Trauma-Informed Bodywork: Safety in Communication
Bodyworkers communicate with the body through touch. The body communicates with us through several non-verbal cues: Muscle tension, aches, pains, etc. Knowing how the body communicates is helpful, but you can only get so far if you don’t know how to communicate with the person who is attached to the body.
Unfortunately, learning how to communicate with your clients is not often taught in massage schools or yoga teacher training. However, communicating with your client effectively is the first step to calming the nervous system. When we’re working with our clients, we’re essentially working with their nervous systems. Our job as bodyworkers is to create an environment that allows our client’s bodies to reach a state of homeostasis. If our clients do not feel safe with us, we are fighting an uphill battle. If you can’t calm the nervous system, all your work will be for nothing.
We as practitioners must be comfortable with receiving feedback from our clients. I often check in with my massage clients during the massage. “What are you noticing?” “Are you experiencing any significant sensations?” “How is the pressure? Do you need me to go deeper? Lighter?” “Where do you feel the most sensation?” These questions give the client an opportunity to communicate with me about what they need. If I don’t open the door to communication, the client often won’t know that they can walk through. If I don’t ask these questions, my client may not speak up until they’re in excruciating pain.
Clients care about our feelings. They don’t want to hurt our feelings by telling us that something doesn’t feel good. We as practitioners want to make our clients feel good, so sometimes it’s difficult to hear that what we’re doing doesn’t feel good. But I would rather have my client tell me than have them suffer so it’s up to me to let them know that I welcome feedback.
As bodyworkers, we are explorers. Our clients often come to us in pain and are looking for answers. We don’t always have the answers but we can provide an opportunity for exploration. Our clients are on a journey and we are lucky enough to be on that journey with them. Ask questions. Be curious. Be interested in your client’s experience.
As a bodyworker, it is my responsibility to educate my client, remain in my scope of practice, include them in the session, and listen to their needs. Your session starts as soon as your client walks through your door. I usually start by asking, “What is your experience with massage/yoga?”, “What brought you in today?” “Is there anything I should know? Injuries? Surgeries? Limitations?” Then I educate my client on what to expect out of the session. I describe my massage techniques and style of teaching yoga. I ask them if they have any questions for me. Often, clients ask me questions that are out of my scope of practice and I educate them about what my role is. I refer them to a doctor or a chiropractor or any other health professionals as needed. This tells them that they can trust me not to provide misinformation. I include them throughout the session by checking in and asking open-ended questions. I check in on their areas of concern and make sure that I have addressed them.
After the session, I ask them how they feel. I ask what they liked and what they didn’t like. I find ways to ask these questions that are non-threatening that allow the client to be honest. For instance, I might say, “Was there anything that was uncomfortable or painful?” instead of, “Was there anything I did that you didn’t like?” Of course, they’re going to say no to the latter because they don’t want to hurt my feelings.
Communication is definitely an art more than a science! The most important thing is to be genuine, honest, and authentic. Communication requires a certain level of vulnerability. We have to be vulnerable with our clients if we expect them to be vulnerable with us.