Complementary Therapies For Stress Reduction

There are effective complementary therapies for stress reduction that you should know about.

Swedish massage is one of the most common and most effective therapies for reducing stress.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is having severe fear or terror after experiencing a focused traumatic event such as rape, physical assault, being held up at gunpoint or knife point, being severely burned by someone on purpose, a bombing, being in a war, a horrible car accident......

People with post-traumatic stress disorder have a difficult time making sense of what has happened to themselves. Some will develop short term physical pain and/or insomnia to deal with it. Others will develop long-term problems including physical pain, insomnia, night-terrors, panic attacks, and the list goes on.

Swedish massage therapy can help. Chair massage can help. Other complementary therapies for stress reduction can help as well over time. Don't think the client will be cured in one session. He or she might feel better after the initial session, but someone who has post-traumatic stress disorder will take a while to heal.

During the massage or bodywork session, the therapist may need to explain each step of the massage to the client, gently speaking to him/her and asking if he/she is okay with it. It may be helpful to allow the client to make choices along the way, such as whether to remain clothed or how much clothing to leave on for a table massage. The client should always be comfortable.

Would he/she like music during the session? If so, give a choice of several relaxing CD's.

Would he/she like aromatherapy included? If so, would he/she prefer scented lotion or a scented candle? Let the client choose the scent from among two or three choices. Choices give the client a feeling of being in control.

Other complementary therapies for stress reduction can include acupuncture, acupressure, reiki, shiatsu, homeopathy, chiropractic........

Massage and other therapies over time can help post-traumatic clients once again feel like they are in control and at home again in their own bodies.

Be supportive and nurturing as you work with these clients. Allow them to talk or cry or to be silent. Do not be judgmental. Do not leave the treatment room unless the client asks you to do so. Validate their feelings. Let them know it is okay to feel the way they do and that you will stay right there with them.

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