Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2025

Winter 2025 • 57

also compromising the efficiency of the respiratory system. Encouraging clients to learn to take full, conscious breaths helps to counteract this effect, expand the rib cage, lengthen the breathing muscles and engage the diaphragm more effectively. This, in turn, supports a state of calm and enhances the body’s relaxation response, directly impacting mental and emotional well being almost instantly. Even micro movements and isolated conscious breaths can help keep the body more fluid, reduce tension buildup, and promote a better connection between the mind and body, supporting long-term well-being. Advanced Collaborations to Enhance Skill Sets In addition to building external referral networks, massage therapists need to reflect on their own skill sets to determine what they can offer clients immediately. By understanding your strengths and identifying areas where you may need to refer out, you ensure you’re working within your professional boundaries while also providing comprehensive care to clients suffering from tech neck. Assessing core competencies . Consider what specific skills you offer beyond manual therapy, such as ergonomic recommendations, simple guided breathwork or self-care guidance. Reflecting on these competencies will help you understand your full capacity to support clients effectively. Taking time for self-assessment can be done periodically—such as after each session or monthly—to evaluate whether new approaches are needed or if the existing skill sets are meeting client needs. Knowing when to refer or expand skills: Mental and emotional health plays a significant role in the development and persistence of tech neck symptoms. While massage therapists do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions, they can support clients by listening with presence and offering space for clients to process their experience, when appropriate. For those interested in offering a more

integrative experience within scope, additional certifications in areas like mindfulness coaching, breathwork facilitation, meditation instruction or ergonomics can be valuable. These complementary tools allow you to provide non clinical, wellness-informed guidance while staying within professional scope. At the same time, it’s essential to recognize your limits and refer out when needed. Doing so is a sign of professionalism that strengthens client trust and ensures ethical, safe practice. Importance of professional boundaries: Massage therapists must remember that staying within scope protects both the practitioner and the client. Not every aspect of a client’s discomfort will fall within your scope, and it’s important to communicate this clearly when appropriate. For example, while you may be highly skilled at supporting physical symptoms and offering general wellness strategies, deeper emotional concerns or clinical mental health needs should always be referred to a licensed counselor or psychologist. Massage therapists can contribute significantly to their clients’ whole person health by identifying when a referral to another health care professional may be beneficial. For clients whose symptoms extend beyond musculoskeletal discomfort into emotional or behavioral concerns, referrals could include: • Mindfulness and meditation coaches : Coaches specializing in mindfulness and meditation help people develop practices that reduce stress and increase body awareness. Meditation can be a powerful tool for addressing underlying tension patterns that manifest as tech neck. By referring clients to these professionals, massage therapists can support long-term mental and physical well-being. • Breathwork coaches : Breathwork is essential in regulating the nervous system and reducing muscular tension. Breathwork professionals can work with clients to promote diaphragmatic breathing, which encourages relaxation and optimizes the benefits of the physical work massage therapists and their

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