Traditionally when we think of processing grief we think of reaching out for the support of a professional psychotherapist who is educated and properly qualified to help guide the client through the different stages of grief. As a professional massage therapist I am all for this, often referring clients to local professionals who can specifically help them with their process of grief. It is of upmost importance to address grief, especially given that grief and it’s lifespan are in fact life long. Grief never goes away it just changes. Everyone has a different process with grief as well. Some may feel more comfortable going it alone for awhile with their process of grief and some may immediately reach out to others for support. Chances are you have heard of cognitive behavioral therapy as the traditional form of grief processing used by psychologists and counselors all over the world, but have you ever heard of grief massage?

Pause. Breathe. Get ready for this. . .

I know what you are thinking, that is DEEP Erin. Well, if you know me, you know that I don’t shy away from deep. In fact, most of my life I’ve delved into deep and it’s gotten me further spiritually than surface level pondering could ever do. However, touching bodies in a professional way i.e. body work, somatic therapy etc. etc. are all forms of body oriented therapies that are quite profound when given in a trauma informed way. There is always a space I hold for clients to understand how the issues literally are held within the tissues. However, in order to feel comfortable to do this I have taken on years of training to do so in a confident way that holds space and safety for clients.

I read an article recently which made me understand more fully how professional body work massage therapists can help clients dealing specifically with grief within our scope of practice. It was a very insightful read and if you are interested you can follow this link to read here: https://www.eastwestcollege.com/grief-massage-reconnecting-with-the-body-through-healing-touch/#:~:text=Grief%20massage%20helps%20a%20person,Loss%20of%20a%20Loved%20One.

Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!