Customer Reviews

The Educated Heart: Professional Guidelines for Massage Therapists, Bodyworkers and Movement Teachers

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I tell people that I'm a massage student, the predictable response is: "Think of me if you need anyone to practice on...". As I observe my desk piled high with books and search my schedule in vain for a free hour to massage my husband, this seems like the dumbest/most insensitive thing anyone could possibly say to me.
The Educated Heart deals with issues such as these: of boundaries as a massage student and how to approach people that are reluctant to pay the full price for massage therapy. In fact, this easy-to-read book is packed with insights and simple explanations of complex concepts (e.g. dual relationships, projection). If I had just one book in my massage collection, it would be this. I recommend it be required reading in every massage school.

This is a must read, no matter what level a practitioner
is at- student, beginner, or, like me, in the field for
over a dozen years. A wonderfully, sensitively written
book about relationship dynamics in touch therapies, from someone who truly has walked the path we are all going to walk if we are involved in touch therapies, manual therapies, bodywork,
massage. I was fortunate to have some of this type of
training , in a very good way, when in schools, but I know
very well that it is rare, and getting more rare for schools
to provide these important insights. I know this because I teach the graduates of those schools, and sometimes receive work from those graduates. This, to me, is much more important than simply reading about "ethics", because a deeper understanding of relationship dynamics truly helps us form and understand our ethics in the first place. This is must-have insight for all schools to delve into,and provide ample training in- including the medical profession! If your work involves touch in a therapeutic way, read this book!
5 stars for this contribution to the field!

At last, a professional wrote ethical guidelines for bodyworkers. Her sense of humor, candid stories and writing style add to the author's invaluable advise to practioners who "touch" many, many people everyday. Thank you, Nina!

I am a female licensed Esthetician and I date men. I get hit on at least twice a week by a female client. For awhile I was really confused about this. I joked and even blamed it on my short hair and the lack of makeup I wear on the job. I was ignorant until I read this book! I can't believe how narrow my understanding was before reading. Now it all makes sense. So no I am not a massage therapist but I do touch people and work closely to them. I find that the women who become attracted to me are the ones with the worst skin problems. After getting an idea of how this can affect someone in need of not only physical relief but any type of relief I finally understood. I don't see things the same anymore. I now know we are all just victims of our own subconscious and that the crushes will pass but that kindness and understanding will leave a lasting impression.

The Educated Heart captures the essence of optimizing tableside manner and conduct and should be required reading for every novice and veteran massage/bodyworker. It has the potential to upgrade the professional image of all manual practitioners.

Immensely readable and engaging, it covers every aspect of client-practitioner interaction. An indispensable source for all of my teaching.

Mark W. Dixon, NCTMB, HHP
Newport Beach CA

This book is exceptional!!!! It should be required reading at all massage therapy schools. Setting clear boundaries helps clients to take my profession more seriously. Some of the examples given have actually been experienced by me!!! Transference and countertransference were two words that were defined in my school but not how to deal with different ways in which people experience them.....Very needed and very helpful information covered this ground. The illustrations gave warm humor to each chapter. Thank you Nina McIntosh for this much needed book....one that will be referred to in my business for many years to come! Jeanenne Mace Ms.T.

Despite the fact that she's my sister, Nina has a firm grasp of the theoretical issues, years of practical experience, and the ability to understand and relate to the problems of the individual practioner. She addresses real issues that affect business success in a extremely readable format. This book provides body work professionals with a much needed business counselor.

This is the main text available to massage therapy students and practitioners that address the myriad of relationship issues that arise for professional bodyworkers. All of the complexities that can arise for bodyworkers from blurred relationship boundaries by working on friends and family, to being projected onto or countertransferrence with clients are covered. The author gives guidelines on how to maintain professional boundaries, and more importantly explains why these guidelines are given. Once the reader understands the why, any adjustments necessary can be made to the given guidelines.
The information on the various phenomena and how the mind works are well explained. Massage therapists will only need this one text rather than take several counseling courses explaining neurotic mechanisms and boundaries to be able to understand what is going on in these sometimes complex situations.
The author uses humor and many personal anecdotes to illustrate her points. With so many stories of what can go wrong, anyone who is using this book in an independent learning format may want to remember that not all client-therapist relationships will have these issues come up. Indeed, armed with appropriate boundaries from the beginning will keep the client-therapist relationship healthy so that physical healing can occur from the bodywork given.

It was very informative with many case scenarios. The author did a great job addressing the slippery situations practitioners often encounter without being judgmental and suggestions on how to ethically handle those situations. It is filled with warmth and humor with many cute little cartoons.

I had heard about this book when at school but never has time to buy it until recently. Now that I have read it, I wish I had bought it BEFORE my practicuum. Clearly written, detailed, sensible, this book is indispensable for ANY massage therapist, self-employed or employee. This is the bible of professionnal communication for any bodyworker.