STRUCTURAL ENERGETIC THERAPY®, INC.

SET TALK
By Don McCann, MA, LMT, LMHC
MA3267 MH705 MM3717

Masseuse/masseur - massage therapist, massage parlor - massage establishment. This progression shows that we are constantly in the process of reframing ourselves as well as what we do, not only in our own minds, but also to the public and our clients. Reframing is a process in which a word or phrase that has negative or limiting connotations is substituted by positive words or additional words that will totally change the context. This process can either be to the positive, such as masseuse to massage therapist, or to the negative like massage therapist to massage escort. Often, we do this unconsciously. Our ability to reframe is only limited by our imaginations. Unfortunately, many massage therapists are not aware of their ability to create positives in their profession by the enlightened use of reframing techniques. Let us look at just a few areas where we can reframe some words or phrases that will make the public more aware of the positive significance that massage therapy can have in their lives.

Relaxation massage to relaxation therapy. Almost all massage is relaxing and very beneficial for relieving stress. However, how many times do you have clients who come for a relaxation massage talk about needing to go on some form of medication to be able to handle their stress? Just check the medications listed on their intake forms! A simple reframing of relaxation massage to relaxation therapy will raise the status of the benefits of your relaxation techniques to the same level as the medication that your client is taking for stress. Will they believe their massage is more beneficial when they reframe relaxation massage to relaxation therapy? You might be surprised how many will do just that since the mind is a very powerful entity.

I can’t to I can. These are two examples of phrases I have often heard massage therapists use when describing the difficulties they are having in attracting clients to their practices. In my conversations with them, taking ‘I can’t’ and reframing it to ‘I can’ is many times all that is necessary for them to successfully contact the appropriate people to promote their passion for massage. You will note their frame of mind moves from negative to positive, and positive attracts clients. This is also important in your relationship with your clients. If your clients feel that it is difficult to continue their treatments for either financial or scheduling reasons, the ‘cant’s’ win easily. However, clients who sincerely want to continue receiving massages because they realize the benefits, and who really want to get better, sometimes only need to reframe the ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can’. When they are able to do this, all the obstacles tend to fall by the wayside.

This is also important for massage therapists who get stuck in the ‘I can’t’ mode when trying to make decisions about becoming the highly trained professionals they want to be. Often they look for the financial success that comes with learning high-level skills before actually achieving those skills, and feel they aren’t able to proceed on in their development and growth. Again, changing ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can’ will open the way to both professional and financial success. In other words, don’t let the ‘I can’t’ keep you from becoming all you desire to be. Once ‘I can’t’ is changed to ‘I can’, a process begins that will lead to success.

Many times our clients are referred to us by medical personnel who have large credentials and even larger pedestals. These clients have often been given a diagnosis from the medical profession that provides little, if any, hope for recovery. Often doctors have mapped out a negative progression of their conditions leading to total disability or even death. Examples would be fibromyalgia, arthritis, disc degeneration, herniated disc, carpal tunnel, cancer, AIDS, or osteoporosis. During the intake interviews it is often apparent that the clients view the entire negative progression like a death sentence, and are focused on all the negative signs and loss of function to which the diagnosis has condemned them. They present a huge challenge for us as therapists to help them reframe the negative to the positive. It is possible for many of these clients to be able to lead years of productive happy lives while dealing with these conditions. Some will even be able to fully recover with appropriate treatment. However, if they buy into the negative progressions presented by the medical community, they most likely won’t give themselves that chance. Therefore, it is extremely important for us as massage therapists to see and communicate the positive kernels in the lives of these clients, and to have them focus on what is working, feels good, and gives their life quality. It is also extremely important for them to accept and even focus on EXPECTING A MIRACLE! A positive mind has been known to heal anything. Just ask Bernie Segal. Reframe the negative to positive!

Too expensive to very valuable. When clients start feeling that massage therapy is too expensive, they won’t be able to avail themselves of its benefits. At this point reframing is very necessary! Reframing from ‘too expensive’ to ‘very valuable’ is absolutely necessary for the entire field of massage because, every time clients raise the value of massage therapy in their eyes, the whole field of massage is closer to attaining its rightful level of professionalism. Then you won’t have clients rescheduling their sessions for their dental appointments, other doctor appointments, or hairdressers, to just name a few. You will also find they will respect the value of the treatment they receive.

Problem to challenge. If you will reframe this in your own mind and life, it will totally change your level of success. Time and time again massage therapists and clients have massive problems presented which keep them from doing or being what they want in life. However, once these conditions have ‘problem’ attached to them, they tend to be forever an excuse not to be resolved, and oftentimes they won’t be. The simple reframing to challenge makes them just that – a challenge. No challenge is too great or too small to be accomplished. Within the context of challenge is also the context of growth and success. When something is a challenge by its nature, success is at the end of successfully handling it. This is true for massage therapists, for our clients, for our families, for our massage community, for our state, for our country, for our world, and especially for you.

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