I - Individual - "Always remember you are absolutely unique, just like everyone else"
Margaret Mead (American Cultural Anthropologist, President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1975) quote that starts this blog and a sentiment that encapsulates for me the role of the healthcare professional. Everyone is an Individual and therefore ‘one size’ or one type of therapy does not ‘fit all’. It is irrelevant the title you use and the therapy you supply if you do not tailor your ‘ability’ to meet a clients/patients needs at a particular “moment in time”. Every individual is different anatomically, physiologically, psychologically & emotionally and the same individual has different needs on each and every occasion they meet with you.
Remember you are also a unique individual and therefore it is not reasonable to assume that you can meet everyones needs all of the time . Knowing when to collaborate or pass a client to a more appropriate practitioner is one of the keys to being an autonomous professional therapist.
To ensure you understand their needs and work within your scope of practice you should consider the following:
Which area of therapy do I want to excel in?
Do I have the skills I require to practice safely and effectively?
How will I ensure I continue to develop my skills for the community/group/sport/location in which I work?
How will I gain experience in those skills?
How will I ensure my health & safety as well as the clients?
What ‘transferable skills’ do I need? - IT, Support qualifications such as First Aid, Mental Health & Safeguarding?
Who should I work, network or communicate with?
Have I thought about a SWOT - strengths weaknesses, opportunities & threats to help guide and develop my practice & skills?
Where will I practice from - clinic, sports venue, hospital, home, domiciliary or other location?
What experience should I gain in order to reach my full potential?
Am I fit for purpose? - Am I keeping myself fit?
All these questions and many more should be considered, answered or prepared and thought about throughout our careers. To focus and understand an individual it is important to take time to assess their needs. Whether people are seeking ‘feel good factor’ through massage for stress release, managing injuries and conditions their needs will vary and change over time.
As a professional healthcare practitioner you have a responsibility and duty of care to provide the most appropriate intervention in a timely and effective manner. To do this we must constantly strive to improve our skills and gain experience in order to better understand when an intervention is appropriate and when it is not.
Too often massage and soft tissue skills are applied without thought to intention, outcome and future management of presenting problems. Informed consent to ‘touch’ a person is required and to avoid misunderstandings and ineffective treatments. If you are uncertain about ‘how’ to gain consent and ‘how’ to document each interaction/massage strategy then consider a ONE -TO -ONE session. This is as important as the appropriate application of any massage or soft tissue skill. Without the appropriate records you leave yourself vulnerable to a claim.
Increasingly the need to communicate our intentions in more and more detail is required. We also need to understand the implication of gender, gender identification, culture, expectation and economic pressures on our clients and how that impacts what we deliver at any given moment in time.
Therapists, practitioners and all healthcare professionals who use massage and soft tissue skills must continue to develop professionally in order to meet the often challenging and changing situations in which they find themselves. We must not ‘stand still’ in developing our practice and skills if we are to offer up to date, appropriate interventions to meet client need.
If you need any further help, support or guidance then contact us to arrange a One to One or attend a course in advanced soft tissue skills, assessment or agree a bespoke education programme to meet your needs.