Meet the Expert : Interview with Terri Bless
Interviewer | Sandra Grace
Tell me about your background – why did you choose to become a natural medicine practitioner ? When I was 11 years old , I had bronchial pneumonia . The biggest component of treatment at the time was my mother having to do 20 minutes of percussions ( specifically cupping ) on my back , over my lungs . As a result , I became very interested in the use of body work for the treatment and management of certain illnesses .
Where did you study ? Initially I did 4 years of part-time study at The School of Integrated Body Therapy ( SIBT ) on the Central Coast of NSW . This included remedial massage and several other modalities in depth . Since the advent of training packages , I have gone back there to upgrade numerous times .
Did your education prepare you well for your professional career ? Yes . The teachers and modalities were great . The real-world experience gained in the student clinic at SIBT prepared me to start applying what I had learned in my course as a professional . It also inspired me to learn more .
Why did you choose remedial massage ? When I decided to study remedial massage , I was caring for my two young daughters . I decided it was time to pursue my interest in body work . Remedial massage allowed me to start working a few hours per week and increase my hours as they got older .
How long have you been in practice ? I stared working in the industry at the beginning of 1997 , so that makes it 27 years .
Has your practice changed over the course of your career ? If so , in what ways ? At the beginning of my career , I wanted to work alongside other practitioners and worked with a wonderful woman who was also a massage practitioner . I was there for two years . I then set up my own clinic closer to home and worked solo for 15 years .
When my mother became ill and grandchildren started to arrive , I decided I wanted to go back into working in someone else ’ s practice . It just suited me better . I now work in two different practices and love it .
Do you have special interest in any particular conditions / clients ( e . g . chronic pain , pregnancy and childbirth , sports , older patients )? If so , how did this interest arise ? Seeing a wide variety of clients keeps things interesting , but I have to say I really love helping older clients and people manage chronic pain . It is really something that has just evolved over the years . I can ’ t exactly put my finger on why this happened . It just gives me great satisfaction .
Are there any ‘ golden tips ’ you ’ d like to pass on to other remedial massage therapists to assist them in their clinical practice ? Take the time to really listen to your client ’ s needs at every appointment . Ask them what they want from the appointment today . It helps to develop a treatment plan that you can discuss with the client and gain consent for the treatment you plan to do . Don ’ t fall into the trap of just doing the same old routine .
Have regular massage yourself . You need to look after yourself and fill your own cup ! Every now and again , set up your space and lie down on your own table . See and feel the space from the client ’ s perspective .
Keep learning . Attend face-to-face workshops or courses where you can . Not only do you gain skills to improve your practice , but you also get to touch base with your tribe and gain different perspectives and insights . CPE is about so much more than getting the required points . It helps keep the passion for what you do alive
100 | vol30 | no2 | JATMS