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

Observation
There are many layers to traumatic scar tissue – somatic and psychological and
therefore observing client behavior is an essential part of assessment (Fitch
2014). For proper assessment and evaluation, the MT needs to pick up cues from
verbal and non-verbal communication.
Tone of voice, body language, posture and physiological responses give us
valuable clues about how the traumatic scar tissue client is feeling. Add to this,
the quality of the client’s tissue, their posture, how they respond to your
questions and touch let you know what their comfort level is that particular day.
The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t being
said. The art of reading between the lines is a lifelong quest of the wise.
Shannon L. Alder
Words transmit one dimension of information through language. Non-verbal
communication can give multiple messages that can be both deliberate and
outside the conscious awareness of the client (Fitch 2014).
The ability to read non-verbal messages from traumatic scar tissue clients is a
complex skill and takes time. A pioneer in the study of non-verbal
communication, psychologist Albert Mehrabian conducted fascinating research
on communication and how it is received. According to Mehrabian, the receiver
interprets the communication based on the following (adapted from Fitch 2014):
• 7% verbal (the actual words spoken)
• 38% par verbal – this encompasses tone and pitch of the voice with other vocal
sounds
• 55% non-verbal – body language, facial expressions, stance and posture, and
hand gestures.
Observation plays an important role in the assessment process because posture,
behaviors, attitudes, emotional state and associated affect contribute to the health
or lack of health of the client (Fitch 2014).