That Was Not A Muscle - A Counterstrain Guide for Everyday People

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Few things drive creativity as much as the need to scratch our own itch. You will soon see what I mean.

For years, my dilemma has been dividing my attention between the flow of my treatment and explaining our modality to those inquiring from our treatment tables. Both are important but, in my experience, incompatible in the same session.

While I’m in the flow of my work, I’m in a different zone. All my training, experience, knowledge, and intuition merge to guide me. My only conversation is with myself. The only non-disruptive exchange is patient feedback on any uncomfortable shifts in tension and sensation, and I always double check just in case.

However …

Patients want to engage in conversation. They’re curious about what structures I’m working on, and even more curious about this highly effective but unconventional modality that’s alleviating their symptoms. It’s only natural and they deserve a detailed explanation that helps them understand how their symptoms are not phantasmal creations but the byproducts of our natural protective mechanisms. Explaining the behind-the-scenes also removes the aura of mystery from our field and establishes it as the cutting-edge scientific approach it is.

But this demands that I slow down so I can put my work into digestible steps that the patient can absorb. The catch is that even with the simpler explanation, getting the essence of the concepts requires familiarity with physiological interactions that are not part mainstream therapy. Consequently, I get disrupted by the same questions over and over.

It doesn’t matter that I explained it in the previous session. The patient understood it then, but did not have the background to retain the information, let alone explain it to others.

One of my solutions has been sharing the scientific paper that goes over the theoretical rationale of our system. The catch, again, is that the reader must be acquainted with physiological topics that fall beyond the conventional. In addition, many patients wanted to explain the work to their friends and loved ones without sounding crazy, but the resources were scarce.

The need for a compendium that the patient could access at their leisure was evident. That was my itch and what drove me to write That Was Not A Muscle – How Counterstrain is Transforming My Pain Therapy Practice. This is the final manuscript approved by Brian Tuckey himself—the innovator of the Fascial Counterstrain system—to be presented to you.

It is my objective to guide you in exploring the many aspects of our modality. From its scientific theoretical rationale, which is presented in multiple digestible segments in plainer language, to the human aspects of its application and how it became my calling.

You no longer have to try to explain the multiple layers. If anyone asks, simply point them to the book. All the work is done there. You can also use it as a handy guide to prepare for your sessions, and also as a post-treatment reference. And if you’ve ever contemplated a career in the Counterstrain field, there’s also some guidance.

I have also put together a few helpful posts to help you navigate and bring to life some of the segments presented in the book. Ultimately, though, the only way to fully understand Counterstrain is by receiving it. I know you will enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed creating it.

Until next time, I wish you a joyous and pain-free life.

Certified Counterstrain Therapist - CSC I