massage and mental health

[Arafat]

hey there bods,

i am newly qualified and in the new year will be working with a number of people with severe and enduring mental health problems (i already do this as a support worker) but wonder if anyone has any insight to massage in this area.

cheers

peach_no_1

 

[Pundragon]

are you referring to the benefits of massage for this sector? or what existing therapies are in place?

 

[raewllwd]

i mean are there any specific ways that people have found to work with people suffering from metal health issues i.e extra reassurance or whatever

 

[adam g]

Hiya peach

I worked with such a group of people when I worked with the Richmond Fellowship some 10 years ago, mind you this was before I became trained in aromatherapy and massage. I was teaching them stress management, and one of my teaching assistants was an aromatherapist. She taught me how to do a simple hand massage, and we spent one of our weekly sessions doing a simple introduction to aromatherapy. All the students said they found it did more to help them to relax than my guided relaxations! huh!

Now for the warning bit. When I was doing the research for this training, I came across a warning which said that people suffering from psychoses (eg schizophrenia, bipolar) should not do deep relaxation as it could trigger a relapse. I asked various medical people including my own GP if they could verify this, and give me a reason for it, but nobody could. Nevertheless I gave the students the chance to leave before the relaxation part of the session. You may wish to consider this.

 

[Eric C.]

I have got no experience with treating people with mental health illnesses but how about contacting MIND - the mental health charity - they may have therpists who work with them and be able to link you up with someone