{"id":2952,"date":"2014-12-29T17:19:07","date_gmt":"2014-12-29T17:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/?p=2952"},"modified":"2017-09-15T18:54:19","modified_gmt":"2017-09-15T18:54:19","slug":"guiding-clients-to-edit-their-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/guiding-clients-to-edit-their-stories\/","title":{"rendered":"Guiding Clients to Edit Their Stories"},"content":{"rendered":"

Being an acupuncturist for 14 years has afforded me some insight that goes beyond my clinical acupuncture training. That insight is a result of doing thousands of initial intake exams, a time when patients get the green light to share their story. Guiding clients to edit their stories can be a powerful tool for enabling the healing process.<\/p>\n

Recognizing patterns is a key element to creating a differential diagnosis \u2013 the pivotal crux that will render a treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) effective or useless. For many practitioners, including myself, this pattern recognition skill extends beyond textbook material and expert lectures. Over time, it becomes obvious that the stories people recite are directly proportional to their health. Unfortunately, detecting this pattern \u2013 and suggesting an alteration to it \u2013 seems to be omitted from most healthcare professionals\u2019 training material.<\/p>\n

Conducting an initial intake reveals more than medical facts; it also allows people to tell their stories of woe. It is crucial for the practitioner to pay attention to more than just the story\u2019s words, but also to the client\u2019s attitude during the telling of \u201ctheir story.\u201d When a client discusses his or her health concerns with a negative emotional charge, whether it\u2019s from the point-of-view of a victim or feeling defeated or hopeless, the healing work must take on an additional dimension to be effective.<\/p>\n

Massage therapy and TCM practitioners both practice holistic medicine \u2013 an approach to the human body that looks at the person as a whole, including physical, spiritual and emotional dimensions. Along this line of thinking, it makes sense that a negative pattern stuck in someone\u2019s mind will have a negative consequence on his or her physical body.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/h3>\n

In my private practice, two examples of clients\u2019 stories that detracted from their physical wellness are described below. The clients\u2019 names have been changed to protect their privacy:<\/p>\n

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  1. Barbara<\/em> \u2013 During our initial intake, Barbara recounted her story of a terrifying car accident that left her afraid to drive and with a broken back. Physically, she was exhausted and had severe cervical and lumbar pain. Pain medications, spinal surgery, years of physical therapy and chiropractic treatments did little to alleviate her pain.<\/li>\n
  2. Adam<\/em> \u2013 During our initial intake, Adam described his high stress level (and hypertension) as a consequence of an accident at work that was not his fault. The accident resulted in him getting fired \u2013 rendering him unable to provide financially for his family. Facing foreclosure and divorce, Adam\u2019s anxiety was preventing him from sleeping at night.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Barbara and Adam\u2019s stories are heart wrenching in their own way; however, they both demonstrate powerlessness. By delicately discussing with Barbara and Adam how their perception of themselves in their stories perpetuated their problem, each person was able to edit their story to their benefit.<\/p>\n

    Narrative Psychology<\/h3>\n

    Stories may not seem like a basic survival need, but our brains naturally tell stories as a way to give structure and meaning to our lives. Narrative psychology is an emerging field of study that examines how stories shape our lives and personalities. According to narrative psychology, the stories we tell ourselves play a large role in who we are:<\/p>\n