Download 80a-CO-Special

500 Hour Program
Class Outline Form
Class Title: 80a Special Populations #1 – Working with
Psychological Conditions
Course(s) and Hours:
Class Description
Learning Objectives - Students hear about and discuss Psychiatric
Disorders and Relevance of Massage (plus whatever additional relevant
details we have time for).
Class Outline
Time
9:00
Description
Assignment/Resources
Opening meditation/ Roll
9:05- Quiz #8
9:20
9:20- Psychiatric Disorders –
9:25- Conditions and Relevance of Massage (plus whatever additional
relevant details we have time for).
Addiction – Use, Abuse, Dependency
Etiology – dependency can be psychological or physiological .
Changes in neurotransmitters, sedative effect on CNS –
With dependency – it takes more and more and stopping will
create daunting physical and psychological challenges.
Risk factors
Genetic predisposition
Other mental illness
Environmental factors – peer pressure, low self-esteem, history of
physical and/or sexual abuse
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Suggested –
MTGP: pp. 170-187
Age
Medical reasons
Complications – mental illness, impaired judgement.
Gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, nervous system, immune
system
Treatment – recognize problem
Abstinence, detox, rehab, prevent relapses
Massage? Adjust if person suffering physiological dis-ease as a result of the
addiction.
Can help ameliorate withdrawal symptoms, speed detox, reduce
need for drugs (it’s a healthy high!)
Do not work with person under the influence.
*
9:25- Anxiety disorders
9:30 Irrational fears and excessive efforts to avoid or control them.
How is it recognized? – sympathetic reactions and frightening
feelings and thoughts
General anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
PTSD
OCD
Phobias – social and specific
Massage? Person may be hypersensitive to touch and boundaries – esp. if
anxiety is related to physical and/or sexual abuse.
Positive effects – feeling calmer, more able to cope with everyday
stresses (through positive touch impact on limbic and autonomic
nervous system.)
Segue into brief review of ANS and add in a little more info on
limbic system
amygdala – centrally involved in fear and anxiety
also central role in aggression
also “
“ in male sexual aggression
interconnected with hippocampus
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1 synapse away from hypothalamus
gets bigger in people with PTSD – more metabolically reactive
hippocampus (sea horse - jelly roll) – memory & learning
people with long-term major depression – hippocampus
gets smaller
pivotal role in turning off the stress response
*************
Attend carefully to factors such as clothing, draping, working
with open door, be understanding and patient – while honoring
your own boundaries.
9:30- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Brief
9:35
Not really deficit – person pays attention to too many things.
Neurochemical disorder (which can have genetic as well as
familial or environmental causes)
Symptoms: Inattentiveness, hyperactivity, impulsivity
Treatments – medications and psychotherapy
Massage? Indicated unless person has inability to tolerate stillness.
Can improve anger control, sleep quality, school behavior, mood,
interpersonal relationships. Identify their preferences – vigorous
or more stillness.
9:35- Autism Spectrum Disorder – appears to be genetic (usually
9:40 diagnosed by age 3)
Deficits in verbal & nonverbal communication, problems with
social interactions, repetitive behaviors/memory
Locked into their own perspective/world
Behavorial treatment most common.
Autism – more severe
Asperger – much more mild (commonly lack of empathy)
Massage? Often will be hypersensitive to touch.
Get to know the individual – if they like touch, it may be very
helpful in helping them connect to world in positive way.
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9:40- Depression
9:50 Genetic and/or familial origin. Or related to other problem –
such as physical illness.
Ranging from chronically low or “negative” energy (persistent
feelings of sadness, gullt and/or hopelessness) to bi-polar
disorder to suicidal inclinations.
Treatments – medications and psychotherapy
SSRI’s, etc.
Massage?
Massage will either have little effectiveness or a very helpful
impact on depression. It can help release bodily tension that may
“hold” the depression in place. It can release physical and
psychological tensions that may sustain the depression. It can
stimulate endorphins, amplifying pleasure (do not allow this to
effect their use of appropriately prescribed medication).
With severe depression with suicidal thoughts, you may want to
refer them to a psychiatrist first if they are not seeing one already
and then get their permission to communicate with their
psychiatrist and get their advice re massage (or not). Make sure
you assure yourself that they are seeing a therapist/psychiatrist.
9:50- Eating Disorders – compulsions about food and weight gain or
9:55 loss. Anorexia, bulima and binge eating.
Usually women, possibly with overly high expectations of self.
Can lead to serious health problems.
Treatment – medication if useful and counseling program.
Massage? Anorexia/bulimia can result in various psychological, anatomic
and physiological frailties – be careful in your treatment design.
Massage can help people with distorted, negative self-image
experience their bodies as safe, strong and healthy – improving
their body image. It can also lower anxiety levels.
9:55- General concerns re working with people who have severe
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10:00 psychological problems –
When in doubt, don’t and refer.
Have good list of psychiatrists and psychotherapists to refer to.
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