Hi, I'm not sure if this belongs in reflexology, but seems like a good place to start as many reflexologists seem to move on to metamorphic techniqie too.
I recently went on a course and loved this technique. I am currently at the stage of giving my 50 sessions (and receiving 20) before the second part of the course.
On the course we gave and received sessions sat upright in a normal chair, with foot or hand on a cushion on the lap, and this seems fairly practical. However, it is not as relaxing this way as it could be. I believe others may give sessions on a couch or in a lafuma recliner, which is great for doing the feet and hands. But it leaves the problem of the head! Do you then disturb the client and move them to a chair? Do you give session on couch, but reclined rather than flat, but still leaves the problem of reaching the head down towards the base of the skull??? If in a Lafuma, do you then put chair upright when moving to the head, and intoduce a towel or cushion to give access to head?
I've experimented a bit, but I'm still not sure of the best way! What do other practtioners find works best for them and for clients comfort and enjoyment?!
Hi Sarah, I've had no problems giving this treatment on a couch. Fingers can easily slip under the head to reach the occipital.
Hope this helps.
Thanks Urban Hippy! I'm still experimenting (given about 20 sessions so far), so I will give it a try.
People seem to be enjoying the Lafuma even with the disturbance to move them upright for head, but the back of the chair does get in the way a bit. My husband loves to receive MT, and he just lounges next to me on the sofa and pops leg or hand on my lap, so a lovely informal way to give a session.
How do you find MT? Have you noticed changes for you or clients taking place? Do you give many sessions compared to reflexology or your other treatments?
Many thanks
I only had my training about a month ago, so you have more experience than me! I've only given four treatments, but many clients have scalp massage added onto a body massage. I dont think anyone has minded with a slight disturbance when I ask them to sit up. People have reported feeling more relaxed, I'm looking forward to see if any significant changes happen.
You're lucky having treatments - I've not experienced it yet.
Hi Urban Hippy
Thanks for info! I'm not sure now if you mean when using couch, the client continues lying down for the head, or you sit them up?! Sorry for being confused!
My clients are definitely enjoying the Lafuma, reclined for feet and hands, and sitting upright for the head, although it's still a little awkward. Will maybe try the massage couch, but if you do mean client lies down throughout, not sure how it will work...
I'm working towards giving 50 and receiving 20, so I can become full assoc. member and full certificate for insurance, etc. I've had about 6 myself and enjoy receiving. I've been feeling a bit fatigued the last week or so, and wonder if related to giving quite a few treatments per week (but generally a busy few weeks anyway, so hard to know...)
Also, I'm in some confusion now about giving MT clients other therapies. Our trainer said that after 3 MT sessions, it's not wise to give other therapies, so for example if the client wants MT AND reflexology (not at same time of course!), they would have to choose which to stay with me for, and go elsewhere for the other. Talking to others, it seems not all practitioners have been given this advice. What were you told about MT and other therapies?
Also if there are any other MT practitioners out there, I would appreciate views on giving other treatments as well as MT to an individual client.
Sorry for lots of questions! I'm pleased that I've found another MT practioner on the forum to share! (I have just joined the MT Assoc. as an associate member hoping that the forums on there will answer some of my questions that are now arising...)
Many thanks!
Sorry for confusing you, I position the client so they are slightly sitting up for reflex and MT. I can usually reach the back of their heads at this position, if not I ask them to sit up.
I've not heard any complications about giving other therapies. I would not refer them on personally just because they are receiving MT from me. It's lovely to build up a good relationship with clients, they are more willing to try new therapies if they trust you.
I can't believe we are the only ones on this thread, there must be others who are trained in MT on here?
Hi Urban Hippy, yes it does feel like a private forum! Thanks for answering my posts and sharing your experience! I did check with the moderators that this was the best forum to post on MT, and it is! I hope some others will find the thread in time and add their views and experience to the pot!
Here is a response I have just received from a post on the MT Assoc forum, and very much helps to explain the thinking on MT and therapies alongside, but it seems that not all teachers expalin this to students, leaving confusion and differing approaches,
"I am a MT Teacher and praticionar in Switzerland. I also work as a art therapist. In my MT workshops I always say, that I give at times taster sessions in Metamorphic Technique to my art therapy clients. After that I ask them to decide if they wanted to have art therapy or Metamorphic Technique with me. Why that? If we give MT sessions we may attain a knowledge about the other person on a very deep level without beeing aware of it. If we go back to give a therapy we may not be able to avoid using this knowledge without knowing. That would mean to give a directon to the energy of that person. As I don't know if I am able to handle the power within that manipulatin I prefer not to give any therapy to clients that have had more than one MT session with me. The client himself can have as many therapies as he wants beside MT. But it is advisible not to have it from the same person.
This guideline is recommended after years as well." (I had asked if it was ok to come back to other therapies after a break from MT...) "The realm where transformatiom comes from and where also the information about the client that we may pick up on a deep level, comes from, that realm is out of time space and matter. Time is not relevant then. What you have received as information - mostly unconciously - will be there after years as well.
However, in accordance to the essence of the Metamorphic Technique you may do what feels right for you. Life has shown, that if manipulation takes place within MT, there is a selfregulation and either there will arise a situatai that the practicionar can't give any sessions or the client stops coming anyway.
There is only one way to find out how to answer your clients question. Ask yourself if it feels right for you to go back to reflexology or massage. There are, as we know three possible answers: Yes! No! or I don't know. If you don't know, then the action will be to wait until you know. You may also put the question into the conceptual pattern. "
I did give a head massage to a client this week who has had only one MT session with me recently, and for no apparent reason she suddenly felt sick and faint just as I was finishing off with gentle face massage and smoothing down hair...now I wonder if it was a coincidence, but also it introduces that bit of doubt too about separating MT from everything else...
As with my other therapies, I feel I am on a long journey of learning and discovery...
Mixing Metamorphic Technique with other therapies
Hi Sparkie,
This thread just came up in Google Alerts this morning so I joined the forum.
I have been practicing M/T for the past 2 years or so.
I recall studying with Gaston and him saying that mixing therapies was not particularly advisable and you received an explanation from the Swedish teacher/practitioner.
My own experience with this, and it has occurred on 3 occasions is this.
Client 1:- Was at a clinic offering Saturday low cost taster sessions.
I was offering Bowen Technique and M/T. The client had physical
pains she wanted 'fixing' but also wanted to talk a lot about her
realizations of needing to make changes in her work but worried
about how to make those changes and still be financially secure.
She opted for M/T. Thoroughly enjoyed it and fell asleep and
was acutely aware of the choices she needed to make. This all
came from her...not my direction...that would be my manipulation.
...I saw her twice again at the Sat low cost clinic and she opted for
Bowen as she still had physical pain she wanted to deal with. She
had not at that time made any changes in her life. I later found
out from the owner of the clinic that this particular woman had
tried all the therapies offered at the low cost clinic over a period
of time not sticking with any one in particular.
Client 2:- A lady who came to the clinic specifically for Bowen and was
doing very well with it. She had a 'relapse' in awareness due to
an event that triggered her fear of having to move on and make
necessary changes in her life. By the time her appointment was
due, she was very depressed and she decided she would like to
try M/T. She too felt very relaxed and fell asleep. The next time I
saw her she was feeling much better about her future and we
continued with Bowen for residual physical pain at her request.
Client 3:- This lady was receiving Bowen to help with ME. She was actually
interested in M/T for her son who had no interest in talking about
his issues with severe depression. She would like to talk quite a
bit before and after sessions, telling me about herself etc. and I
would pretty much just listen. So she booked a M/Tsession to try
herself first...
About 10 minutes, maybe less, into the session I felt myself
becoming a bit irritable. I noticed it and let it pass. The client
would jerk her feet a bit and move it back and forth now and
then. I had told her at the beginning of the session that this was
about her and anything she did not care for to let me know...
So as I finished the right foot and started the left I asked her if
she was OK. She sat bolt upright and said..."actually, I am finding
this intensely irritating." We decided to end the M/T session. She
did, however want to have a mini Bowen session for the time
remaining.
I did not see her for almost a month after that. She arrived one
day for a Bowen session and we chatted for a few minutes before
the session and even though I was probably not supposed to ask
according to the principles of M/T, curiosity got the better of me.
She said that she did not particularly care for M/T and would stick
to Bowen. When I asked her how she had been for the past month
she said that she had felt pretty good for longer than usual and
had been quite busy fixing up her new studio. Basically what had
happened was that she had finally got fed up with where her work
was, even though she loved the work space.If memory serves me
it was a bit pricey but she said she found the area it was in "very
irritating"...noisy and too busy with people...this she changed the
week following the M/T session...
Hi everyone
Ultimately we never mix Metamorphic Technique with other modalities because to give an MT session you must be detached and have no intention for your client. We leave a free space in which their Life Force can grow them. How could I mix that with Refelxology, when inherent in the Refelxology session is a desire to heal my client. You cannot hold an intention, and hold no intention at the same time.
All the best with your work! Dominique Mallee Meeroff
What about with other practices that hold no intention?
Hi everyone
Ultimately we never mix Metamorphic Technique with other modalities because to give an MT session you must be detached and have no intention for your client. We leave a free space in which their Life Force can grow them. How could I mix that with Refelxology, when inherent in the Refelxology session is a desire to heal my client. You cannot hold an intention, and hold no intention at the same time.
All the best with your work! Dominique Mallee Meeroff
What I can tell you is that Gaston Saint Pierre, the founder of the work, felt it was incompatible to mix Metamorphic Technique with any other practice. So that is how it is taught and those are the guidelines to which we commit when we join the Metamorphic Association.
All the best, Dominique Mallee Meeroff