There are many aspects to knowing that you have the right therapist in front of you in your journey out of chronic pain.
Some of these aspects might become relevant at different times in that journey and in fact with different practitioners/manual therapists.
You may even outgrow therapists and need another aspect of support on your journey over time.
So what are the key aspects of support in my opinion that you need to look out for?
This is a tricky one as a numbering system doesn’t quite seem appropriate.
It’s actually hard to say that I would prioritise one over another point on this list, however a list is a convenient format so here goes.
These points are all of equal importance.
A thorough grounding and deep understanding of the body.
Ok so this might seem hilariously obvious. But I’m going to explain a bit more about the nuance here in my industry.
You’ll find as a member of the public that there are many names for the practice I have:
Bodyworker
Manual therapist
Massage therapist
Rehabilitation specialist
Facial worker/Structural Integration
Cranial Sacral therapist (in training currently)
Osteopathy (I’ve currently paused a little on this road… tbc).
You may have also discovered:
Physiotherapy
Chiropractic
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture
Qi Gong/Tai Chi (they aren’t quite the same)
Naturopathy
Herbal Medicine
Psychotherapies
Counselling
NHS pain clinics
I would say that these versions of alternative and complementary therapies have more in common than they have differences.
We are all I believe seeking to help reduce pain, restore movement, and restore balance in a person’s system to empower them to move forwards and seek new and challenging experiences to be able to grow again.
So you need someone with a deep understanding of the body-mind system and how dysfunction occurs but furthermore how to combat it.
In this regard we may have different language and words of explanation in our systems of thought and ideology,
But a great practitioner in my opinion (and I have to say I am still learning, growing, developing and refining my own thought processes and experiences)
Is someone who has learnt the knowledge of the body but more than that truly integrated the knowledge into practice and towards deep knowing.
What does that mean in practice?
Well, there are so many ways for which a shoulder can hurt for example.
We can have an issue with:
The joint itself -capsule, synovium, ligaments, cartilage, bones forming the joint
Muscles and tendons -from overuse, chronic tension, injuries (new and unresolved)
Fascia -all the connective tissues that provide support, structure, nutrient, fluid flows
Blood supply - important but not in the way that A&E would see it.
Lymph - fluid flows in the body are exceptionally important in restoration and balance
Hormones and the nervous system - this is a huge huge topic and interweves with trauma.
Trauma and psychology - how we respond to shock, stress and injury
Psychology - our thoughts and beliefs really do govern our reality in subtle but profound ways
Embodiment: proprioception and interoception - our awareness of self starts with the body but develops into our emotions, beliefs, interpretations, behaviours and resiliency.
Spirituality - it might be surprising to see this here. But truly our deepest drivers come from our beliefs. Individuals that have experienced trauma often lose their sense of trust.
Relationships: we don’t exist in the world alone. Our interrelationship with others can be drastically affected by our pain and challenges.
Identity - pain often challenges our identity in how we show up and interact with the world around us - this can be so challenging to the individual experiencing it.
It is my belief that all of these aspects are so important and it is the practitioner's challenge to ascertain which may be the key to the first moment of change and first baby step of progress out of pain.
As I undertake greater CPD every year, a topic recently that has come up is the need to deepen our practices as practitioners and perhaps a lack of that type of CPD.
A mentor of mine suggested we have protocol learning - how to respond systematically to an issue...
But then, on the other hand,
We can practice from a place of principles and deep understanding.
Not learning what to do given this, in a regimented fashion,
But deeper understanding, trying to find the true cause and relieve it for an individual.
I have always wished to practice from a place of principles, ethics and integrated understanding. I believe it helps much more than a learnt by rote protocol approach.
Deep listening and empathy
This again sounds so obvious but an experience I have had recently has truly shown me the importance of it.
When someone listens and validates your experience, it unlocks a place in us that is so vulnerable. I believe this is the first step of healing.
My own experience with chronic pain has shown me that to face the world...
To function, sometimes we may need part of our identity to take the hit and hold space for the pain.
However that can leave that aspect of ourselves shut away from the world managing rather than thriving.
Part of the experience in the therapy room is enabling that vulnerable self and side to step into the light and have their time communicating the hardest aspects of their role.
Only then can the practitioner and person form a plan of how to nourish that place and slowly offer them the resources they need to heal.
Trust - it has to be earnt, but sometimes we feel it deeply.
Trust is always earnt and granted from the individual arriving to the therapist.
I do not take this process lightly.
It is perhaps the most important aspect of the therapeutic relationship.
We can’t achieve much without trust and it is my job to help you and walk alongside you.
Non-judgement
It’s very related to number 3.
Trust can’t be gained without the therapist not judging the merit of the experience they’ve received when they listened to that person.
It is essential as a therapist to hear someone’s experience and to fully take it on as truth.
It is truth.
And it is such an act of vulnerability to share.
I do not take the responsibility lightly to hold that person’s experience within me.
Thank you to all my clients who have shared and trusted me.
Safety
Again it may seem obvious but safety and the feeling of safety is utterly essential.
Nothing can happen if you don’t feel this on every level.
I would suggest to any new clients to trust their guts.
When we are in pain, often we have developed a resistance or disconnection to our deepest knowing.
Whenever we meet another human being, there is in that moment, a knowledge and perception deep within us.
I urge clients to hear themselves and self-validate.
If you don’t feel safe, then perhaps you haven’t yet found the right person.
Something in your body-mind is telling you - the greatest act of self-care and compassion is to listen and acknowledge and act in resonance to that knowledge.
Those are my top tips for finding a therapist.
Above all, please make sure that the last point stands true.
Look within yourself and assess how you feel in the space around that therapist.
I believe if you answer no to any of the above qualities then I urge you to keep looking for someone.
The very best to you and your families,
Stay healthy and compassionate.
Carmen
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