[libribook.com] Traumatic Scar Tissue Management 1st Edition

Clinical Consideration
According to Payne et al. (2015), clear links have been found between
compromised interoceptive function and psychiatric disorders including
depression (Avery et al. 2013), anxiety (Paulus & Stein 2010) and
addiction (May et al. 2014). Mindfulness meditation practices have been
shown to improve insular functioning and connectivity (Holzel et al. 2011)
and to improve interoception (Farb et al. 2013).
MT: A Co-Partner in Health Psychology
There is increasing recognition that health psychology and MT encompass
overlapping areas of focus regarding diverse client/patient populations and the
health conditions treated (Hymel & Rich 2013). Health psychology, according to
Hockenbury and Hockenbury (2011):
... focuses on the role of psychological factors in the development,
prevention, and treatment of illness and includes such areas as stress and
coping, the relationship between psychological factors and physical health,
and ways of promoting health-enhancing behaviors.
A meta-analysis of MT research suggests that some of the positive responses to
MT may be attributable to the warmth and positive regard of the therapist toward
the client and the development of an alliance between the therapist and the client
– factors considered to be associated with psychotherapeutic interactions
(Andrade 2013). Moyer et al. (2004) state that ‘MT may have more in common
with psychotherapy than was previously considered. Such evidence puts
considerable responsibility on the therapist to respond to clients in a supportive
and compassionate way’ – and this demands maturity and deep understanding of
the nature of the therapeutic relationship.
As noted, practitioners who use massage techniques are generally not trained in