BUSINESS
Skilful Compassion
Skilful
COMPASSION Compassion is an essential skill for any holistic therapist. Gayle MacDonald and Carolyn Tague share their thoughts on developing it further…
P
EOPLE in health care disciplines, whether that’s mainstream medicine or holistic care, are generally thought to be compassionate by nature. Experience and research show, however, that compassion can also be taught and therefore is a skill that can be improved, regardless of the starting point. Working with seriously ill patients, in environments that are often hectic and stressful, can be very emotionally demanding.
20
HOLISTIC THERAPIST 2021
Being skilful in expressions of compassion serves patients or clients, their families, staff members and practitioners themselves by allowing for true human emotions without overstepping professional boundaries or scope of practice. It bears repeating that these skills may inform personal relationships, but the agreements between family and friends are different in important ways. The Spectrum of Caring guidelines below are for the presenting psychosocial needs of a client within a given session of touch therapy. If authentic communication is the outward behaviour that builds therapeutic relationships, skilful compassion is the internal counterpart. Where is one’s heart and mind in any given client interaction? Is there judgment of any kind regarding why the patient is in the hospital or practice room? Is the mind busy solving all the person’s problems? Skilful compassion is the inner balance of being fully present and not ever assuming one has solutions to another’s concerns.
Skilful compassion is offered through listening for and acknowledging the emotional aspects of what a patient shares and holding space for whatever is expressed without attempting to fix it. For many bodyworkers, this is the appropriate limit to the conversation – holding space is enough. Simply acknowledging the conversation in some way before proceeding to the hands-on work, and again at the close of the session is a good rule of thumb and helps build a therapeutic relationship. For example, a comment such as, “Thank you for sharing some of your story with me,” shows gratitude and conveys that the patient was heard. Internally however, the therapist is wise to stay curious without judgment. Recognise any emotional response is one’s own and not the patient’s. When patients significantly trigger the practitioner’s own emotions, it is best to keep a balance between professional knowledge and heartfelt reaction.
holistictherapistmagazine.com
