We recently connected with Kathleen Lisson and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kathleen, so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?
My experiences as a child of a parent in treatment for breast cancer and someone who has had surgery myself have given me empathy for the experiences of others in their surgery journey.
I am a board certified massage therapist and lymphedema therapist who helps clients after plastic surgery and with lymphedema. I see clients for manual lymphatic drainage treatment after implant-based reconstruction after mastectomy as well as people who are recovering from the explant (removal) of their breast implants for cosmetic or health reasons.
My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a radical mastectomy when I was a child. Seeing the empathy and care of the health care professionals that took care of her has inspired me to become educated in oncology massage and help people after cancer surgery.
Over the past few years, local plastic surgeons have referred clients to me for lymphatic massage after removal of breast implants. Some clients are just tired of their implants and get an explant and breast lift. Other clients have capsular contracture or symptoms of breast implant illness (BII). BII symptoms can include fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, anxiety, hair loss, memory loss, autoimmune diseases and inflammation. After explant surgery, these clients are dealing with lingering symptoms from BII as well as swelling and discomfort from the surgery itself. Sleeping in a new sleeping position may be causing neck, shoulder and back pain.
As a side sleeper who has had cancer, reconstructive and plastic surgery procedures on my face over the past two decades, I know firsthand the back and neck discomfort from sleeping elevated and sleeping on my back. I also remember the frustration, uncertainty and ups and downs that come with recovering from surgery. It’s not as quick and easy as it is portrayed on social media. Sometimes I think the value I give my clients is equal parts the pain and swelling relief from the massage and the peace of mind to have an expert to listen, answer their questions and walk alongside them in their healing journey.
I am grateful to be able to take my experiences from my own surgeries and from my witnessing of my mother’s cancer journey and use them to deepen my empathy for the clients I serve.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am board certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork and a Lymphedema Therapist. I help clients with lymphedema and lipedema as well as clients who have had plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery after cancer. I have spoken at the American Vein and Lymphatic Society, Fat Disorders Resource Society, International Society of Lymphology, MLD UK, Society for Oncology Massage and National Lymphedema Network conferences.
My writing focuses on providing education resources for my clients with lymphedema and lipedema and my fellow Lymphedema Therapists. I am the author of Swollen, Bloated and Puffy, Lipedema Treatment Guide, Plastic Surgery Recovery Handbook, Southern California Plastic Surgery Cookbook, Mindful Strategies for Adults with Adverse Childhood Experiences and Stress Reduction for Lymphedema. I am a coauthor of the Standard of Care for Lipedema in the United States, which was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and published in the journal Phlebology.
I am a NCBTMB approved provider. Find a list of my CE classes for massage therapists at https://plasticsurgeryrecoverymassage.teachable.com/
You can find my books on Amazon.
I enjoy reading historical fiction, yoga and cycling. I live with my husband Arun and our dog in San Diego, CA.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey have been my curiosity for learning new things, my ability to connect with others and learn from their wisdom and my openness to let one client lead my career in a new direction.
My advice for new therapists is be willing to be wrong and learn from others, give, give, give to the people in your network, and truly listen to your clients and their needs. Unmet needs may be an opening for you to grow your skillset to serve an underserved population. I researched and wrote the book Lipedema Treatment Guide because there was nothing I could give to help my first lipedema liposuction client with her recovery. That book led to me being invited to be a co-author of published research!
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Getting back to fundamentals and reviewing published research on a topic of interest has been the most helpful strategy for building and developing the essential skills, qualities, or knowledge I need to be successful. Taking the time to learn about an issue gives me the tools I need to solve problems creatively.
Contact Info:
- Website: KathleenHelenLisson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleenlisson/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KathleenHelenLisson
