Emotional & Psychological Support Flashcards

A client at 34 weeks is preparing for an unmedicated birth and expresses fear of being unable to cope with labor pain. How can prenatal massage support her psychological preparation?

Answer: Teach her pain coping techniques during massage, such as breath awareness and body scanning

Practicing breath awareness and body scanning during massage builds skills and body confidence that directly transfer to labor coping.

Which of the following is an example of appropriate emotional boundary-setting by a prenatal massage therapist?

Answer: Listening with empathy while redirecting therapeutic needs beyond scope to appropriate providers

Empathetic listening combined with appropriate referral for needs beyond scope defines healthy professional boundaries.

Research by Tiffany Field at the Touch Research Institute found that prenatal massage reduced which stress hormone associated with preterm birth risk?

Answer: Cortisol

Field's research demonstrated that prenatal massage reduced cortisol levels, which is significant because elevated cortisol is associated with preterm birth risk.

A client expresses that her partner is unsupportive of her prenatal massage visits. The therapist's most appropriate response is to:

Answer: Acknowledge her feelings and offer information she can share with her partner if she chooses

Empathizing with her situation and providing informational resources respects her autonomy while offering practical support.

Which positioning adjustment during prenatal massage also supports a client experiencing anxiety by engaging the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer: Using a semi-reclined side-lying position with full body support

Semi-reclined side-lying with full body support reduces physical vulnerability, signals safety to the nervous system, and supports parasympathetic activation.

A multigravida client (second pregnancy) expresses grief that this pregnancy feels less special than her first. The therapist should:

Answer: Validate that feelings of ambivalence in subsequent pregnancies are common and understandable

Normalizing the common experience of subsequent pregnancies feeling different, without judgment, provides meaningful emotional support.

Which of the following best describes the role of the prenatal massage therapist in the perinatal mental health care team?

Answer: Collaborative ally who provides somatic support and refers appropriately to licensed mental health professionals

The massage therapist plays a supportive, somatic role on the perinatal care team, complementing but not replacing mental health professionals.