trauma is held in the
cells of the body, sometimes for many years, until it emerges as mental,
emotional or physical symptoms.
As someone who treats numerous clients with PTSD and
unresolved trauma, and who overcame my biggest PTSD trigger through massage, I
feel it is important to address the root cause in order to see real change.
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- the massage therapist can be a confidant who the client may talk to about personal things that they feel unable to talk to anyone else about
- bruising which may otherwise be covered with clothing can be seen, potentially bringing about a conversation. Showing the bruising can be a passive form of asking for help
- massage can offer a time
of refuge and healing with someone who can be trusted in a safe space
- massage can be used in a recovery program, reducing
stress and anxiety and encouraging relaxation, which allows an abused
client to reconnect with their body in a positive and healthy way, and to
rebuild trust in a safe place with a compassionate and skilled therapist.
This can allowing them to function rather than dissociate,
- human touch can bring out hidden trauma, demonstrated as
changes in skin tone, muscle tension, voice intonation, gestures and
quality of contact.
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- massage can be rejuvenating,
allowing the client to heal on the inside and out, putting their struggles
aside for an hour and recognising their value, when they have been repeatedly made to feel not
good enough
- massage can relieve stored
trauma and tension.
- many victims of trauma are often not present in their
bodies, and massage can ground people and create a feeling of safety again
- being believed and respected is transformational and can be
more of a potent intervention than a specific treatment, so this can be
incorporated into the intention of the therapist.
- massage can honour the client for herself, without being
objectified or judged.
- massage re-educates the nervous system in order to heal and
allow the client to feel safe in their own skin. Talking therapies do not
address the physical scars.
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