Everflowing Outcomes

Irene Smith with Janice, 1992. Photographer unknown.

Janice was a 38-year-old client with transverse myelitis, a degenerative nerve disease with whom Irene worked for two years.

"Everflowing sessions are about honoring vulnerability. As a practitioner we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable if we are to sit by the bedside, slowly touching, just breathing, just being there."

Everflowing touch sessions assist in the management of pain by helping the body to release endorphins (the body’s natural pain suppressors) and by easing feelings of isolation, loneliness, fear and anxiety. These are stressors that contribute to the experience of pain for the client.

Irene Smith with Patrick, 1986. Photo by Lee Abel.

Patrick was a client with Karposis sarcoma, a cancer associated with AIDS. I worked with him for 2 years.

“Knowing hands-on precautions and contra indications is essential to working with the seriously ill. Then you can be comfortable and stay in your heart.”

Everflowing touch sessions assist the client in developing a more positive attitude about his or her body that might have changed due to debilitation and disease. This helps ease attitudinal symptoms such as anger and depression, allowing the client to more easily receive care and for the family and healthcare team to more easily give care.

Irene Smith with Peggy. Photo by Rick Gerharter.

Peggy was an 84-year-old client who had suffered a stroke. I worked with Peggy for 8 years. In this photograph, Peggy had been unable to speak for several months.

“Everflowing touch sessions are about being present for the gratitude that is expressed.”

In some cases seriously ill clients may not have access to family or close friends who would normally provide emotional safety and nurturing. Everflowing touch skills can serve as the missing family link between the seriously ill client and healthcare staff by providing feelings of nurturing and support.

Irene Smith with Joseph, 1984. Photo by Jim Bell.

Joseph was a 40-year-old client with AIDS with whom I worked for 2 years.

“Everflowing touch sessions are about responding to the intimacy and allowing ourselves to be touch as a practitioner.”

On a psycho-social level Everflowing touch can provide the friends and family a way of re-establishing hopeful relationships and a common bond. When a seriously ill client no longer looks like the son or the daughter or friend that once was, a new method of communication must be established. Everflowing touch can provide this method of communication.

When Everflowing touch skills are structured into a massage session, the physical outcomes usually associated with massage are mirrored. These outcomes are: (A) releasing tight muscles; (B) increasing lymphatic flow - thereby strengthening the body’s defense against disease; and (C) improving blood circulation - thereby helping to ease body aches and pains; assisting in the prevention and/or healing of pressure sores; helping to ease depression, insomnia, constipation, and promoting better digestion.