research and practice models, continued dialogue among professions, and a shift in societal perspectives around the use of touch. Keywords: trauma, integrative psychotherapy, massage therapy, touch THE WELL-EMBODIED PROFESSIONAL 3 Acknowledgements I would like to thank the massage therapists and social workers who participated in my research project. Without your wisdom, knowledge, passion, and willingness to participate, I would not have been able to complete this endeavor. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to listen to your inspiring stories, dialogue about the various challenges we face, and share in the moments of excitement for what is to come in our professions. I am eternally grateful for the many teachable moments, wisdom, and support of my research committee: Dr. Felicia Washington Sy, Kelly Cook, and Tricia Lawrence. Without you, I would not have learned so much about myself as a student, as a professional, and as a human being. I am humbled to have had the opportunity to learn from each of you in so many different ways. I would like to thank my fellow weekend cohort members for their professional perspectives, exceptional support, and endless amount of laughter during our journey together. Our synergistic connection exemplifies the true nature of what it means to be a team. I am grateful for the opportunity to have shared in this intimate experience with you. Most importantly, I would like to thank my family for their understanding, encouragement, and moments of reality to keep me grounded during this process. Brian, thank you for being a partner who endured my many mood swings, was overloaded with extra household chores, and assumed the frustrating job of walking the dogs without a walking buddy. The dog walking alone is worth an endless amount of Canadian fishing trips! Nathan, thank you for being an independent, vocal, and humorous teenager; it has been quite stimulating for both of us to be in school at the same time. I am so very, very grateful for both of you! THE WELL-EMBODIED PROFESSIONAL 6 The impact of trauma is universal. Immediate and long-term effects can result in shock, denial, unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and physical symptoms that ultimately can inhibit normal daily functioning (American Psychological Association, 2012). Prolonged exposure to trauma, as well as the severity of the traumatic event, can potentially lead to dissociation and disorganized attachment (Liotti, 2004). These profound and long-standing effects of trauma warrant additional research in the area of effective strategies and comprehensive approaches to treatment. Various treatment approaches have been developed and recognized within the social work profession, such as pharmacological treatment measures, Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Hypnotherapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Group Therapy (Dillmann, 2011). Each treatment model focuses on a specific aspect of the traumatic experience. For example, pharmacological drugs are used to manage the physical symptoms associated with hyperarousal, Exposure Therapy addresses the emotional response to the traumatic stimulus, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches individuals how to redirect negative thought patterns and behaviors (Dillmann, 2011). While each technique is effective in treating a particular element of the traumatic event within specific professional parameters, they seem to fall short of providing a deeper, innate experience to the healing process through the integration of touch. Human touch provides a sense of safety, support, spiritual nourishment, and selfawareness. This added element can be an important piece of the healing process for people who have experienced trauma (Fritz, 2000). Further examination into the use of touch within integrative techniques and modalities may shed light on more realistic approaches to a problem that has multiple components to it. THE WELL-EMBODIED PROFESSIONAL 7 The perception and definition of integrative treatment approaches varies depending on the professional lens. Integrative psychotherapy “involves the integration of two or more therapies with an emphasis on integrating the underlying constructs associated with each therapeutic system” (Jones-Smith, 2012, p. 610). From this perspective, an eclectic theoretical approach to treatment is preferred. For example, an integrative psychotherapist may do CBT, EMDR, or psychoanalysis based on client needs. However, while the assimilation of these counseling approaches within the profession is integrative in theory, they do not address all aspects of the individual simultaneously. The medical model views integrative medicine as “a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine” (NCCAM, 2008, para. 2). Again, the collaboration of systems and practices are integrative in theory, but do not address the mental, physical, and emotional manifestations of trauma in one comprehensive treatment session. A truly integrative treatment model provides an individualized approach which addresses the physical, mental, and emotional components to healing