Reports by some massage therapists of a sense of 'special connection' that is sometimes experienced with clients/patients.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to provide exploratory qualitative data on anecdotal reports by some physical therapists that they sometimes experience a sense of 'special connection' with patients or clients.


METHODS
21 self-selected massage therapists provided written comments about their experience of therapy in response to a questionnaire (free-form response format) asking about the experience of connection.


RESULTS
20 out of 21 therapists reported a sense of 'special connection'. Content analysis suggested 10 themes, the main ones relating to the special connection being: (a) a sense of oneness or unity with the patient; (b) intimacy, trust and the touching of souls; (c) meditative, trance-like, floating relaxation; (d) 2-way flow of energy, and the mutual contribution of patient and therapist characteristics in forming this connection; (e) that it tends to be there or not but if there, it varies in degree.


CONCLUSIONS
These reports are similar in some respects to descriptions given by healers of the experience of healing, suggesting that some massage therapists, and possibly some other complementary or conventional therapists engage, unknowingly, in a process of healing while they practice the therapy for which they have been trained.
Hyland
Michael E
ME
School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, UK. mhyland@plymouth.ac.uk
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000523:psychology*; D010358:Patient Participation; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010465:Perception; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011364:Professional Practice; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires