The Thinking Practitioner

By: Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe
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  • Summary

  • Join two of the leading educators in manual therapy, bodywork, and massage therapy, as they delve into the most intriguing issues, questions, research, and client conditions that hands-on practitioners face. Stimulate your thinking with imaginative conversations, tips, and interviews related to the somatic arts and sciences.
    Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
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Alternative & Complementary Medicine Education Hygiene & Healthy Living
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Episodes
  • 132: Bodywork and Grief (with Ronna Moore)

    132: Bodywork and Grief (with Ronna Moore)
    Nov 27 2024
    In this episode, we delve into the intersection of massage therapy, grief, caretaking, and end-of-life. We touch on global palliative care practices, the role of touch in support for those experiencing grief, navigating sensitive conversations, and creating safe spaces for clients. Our guest, Ronna Moore, a massage therapist with over 40 years of experience, specializes in oncology and palliative care, and is pursuing a doctorate in public health focusing on the role of massage therapy in palliative care. Join us to gain insights into shifting therapeutic mindsets and exploring practical resources to support those experiencing loss. Key Topics 01:19 Guest Introduction and Personal Connection02:08 Exploring Grief and Loss in Massage Therapy03:43 Understanding Palliative Care05:22 Palliative Care Practices in Different Countries23:16 The Role of Touch in Therapy35:18 Role-Playing Therapeutic Conversations36:46 Navigating Grief in Therapy37:48 The Importance of Sensitivity38:10 Avoiding Unhelpful Phrases39:12 The Paradox of Comfort40:15 Shifting the Therapist Mindset47:05 Creating a Safe Space50:01 Understanding Grief Models54:46 Resources and Final Thoughts Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com Resources mentioned in this episode: Ronna's grief recommendations: Frank Osteseski’s book The Five Intentions is a really valuable guide/resource for me in palliative care and its ‘aftermath'. I also appreciate Ronald Epstein’s book: Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness and Humanity Mary-Frances O’Connor: The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss Mary-Frances O’Connor: The Grieving Body (to be published in 2025) George Bonnano: The Other Side of Sadness AND George Bonnano: The End of Trauma (both of these have a resilience orientation which appeals to me). TED talk by Abraham Vergehese emphasising the humanity of care. Articles: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-26629-017. (A polyvagal approach) O’Connor, M.-F. (2019). Grief: A Brief History of Research on How Body, Mind, and Brain Adapt. Psychosomatic Medicine, 81(8), 731–738. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000717 O’Connor, M.-F., & Seeley, S. H. (2022). Grieving as a form of learning: Insights from neuroscience applied to grief and loss. Current Opinion in Psychology, 43, 317–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.019 In Australia, we have a professional body called Grief Australia which is a great resource for PD/education (amongst other things). Perhaps there is something similar in the US. https://www.caresearch.com.au/Portals/20/Documents/Health-Professionals/TheRoleOfSkilledCompassionateTouchInGriefSupport_RonnaMoore_ACGBConference2018-1.pdf What's Your Grief (you have already) has some good descriptions of the models of grief I mentioned (Dual Process Model and Growing around Grief), and there are others as well. Compassion Cultivation Training: https://med.stanford.edu/psychiatry/education/cme/cct.html Mindful Self Compassion: https://centerformsc.org Sponsor Offers: Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com. ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking. Advanced-Trainings: try a month of the amazing A-T Subscription free by entering “thinking” at checkout at a-t.tv/subscriptions/,.Academy of Clinical Massage: Grab Whitney's valuable Assessment Cheat Sheet for free at: academyofclinicalmassage.com/cheatsheet About Whitney Lowe | About Til Luchau | Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com (The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)
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    1 hr
  • 131: Mindfulness, Hands-On Therapy, and Pain (with Bronnie Lennox Thompson)

    131: Mindfulness, Hands-On Therapy, and Pain (with Bronnie Lennox Thompson)
    Nov 13 2024

    In this episode Til Luchau interviews Bronnie Lennox Thompson, a pain management expert from the University of Otago in New Zealand. Bronnie shares insights on supporting people with chronic pain to live well, emphasizing pain’s complexity as a personal, multi-dimensional experience. They discuss the value of hands-on therapy, discussing both physical benefits and its comforting, human connection.

    The conversation highlights mindfulness as a tool for managing chronic pain, extending beyond meditation to include simple, everyday practices. Bronnie and Til explain how mindfulness helps people observe pain without reacting, fostering a healthier relationship with their bodies. Bronnie also shares her personal approach to mindfulness through activities like walking and savoring positive moments. This episode offers practical advice for both therapists and anyone seeking a mindful, compassionate approach to managing pain.

    Key Topics:

    00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:16 Sponsorship and Special Offers 02:04 Guest Introduction: Dr. Bronnie Lennox Thompson 02:15 Exploring Pain and Mindfulness 05:40 Personal Journey with Pain 08:59 The Role of Hands-On Therapy 19:16 Mindfulness in Clinical Practice 25:13 History and Science of Mindfulness 39:17 Responding vs. Reacting: The Power of Mindfulness 40:12 Practical Applications for Manual Therapists 41:08 Guiding Clients Through Sensory Awareness 42:11 Exploring Sensations and Descriptions 43:38 The Role of Curiosity in Therapy 44:40 Hands-On Techniques and Client Interaction 47:17 Movement and Awareness in Therapy 48:52 Changing Pain Perception Through Attention 51:51 The Therapeutic Session: Beyond Touch 01:00:07 Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Life 01:06:38 Final Thoughts and Resources

    Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!

    • Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com
    • Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • University of Otago Postgrad Programmes in Pain
    • Bronnie Lennox Thompson: Healthskills blog bronwyn.thompson@otago.ac.nz

    Sponsor Offers:

    • Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.
    • ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.
    • Advanced-Trainings: try a month of the amazing A-T Subscription free by entering “thinking” at checkout at a-t.tv/subscriptions/,.
    • Academy of Clinical Massage: Grab Whitney's valuable Assessment Cheat Sheet for free at: academyofclinicalmassage.com/cheatsheet

    About Whitney Lowe | About Til Luchau | Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com

    (The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 9 mins
  • 130. The Body of Grief (with JS Park)

    130. The Body of Grief (with JS Park)
    Oct 30 2024

    Joon Park, author of "As Long as You Need" discusses grief and its impact on bodyworkers and their clients with Til Luchau. Park, a hospital chaplain, shares his experiences with grief, trauma, and the importance of acknowledging and integrating pain rather than suppressing it. He emphasizes the role of the body in grief, the concept of "letting in" rather than "letting go," and the significance of rituals and community in processing loss. The conversation also touches on the idea of the "intimate stranger" and the therapeutic power of touch and presence. Key Topics:

    •Grief isn’t about “letting go” but “letting in” and honoring the lost. •Societal pressures often encourage suppressing grief. •Parallels between grief and trauma: both require embracing pain rather than avoiding it. •Physical manifestations of grief and the role of bodywork in processing it. •Importance of rituals in grief (including the "ritual" of getting bodywork) for emotional and physical healing. •The significance of community and meaningful connections in combating loneliness. •The “intimate stranger” concept, where trust can build quickly with clients. •Touch as non-verbal "prayer" and support in grief. •Encouraging open conversations about grief and loss, and building authentic relationships.

    Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!

    • Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com
    • Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • JS Park's book: As Long as You Need: Permission to Grieve http://aslongasyouneedbook.com

    Sponsor Offers:

    • Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.
    • ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.
    • Advanced-Trainings: try a month of the amazing A-T Subscription free by entering “thinking” at checkout at a-t.tv/subscriptions/,.
    • Academy of Clinical Massage: Grab Whitney's valuable Assessment Cheat Sheet for free at: academyofclinicalmassage.com/cheatsheet

    About Whitney Lowe | About Til Luchau | Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com

    (The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min

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