What is the Metamorphic Technique?

The metamorphic technique is a type of energy therapy that practitioners believe can be used to balance the flow of energy in the body to help people address feelings of being stuck or blocked. This therapy was developed in the 1960s in Europe and it is practiced all over the world, although it continues to be most popular in Europe. Practitioners of the metamorphic technique include massage therapists, energy therapists, and practitioners of alternative medicine, such as naturopaths.

The general theory behind energy therapies like the metamorphic technique is that many of the problems people experience can be attributed to disruptions in the flow of energy through the body. This can include psychological problems, medical conditions, and other personal issues such as difficulties at work or challenges encountered interacting with friends. Energy therapies are designed to identify the source and site of a blockage and release it.

In the case of metamorphic technique, the treatment is based on reflexology. Reflexology practitioners believe that there are key points in the hands, feet, and head that correspond to the pathways that energy follows through the body. By stimulating these points, the practitioner aims to balance the client's energy. Metamorphic therapy is a general therapy, not designed to treat specific issues, but rather intended to identify areas of blocked, sluggish, or stuck energy and free them up.

Sessions can last half an hour to an hour. The client remains fully clothed and can sit or lie down. The practitioner uses gentle touch of the hands, feet, and head. Many clients find sessions very relaxing, and may feel energized or peaceful after the session is over. This form of manipulative therapy is non-invasive and does not require collecting personal or medical information about the client. Practitioners claim to be able to sense the energy of their clients and use cues from their direct interactions with patients to guide the treatments they provide.

As with many forms of alternative medicine, there is debate about the validity of metamorphic therapy. Physical contact with other people can certainly have a calming effect and may make people feel more relaxed. Whether this treatment actually causes long-term physical and emotional changes in clients is a topic of dispute. It can be combined with other alternative therapies or even with conventional therapies as a form of complementary medicine. Patients using it in complementary treatments may find that the relaxation of metamorphic technique sessions helps them with the emotional stress sometimes associated with conventional diagnosis and treatment.