{"id":2310,"date":"2020-01-22T10:00:06","date_gmt":"2020-01-21T23:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/?p=2310"},"modified":"2020-01-22T09:47:03","modified_gmt":"2020-01-21T22:47:03","slug":"massage-in-the-time-of-bushfire-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/index.php\/2020\/01\/22\/massage-in-the-time-of-bushfire-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Massage in the Time of Bushfire Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By\nTim Clark<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like\nmany, I have watched the Australian bushfires with a sense of helplessness and\nheartbreak for those affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How\ncan we best work with people who may be dealing with huge losses, trauma,\nanxiety and any number of ongoing stressors?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve\nthought about some questions that massage therapists might have about working\nwith affected people, and I invite people to add other questions in the\ncomments, especially if you have been working, or are planning to work, in\nthese areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should I bring up\nthe bushfires with my clients?<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As\na rule of thumb, I wouldn\u2019t recommend raising the topic if your client does\nnot. You\u2019re in a position to offer rest and respite to people whose day-to-day\nexperience may be filled with reminders of the fires. That said, I can imagine\nthere might be situations where it\u2019s like the elephant in the room and not<\/em> raising it could feel awkward. Your\nclient might notice if you are deliberately avoiding talking about the fires\nand think they can\u2019t bring it up even though they want to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow\nyour client\u2019s lead. Stay attuned. They may relish the opportunity to talk about\nit and have their feelings witnessed. Or they may relish the opportunity not to\nhave to think about it at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If my client\nbrings it up, what do I say?<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re\nnot obliged to say much at all. By all means, let your massage do the talking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If\nit seems like your client does want to talk about their experience, be empathic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat sounds really hard.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a lot to deal with.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And\ncomforting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re safe here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood on you for taking this time out for yourself.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sympathy\nis okay too:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m\nreally sad\/sorry to hear that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013\nbut some people might take that as a sign they\u2019ve brought you down, so keep it\nbrief. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Focus\non being warm and accepting and providing a space for your client to feel\nwhatever they are feeling. You don\u2019t have to be upbeat and optimistic, nor do\nyou have to be solemn and morose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Avoid\ngetting involved in blaming or political discussions. Maybe your client has\nsomething they want to get off their chest? Let them, but avoid anything\njudgemental, even if you\u2019re in agreement. Let it be a time for observation\nrather than judgement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid\ntalking about hypothetical fire-related situations e.g. \u201cIf you\u2019d stayed\u2026\u201d, \u201cIf\nyou\u2019d done things differently\u2026\u201d) and definitely don\u2019t ask \u201cWere you insured?\u201d The\nlast thing you want is your client lying on the table wondering about whether\nthey made the right decisions under life-threatening conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What advice do I\ngive my clients?<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Be\naware they may well be getting all sorts of advice from all sorts of people.\nDon\u2019t feel obliged to add to it. If it feels appropriate, encourage clients to keep\nup their self-care and their social connections, e.g. talking to trusted\nfriends and relatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therapists might want to print up copies of this information sheet<\/a> from the Australian Psychological Society that outlines self-care strategies for bushfire recovery. (They\u2019re good for therapists too!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if my client\ngets upset at some stage during the treatment?<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Do\nwhat you would normally do (check in, offer a break if necessary), but you may\nneed to be a little more attuned than usual. It might be the first time in a\nwhile your client has felt safe enough to \u2018let their guard down\u2019 and emotions\ncan spill over. As much as possible, just let your client feel what they are\nfeeling, without trying to move it or fix it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show support through actions, rather than words. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Offer\ntissues, water, tea or whatever is appropriate, but don\u2019t offer hollow\nreassurances such as \u201cIt\u2019ll all be okay\u201d, which can sound like you\u2019re minimising\nthe immense challenges your client may need to face before normality returns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if it seems\nlike your client is traumatised or at-risk?<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Keep\nan eye out for trauma symptoms. Watch particularly for clients who tell you\nthey are having:<\/p>\n\n\n\n