How to Teach Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is one of the most well-researched and well-supported of all therapeutic interventions. It is a true clinical fundamental, useful for many different client populations and virtually all ages. The ability to train clients in PMR is among the therapeutic skills that virtually every mental health clinician should have. Yet training in its use is not standard in most academic programs, and there are scant opportunities to learn it in other venues. This course fills that gap. You will learn the rationale for relaxation training, the clients likely to benefit from it, how to conduct the training itself, and what to watch for when troubleshooting. You'll also learn to teach Passive Relaxation, a variant form that excludes the tensing portion of PMR, and that many clients prefer. You'll also receive audio relaxation induction files that you can download and use with your own clients.

Plus, you can complete the course evaluation and a course completion quiz and receive a Continuing Education Certificate for 3 hours of content. (Changeways Clinic, the operator of PsychologySalon, is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Changeways Clinic maintains responsibility for the program. See CPA's statement here.)

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, qualified and trained mental health professionals should:

• Have an understanding of which client groups may benefit from relaxation training.
• Be able to provide the rationale for relaxation training to clients.
• Be aware of potential barriers or challenges that may arise.
• Be able to train clients in PMR and Passive Relaxation strategies and provide recommendations for home practice.