Massage Therapy for Emotional Trauma
TRIGGER WARNING: article includes terms that may be upsetting to those who have endured traumatic events
In the realm of massage therapy, practitioners are aware that emotional trauma can become trapped in the body. Anxiety, sadness, anger, resentment, and feelings of loneliness can embed themselves deep into the bodily tissues and can lead to further pain and emotion-induced ailments.
Common causes of emotional trauma include, but are not limited to:
- Physical abuse
- Neglect
- Domestic violence
- Sexual assault
- Chronic illness
- Military experiences
- Religious extremism
Negative emotions arising from trauma can generate bodily responses such as poor posture, hyper-contracted muscles, and elevated blood pressure; symptoms which can contribute to musculoskeletal discomfort/conditions, physical illness, and emotional disturbances.
A traumatic event doesn’t have to be long lasting or overly dramatic to have these effects on an individual. Emotions are designed to move throughout the body – which is why many healthcare professionals describe emotion as “energy in motion”. When the ones we experience are negative, they travel deep and they hurt. Due to the pain, it’s not uncommon for us to suppress those experiences so they don’t spread or intensify. When we try to resist an emotion’s natural path through the system, it can become locked inside the body.
Long-stored muscle tension can be released with the help of a trauma-informed massage therapist. Even for patients who haven’t necessarily endured a traumatic event, massage is known as an effective tool for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Guided by trauma-informed care, what does a therapeutic massage entail?
Trauma-Informed Therapeutic Massage
Establishing Boundaries
Trust and safety are the first to be established at the pre consultation. Before the session begins, the patient is assured that everything to take place will occur at their own pace and comfort level.
The patient (in every case, not just with trauma-informed care) has the right to end the session at any point. A patient can also opt to remain clothed for the duration of the massage. Full-body treatment, while beneficial, isn’t necessary or even recommended if a patient is triggered by having areas exposed or touched. It’s not uncommon for women who have survived sexual assault to want the pectoral muscles, glutes, and/or upper legs completely avoided.
Building a Professional Relationship
A patient who has experienced emotional trauma should never feel discouraged from asking questions to determine if the massage therapist is a good fit. It can be hard to be vulnerable and open about past trauma, and that’s why it’s important to ascertain one is sharing that vulnerability with someone they feel comfortable with.
The best-suited therapist will encourage the patient to speak as freely as they wish about their traumatic experiences; that can mean telling one’s life story, or keeping the conversation to a bare minimum. If you find releasing all the information before and during the session is therapeutic, the therapist will let you do so. If you’d rather not share details, that decision will be respected.
Communication is Key
No form of therapy should ever be counterproductive. If a patient only notices during the session that a certain technique or palpation of a specific muscle is triggering, it’s imperative to communicate that to the practitioner. While therapists can pick up on body language – such as patients recoiling against pressure or holding their breath – they can’t read minds. Some trauma survivors are better at hiding physical responses to distress than others.
If you’re shy about speaking up and would rather the therapist check in every couple of minutes, be sure to mention that at the pre consultation.
How Does Massage Target Emotional Trauma?
Studies have shown that the application of massage reduces the production of the stress hormone cortisol and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. The PNS, which controls the “rest and digest” functions and allows the body to relax, also regulates the functionality of the heart and lungs.
Depression and anxiety resulting from emotional trauma, as well as any physical illness correlated to depression and anxiety, can be reduced through any means that stimulates the PNS. When people experience trauma, the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for “fight-or-flight”, can lock into a hyper-aroused state and keep them in a constant state of stress. By encouraging the release of feel-good chemicals such as serotonin, massage therapy helps to balance out the relationship between the PNS and SNS so the body can regain its homeostasis.
Katrina Jenkins
Author, Licensed Massage Therapist
Katrina Jenkins graduated from Towson University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science and worked as a nurse’s aide briefly before pursuing her true passion. She graduated from the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado in April 2016 with honors and completed the Touch of Healers Scholarship Program the following summer. She has been a part of the Moyer Total Wellness Team since the summer of 2017.
Resources
Lake, J. (2018). Massage Therapy for Anxiety and Stress. [online] Psychology Today. Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/integrative-mental-health-care/201810/massage-therapy-anxiety-and-stress.
Malone, D. (2024). Massage for Individuals with PTSD and Trauma. [online] American Massage Therapy Association. Available at: https://www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-therapy-journal/massage-for-ptsd-and-trauma/.
Upledger, DO, OMM, J. (2008). Releasing Emotions Trapped in the Tissues. [online] American Massage Therapy Association. Available at: https://www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-today/releasing-emotions-trapped-in-tissues/.
Wendt, T. (2022). Parasympathetic Nervous System: What to Know. [online] WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/brain/parasympathetic-nervous-system-what-to-know.
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