PRACTITIONER PROFILE
ATMS Practitioner Profile Karen Good
Which modalities do you practise ? I practise Remedial Massage , Swedish Massage , Craniosacral Therapy , Myofascial Release and Lymphatic Drainage .
How long have you been in practice ? I have been in practice for 13 years .
What have been the major influences on your career ? I never intended on this becoming a career . I wanted to help my rapidly growing teenage son and his rep basketball teammates with their post-game pains as they travelled to state competitions . My intention was to just learn the basics .
After completing the Therapeutic Massage module , all the sports modalities I was looking at were not being offered until the start of the following year . A teacher passing through my college was offering Craniosacral Therapy around the same time . I had no idea what it was but decided that , as I was enjoying this mature age learning , why not give it a go . This course literally changed my entire life . I was totally fascinated with the body ’ s innate yearning to heal itself . I went on to do more craniosacral courses and then had the opportunity to do a course in Hawaii with the renowned Myofascial Release legend John Barnes . This led me to do more of his courses in Canada and his amazing hometown of Sedona . I would come back and practise on friends and family , and through word of mouth this evolved into a business doing what essentially no clients had ever heard of . long as I can . I will continue to do courses that encourage gentle wholistic healing .
What are your reflections on the present state of the natural medicine profession and its future direction ? I am excited by the new scientific and medical discoveries of the importance of working with the connective tissue . I am also pleased that although it is still slow in coming , more doctors are open to referring people to bodyworkers before surgery or drug management . I look forward to future scientific evidence and therefore clients ’ acceptance of the importance of connecting the brain and emotions to physical pain management .
Sadly , I feel quality and qualified bodyworkers will struggle in the future with the higher costs of rents , running costs and ongoing training while competing against bodyworkers in shopping centre and unregulated workers . Potential clients find these more convenient and affordable than searching out independent practitioners . This is extremely concerning not just for qualified practitioners but for clients who can be seriously harmed by untrained therapists .
What do you like about being a natural medicine practitioner ? I enjoy being a part of the client ’ s journey , be that a oneoff session or for some 13 years . Like friends in life , they are there for a reason , a season , or a lifetime . I feel privileged when they trust me physically , emotionally and spiritually .
What advice would you give to a new practitioner starting out ? Put your own physical and mental health first . Avoid compromising your own body in an effort to help your clients and take regular breaks to recalibrate .
What are your future ambitions ? I wish I had started this journey a lot earlier in life . There is so much to still learn ! I am coming close to what should be my retirement age , but want to stay connected to my clients and work for as long as they keep coming . This work gives me an enormous sense of purpose , so while I can continue to help clients , I feel excited to work as
98 | vol28 | no2 | JATMS