Reports by Some Massage Therapists of a Sense of ‘Special Connection’ That Is Sometimes Experienced with Clients/Patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to provide exploratoryqualitative data on anecdotal reports by somephysical therapists that they sometimes experience asense of ‘special connection’ with patients or clients. Participantsand Methods: 21 self-selected massage therapistsprovided written comments about their experienceof therapy in response to a questionnaire (free-form responseformat) asking about the experience of connection.Results: 20 out of 21 therapists reported a sense of‘special connection’. Content analysis suggested 10themes, the main ones relating to the special connectionbeing: (a) a sense of oneness or unity with the patient;(b) intimacy, trust and the touching of souls; (c) meditative,trance-like, floating relaxation; (d) 2-way flow of energy,and the mutual contribution of patient and therapistcharacteristics in forming this connection; (e) that ittends to be there or not but if there, it varies in degree.Conclusion: These reports are similar in some respectsto descriptions given by healers of the experience ofhealing, suggesting that some massage therapists, andpossibly some other complementary or conventionaltherapists engage, unknowingly, in a process of healingwhile they practice the therapy for which they have beentrained.