Muscle Effect Therapy FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What is MET?

A: It is a nonverbal therapy that works at the interface between mind and body using light and very precise touch to offer ways of changing physical tensions.

Muscle Effect Therapy is based on the observation that past emotions and emotionally-charged memories have a direct effect on the musculo-skeletal system. When these were traumatic the resulting physical tensions cause various forms of dysfunction. People tend to deal with this by blocking off their awareness.

The light touch brings awareness back to the tension in the muscles, and can bring emotions and/or associated memories to the surface, allowing them to be dealt with in safety, and allowing the muscular tensions to change.

Q: How does Muscle Effect Therapy work?

A: MET works by touching the edges of muscles that hold memories and feelings in the form of excess tension. This brings the person's awareness into the area, possibly for the first time in years. The client gains insight into what happened, what he/she did about it, what is going on now. With this insight comes the ability to change, come out of frozen states and move with ease.

Q: Where can I read more about MET?

A: There is now a book about MET, "Muscle Effect Therapy - Healing the Mind Through the Body" available from Amazon, and also from this link

Q: What Other Therapies is MET Like?

A:

SIMILARITIES

• Rolfing
• Deep Tissue work

Rolfing and Deep Tissue work are both early ancestors of Muscle Effect Therapy. The progression of Rolfing to Deep Tissue to MET could be considered analogous to that of valve to transistor to microchip in that as the work was developed it got lighter, more precise and more powerful.

DIFFERENCES

• Acupuncture
• Shiatsu
• Reflexology
• Aromatherapy
• Massage
• Faith healing

Acupuncture and Shiatsu work along meridians discovered by the Chinese. A diagnosis is made and the work is then carried out on specific points on these predetermined lines of reference. Reflexology works on the feet, where different areas symbolise different parts of the body.

MET does not use meridians or symbols, but works directly, along whichever muscles are painful or carry too much tension.

Aromatherapy combines a technique similar to ki-massage with the use of various essential oils.

MET uses hands-on touch, without oils or essences.

Massage: Uses a firm touch, with or without oils.

MET uses extremely light touch, equivalent to no more than a few grammes in weight. It offers the body information as to how it could change, which reprogrammes the muscles.

Faith Healing is just that. Clients are given some information to believe, and may be healed by it if their belief is strong enough.

A Muscle Effect Therapist welcomes sceptics.

Q: Does MET work for everybody?

A: No, but a single session will yield enough information for you to definitely know whether or not it will work for you.

MET WORKS WELL FOR

• Work-related stress, Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI).
• panic attacks
• sexual dysfunctions
• musculo-skeletal problems, including sciatica, back pain, whiplash injuries
• adult survivors of child sexual abuse
• any stress-related psychosomatic illness
• self-image problems, depression
• improving physical performance, especially in sports
• faster healing after injuries
• breathing difficulties, including asthma

MET DOES NOT WORK FOR

• Multiple Sclerosis
• Hepatitis
• muscle atrophy after polio
• Muscular Dystrophy
• addiction problems (drugs or alcohol)
• anyone unwilling to work with their emotions
• anyone needing to remain unchanged

Q: How many treatments will I need?

A: Anything from one to many, depending on the problem you present with and how long you have had it.

Q: How often?

Q: How long does it last?

A:

How Often: Variable, depending on the presenting problem, but never more than once a week.

Duration: Approximately one hour, including diagnostics and pre- and post- treatment awareness work. The benefits are normally permanent and cumulative.

Q: What's it like to receive MET?

A: Often a bit strange. It can be:

• cathartic, remembering past trauma and expressing previously blocked feelings.
• dreamy, like a trance or an altered state of consciousness.
• vigorous, the body shaking out its tensions without conscious memories or feelings emerging.
• peaceful, like dreamless sleep.

You could experience some or all of these states in any one session. Afterwards, you might feel exhausted for a day or so while your body processes the information. When you've completed processing your energy levels go up. You may feel nothing happened at all. If so, you might find verbal work such as counselling more effective in your particular case.

Q: What happens during the first session?

A: A client begins by giving information:

• name
• address
• telephone number

medical history:

• details of any illnesses
• accidents
• surgery

• What if any prescription drugs s/he is using at present?
• What if any recreational drugs s/he is using at present?
• How much of each
• How often?

Any personal history the client wishes to relate.

Details of the presenting problem and the desired solution.

The client then removes as much or as little clothing as s/he feels comfortable and I take a diagnostic look at the patterns of physical tensions in the relevant muscle groups. The treatment offered is designed by these patterns plus the client's stated goals. I then lead the client through some simple awareness exercises before beginning the treatment. After this is complete we go back to the awareness exercises, and the client tells me if s/he has noticed any difference(s).

Q: Where does MET come from?

A:

• In the 1930s a Czechoslowak anatomist working in Bratislava developed a therapy he called Bindegewebearbeit. One German student:
  • Dr. Ida Rolf, went to USA and taught Rolfing in California. On of her pupils was
  • Al Drucker, who developed Deep Tissue therapy and taught it to
  • Ryan Kopperaud, who taught it in Dublin in the late 70s and early 80s. His pupil
  • Bobby MacLaughlin studied this from 1977 to 1983, when she started practising.
  • For a detailed history, see article on Body Armour .

• Meanwhile John Heron had founded Co-Counselling International (CCI) , breaking away from Harvey Jackin's Re-evaluation Counselling. Bobby joined CCI, becoming a fully accredited teacher of co-counselling, and attended training workshops in shiatsu, reflexology, Esalen massage and many other forms of bodywork. Over the years she noted:
  • What works ?
  • What doesn't work ?
  and used these observations to modify her practice.

Muscle Effect Therapy has evolved as a synthesis of useful elements from some of these therapies combined with the experience that comes from many years of working with a very wide range of clients.

Q: How can I find out more?

A: e-mail any specific queries to met.therapy@gmail.com

If you want to try a session and see how it feels you'll need to travel to Dublin (Ireland) or Budapest (Hungary).

Other Websites.

www.dublinet.ie

Other Dublin-based websites.

www.holistic.ie

Other Irish websites for complementary medicine