Psychotherapy and Massage: Odd Couple or Perfect Match?

For our maiden voyage into the world of blogging, Jen and I want to introduce ourselves formally (or is this informally??) with a little bit more about why we’re starting Life Together. 

Like so many people, our professional lives are tied to our personal passions. Jen has worked hard throughout her life to understand the psychological components of anxiety so that she can help herself and others work to deal with stress effectively. I, too, have worked hard to manage anxiety in my life, but my path was of a more physical nature. I learned massage therapy and began practicing martial arts as a different set of means towards the same end.

That’s the background. Today, we’re looking at more synergistic solutions for ourselves and others. Daily life can be stressful, plain and simple. Without specific, active, solution-oriented methods to handle stress, the demands of daily life, work and family can overwhelm an individual easily. While attending yoga classes and reading self-help books work to an extent, we also need genuine care from others and more often than most of us like to admit…

… and over the upcoming weeks and months, we’re going to build up services, workshops and even retreats to do just that - provide genuine care. How, specifically? Well, there aren’t any real mysteries in counseling, bodywork or education, but to illustrate the point, use this example:

Think of something that makes you feel good about yourself. It can be anything really. Maybe you helped a customer at work. Maybe you got an outfit you really like.

Imagine a friend or relative approaches. “Hey, I heard about that. That’s really great. I’m happy for you.”

How do you feel? Pretty good, right? Maybe a little better than you did before…

Now imagine the same friend or relative gives you the same compliment, but while she is speaking, she shakes your hand.

How do you feel now? Amazing! The simple act of physically connecting with another person has a powerfully affirming effect.

Lastly, imagine your friend or relative never approached you. Yeah, maybe you gave yourself a pat on the shoulder for a job well done, but now the absence of someone else’s acknowledgment is clearly felt.

We ground each other. We lift each other up when we’re weak and we invigorate each other when we’re strong. Whatever skills we master as individuals to tackle life’s challenges, life’s challenges are most often overcome when we work together.

That sentiment is at the heart of our adventure together. Appreciation for simple gestures such as a compassionate ear and a healing hand guides our business mission.

Over time, through practice and education, we hope Life Together will be part of a new vision in cooperative, multi-dimensional health.