ANSSR Method
New Medicine
Chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture, and Reiki (often called “energy work”) are different forms of medicine. They all use a treatment table for basically the same goal of relaxation, but with very different procedures. ANSSR therapy is another form of medicine that uses a treatment table for the same goal, but with new, unique procedures. It does not incorporate conventional massage, which is manual, muscle manipulation, usually with the aid of lubrication on bare skin. However, since ANSSR therapy often requires brief, non-invasive touch over clothing, a massage therapy license is the most appropriate license, i.e. LMT, licensed massage therapist.
ANSSR therapy is unique in that it is purely behavior science applied to medicine, without manual manipulation or energy work. ANSSR therapy is the medical application of a radical behavior science developed by Andrew Arneson, LMT since 1992. According to Arneson’s behavior model, the human organism possesses nine basic behavior functions, aspects of which are active in every second of life, even during sleep. Whereas other behavior-oriented methods (including conventional massage therapy) support between one and three behavior functions, ANSSR therapy supports all nine comprehensively. It is therefore termed holistic behavior support. It is the only method that can be rightly identified as such.
For example, conventional massage supports three of the nine behavior functions—physical comfort, enjoyment, and contact (a.k.a. emotional connection). When any one of these functions is supported properly, relaxation occurs in the client’s autonomic nervous system. Behavior functions can also be termed emotional needs; when emotional needs are met, the client feels better, i.e. relaxation response. However, in the event that the client requires support for other behavior functions—as chronic pain clients do in every case—massage offers little or no such support. Therefore, the relaxation potential of massage therapy is mechanically limited by the number of emotional needs met by the method.
In contrast, ANSSR therapy supports all nine functions comprehensively with procedures appropriate for a relaxation method. (Arneson’s counseling method, not currently offered, supports all nine functions with different procedures appropriate for a psychotherapy method.) The depth of comfort and relaxation that occurs predictably with ANSSR therapy is unprecedented and unavailable from any other method. For this reason, most of the medical benefits of ANSSR therapy are Arneson’s original discoveries. These include cessation of migraines in progress (and permanently with repetition), spontaneous skeletal realignment (without manipulation), deep relaxation of muscle spasms, discharge of injury trauma memory from the injury site, emotional discharge of early life trauma in infants, and more.
To illustrate holistic behavior support, most clients arrive at their first ANSSR treatment feeling nervous. Nervousness indicates that the safety function—one of the nine behavior functions—is actively seeking support. The client is partly or entirely unaware of their need for safety. However, the practitioner notices the client’s active safety function and supports it by placing a blanket over the client. Suddenly, the client is no longer nervous. What happened? The client’s safety function used the blanket to serve its purpose, i.e. to obtain safety. According to Arneson’s behavior model, the use of supportive conditions is a behavior response, even when no talking, conscious awareness, or body movement is involved. In this case, the behavior response is covert, as opposed to the overt response exhibited when a psychotherapy client clutches a pillow for safety.
Use of supportive conditions is effective, healthy behavior. The automatic biological effects are relaxation and increased energy level. Simultaneously, the client feels better emotionally—self-esteem, peace, trust, neutrality to irritating people or stimuli, and a sense of empowerment. For many clients, this depth of comfort is unprecedented in their lives. For every client with injury-related chronic pain, such comfort has not been experienced since the injury. Had this depth of comfort been obtained previously, the client’s autonomic nervous system would have permitted pain elimination.
Procedures
For adult chronic pain, the ANSSR method consists of two stages: facilitated relaxation and facilitated rest. Relaxation is achieved via attention to behavior functions, as discussed above. Attention to behavior is barely noticeable, dignified, and does not resemble a counseling method. Relaxation permits the second stage, facilitated rest, wherein nervous system healing responses manifest. The practitioner serves only to sustain the resting stage as long as necessary. The client is guaranteed access to a profound healing process, starting in the first visit.
The length of any treatment depends on the amount of rest the client’s body requires for its healing process. Total treatment time averages 50 minutes, but may be more or less. Clients are scheduled at 1.5 hour intervals to allow for thorough rest. The client’s body performs as much healing work as it can in a single treatment.
Touch may be used, as needed, in areas of chronic stress response, such as muscle spasm. The pressure of touch procedures is no more than that of a handshake. Touch for chronic neck pain is almost always contraindicated because the neck needs to rest without any movement.
Concerns about invasive or otherwise disturbing procedures—experienced in other methods—are unwarranted with regard to ANSSR therapy. Any discomfort, psychological or physical, triggers a stress response and interrupts the nervous system’s healing process. In his three decades of studying comfort, Arneson has raised comfort to the level of a science. Discomforts are meticulously avoided in ANSSR therapy.
Preparation
Please note: With the exception of mothers with infant clients, third persons are not allowed to observe ANSSR treatments, as observers can cancel potential benefits. Family or friends are welcome to accompany the client to the appointment, but should be prepared to explore the area or wait outside the treatment room.
Clients remain fully clothed for all treatments, and should dress comfortably for lying flat on a treatment table for an hour, under a sheet and blanket. Shorts are recommended. A mask is not required.
For clients with intermittent, injury-related pain, it is not necessary to have pain on the day or week of their ANSSR treatment. In fact, pain can be completely absent from the original injury site, yet the client notices related symptoms elsewhere that began after the original injury healed.
For best results, clients with chronic neck pain can begin neck rest at least one week prior to their KPI appointment—daily, for ten minutes at a time, several times per day. The head can be laid forward on a table, or back/sideways when lying horizontally, with neck positioning and support for maximum comfort. In many cases, preliminary neck rest will reduce discomfort immediately.