When you are dealing with a health issue, whether it be a headache, low back pain, a shoulder injury, lymphatic congestion, or aching muscles, it can be difficult to decide what type of treatment is going to be the most beneficial for your particular situation. There are so many different modalities (the ways in which someone can work with you) available now, and it can be overwhelming for you to know what to do, thus resulting in sessions that are not effective in helping you, or stopping you from taking any action at all. Now, I’m not saying that I have the magic wand, that I know specifically that massage will cure you, or lymphatic drainage is the best; however, I will share some tips that can point you in the right direction as to how to pick a modality and practitioner for you.

1. Intention—First of all, you need to get clear on what is going on for you and your health situation, and your intention in receiving a particular treatment. Is there a certain goal or purpose that you wish for as a result of picking this modality? Being clear about your intention first can help—do you want relaxation, reduction in pain, more movement, less congestion, more body connection, etc.? Or, all of the above?

2. Prioritize—There can be numerous health issues that you are dealing with so it’s important to be able to prioritize which one(s) you think are key. Being honest with yourself about each symptom that you feel and how it relates to your health complaint can help to develop a better picture of where you are at. Also, you may uncover certain relationships that you weren’t aware of before, e.g. headache, tightness in the neck, and sinus congestion. If there are a few things going on for you, write them down on a list, and circle the ones that hold the most charge, as sometimes that can help you to discern where to start in choosing a health session.

3. Research—There are many places online that you can learn about the modalities available where you live. One way is to check with the associations (assn.), or colleges connected to them such as Massage Therapy Assn. of Sask., Natural Health Practitioners of Canada, Manual Osteopathic College of Canada, Chiropractic Assn. of Sask., Lymphedema Assn. of Sask., Canadian Reiki Assn. Sask., Reflexology Assn. Sask., International BodyTalk, etc. Also, particular schools also have websites with a wealth of information—Upldeger Craniosacral, Vodder Lymph Drainage, etc. They can give you a clear picture of what is involved in the manual hands-on therapy, including the expectations from practitioners and the standards of practice regarding consent and professional conduct.

4. Ask Practitioners—If you would like further information in determining the best modality, you may consult with the practitioner ahead of time in an email, outlining what your symptom picture is, the complaints that are present for you at the time, and ask what they feel, in their professional opinion, would be the best treatment option for you. Or, you could make a short phone call with specific questions that you have prepared ahead. If you’re not sure which one to address first, your practitioner can help you with that. Or, if you are booking online, you can just pick an option that you feel drawn to and then when you come in for your first appointment, during the case history intake, you can share your symptoms openly, to the degree that you feel comfortable, and discern your treatment plan together.

The practitioner will ask you questions regarding the presenting issue relating to location in your body, onset of it occurrence, duration of when you feel it, characteristics of what is happening, frequency, intensity—e.g. pain, radiating, better or worse, previous health history, and any other factors affecting your health such as stress at home, with family or work.

What is most helpful for the practitioner is for you to give as clear a picture as possible of your symptoms in the present moment with past history in the mix.

5. Choose the individual practitioner(s)
—Once you narrow down the modality that you would like to use, the next step is determining which practitioner(s) you would like to have work with you, the one(s) best suited to you. This is not necessarily an easy task and may take a few sessions to figure out, but the key is to develop a therapeutic relationship that resonates deeply for you: One that you feel safe and comfortable in, to share your health concerns, and to be open to receiving the care and attention that you need in order to have it addressed.

One way of picking someone is to go online to the website and read the biographies. In our clinic, go to broadway.health>About Us>Practitioner Contact and Bios>Practitioner name. Read up on each of us and determine who you would like to try for your first appointment. Of course, if you have different issues, you are also able to choose different practitioners for different sessions. For example, in our multi-disciplinary collective, you can access multiple practitioners specializing in a variety of modalities. That way you, as our client, can build a custom health team, that, with your permission, can work collaboratively on addressing your particular health goals. This approach can be so beneficial to your overall wellness, depending on our your needs and ability.

Pam Fichtner is a founding member of Broadway Health Collective in Saskatoon and loves the feeling that has been created for everyone who enters—safe, calm, and healing. See her Sephira ad on this page for all that she offers. Book yourself in for an appointment with any of the practitioners by going to the website broadway.health, where you can learn more about BHC, their blogs, Reconciliation in Action, and their BHC Gallery linking art and health together. For more information email sephira@sasktel.net or call 306-230-7407.