The aim of this study was to provide exploratory qualitative data on anecdotal reports by some physical therapists that they sometimes experience a sense of ‘special connection’ with patients or clients. Participants and Methods: 21 self-selected massage therapists provided written comments about their experience of therapy in response to a questionnaire (free-form response format) asking about the experience of connection. Results: 20 out of 21 therapists reported a sense of ‘special connection’. Content analysis suggested 10 themes, the main ones relating to the special connection being: (a) a sense of oneness or unity with the patient; (b) intimacy, trust and the touching of souls; (c) meditative, trance-like, floating relaxation; (d) 2-way flow of energy, and the mutual contribution of patient and therapist characteristics in forming this connection; (e) that it tends to be there or not but if there, it varies in degree. Conclusion: These reports are similar in some respects to descriptions given by healers of the experience of healing, suggesting that some massage therapists, and possibly some other complementary or conventional therapists engage, unknowingly, in a process of healing while they practice the therapy for which they have been trained.

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Original Article · Originalarbeit
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2006
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