As people often ask what working with Ross is like, I would like to share some of my observations of his clinical approach.
‘Enjoy’, is the word that constantly flows throughout his clinic. It’s the word that comes so effortlessly from Ross during the day, as he moves between patients.
At the recent Instructors training I shared my personal journey…. One where I have been blessed to experience Emmett from all aspects as:
- a client, a student, and now working with Ross as an Emmett Practitioner where I have experienced the joy of being able to watch him “walk the talk” – what is taught during Emmett Technique training as the 7A’s, Ross lives and breaths every day in his clinical practice where I watch Ross practice what he teachers.
Ross first greets his clients with a hand shake, asking ‘How can I help?’ He assessing the location of pain and discomfort in their body. His hand is receptive and has a light firm feel which is sensing any variation in pressure from each of the client’s fingers.
Ross watches the person very closely from the moment they enter the clinic, conducting his assessment. He tells stories from his Mt Isa days about clients walking down the wooden corridor to his clinic. He would listen to their walk and assess their body from the sound of their foot steps - prior to even seeing them. He looks closely at their stance, checking for balance issues and any muscles under strain. Ross then asks the client to make themselves comfortable, lie face down and relax. This is where the dance begins.
Observing Ross treating clients is something I count as a privilege. I often stand back in wonder as he becomes so absorbed in the moment with his client, that I feel it is an intrusion for me to be there. Ross moves around the body, testing muscles and asking the muscles to relax with the light touch and switches of his technique. The exchange between Ross and his client is almost intimate… a special language where unspoken words communicate needs. Using some relaxation moves, Ross will often start from the middle and work outwards along legs shoulders/arms, leaving the person to drift into a deeply relaxed state. He then continues with the Emmett muscle releases, standing back to watch for any response and change before making the next adjustment.
Ross speaks very little – even if the person continually talks. Ross may ask 1 or 2 questions and once he has the picture he will ask the person to ‘take a deep breath and relax’, this usually is enough for them to let go and enjoy the treatment. Ross ensures that any language he does use during the treatment has a powerful impact. He always approaches from the positive, and uses his stories and NLP (neuro linguistic programming) to reinforce the physical releases with mental changes.
Ross will then continue to slowly, intentionally move around the body – using his technique to release muscles, switching and testing for a response. I have observed moments during these treatments, when it is difficult to separate him from his client… they seem almost connected. At these times, I find myself backing slowly away from the room so as not to encroach on this very personal moment.
Ross will often ‘track’ the root cause of the problem. The person with a deep shoulder pain may have a hip issue pulling up the back and affecting the shoulder. He will make a sequence of moves directed at the area he wants to influence- then leave the person, walking away to allow their body time to respond to the treatment. It’s all about the client’s experience.
When re-entering the room, Ross will slowly approach the client, making light contact, giving the gentle reassurance of touch for the person to recognize that he has returned. He then makes a new assessment – as if he is looking at the client’s body for the first time all over again. He moves around the table slowly, purposefully, with the intention to keep the client totally relaxed and peaceful, and so the dance continues.
Lynda Mullamphy, Emmett Practitioner, Ross’s Assistant, Townsville Clinic & EmmChat Co-ordinator.