Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of inquiries on various reflexology Facebook group pages about working with people suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), so I’d like to speak about it again here.
Bottom line – reflexology is very beneficial to someone suffering from PTSD. At the same time, it would be prudent for the therapist wishing to work with this population to research and study the various ways in which someone with PTSD sometimes reacts to new or sudden situations outside his or her control. The therapist must be comfortable to witness and prepared to support a client through the changes that may well occur from receiving reflexology on a regular basis. It’s all good – and there may be some bumps along the way.
An earlier post I wrote reported on a research study completed by Darlene Torroll, Academy grad, on her work with a woman suffering from chronic physical symptoms that resulted from trauma the subject experienced as a child.
Today I’d like to introduce you to a compelling report by my friend and fellow reflexologist, Iris Ahronovich, that looks at the emotional pain controlling the life of someone living with PTSD. Iris has extensive training and experience as a reflexologist, first in her country of birth (Israel) and currently, her country of residence (the United States).
In conjunction with a large Israeli institute that treats wounded warriors, Iris provided foot reflexology to 10 veterans over a 12-session study, combining the traditional 10-zone/organ map of the feet with a Five Element approach. This allowed her to identify and directly address the underlying emotional component of each subject’s pain, according to the emotions governed by each of the four elements: earth, water, fire and air. The results are nothing less than inspiring.
You never know where your actions may take you. One small step may lead to BIG outcomes. That proved true for Academy grad John Guinta who submitted an article entitled Stress Relief Is In Your Hands to the Jacksonville, Florida Natural Awakenings magazine in August 2013. That single act resulted in one of the more profound and surprising research studies done to date utilizing hand reflexology.
Ruggiero, certified reflexologist and licensed occupational therapist, and weekly 45-minute hand reflexology sessions performed by John Guinta and Ken Cook, both Academy-certified hand and foot reflexologists and Florida-licensed massage therapists.