Intuition as a Clinical Skill (Even When It’s Not Recognized)
Article #4 in the Healing Beyond the Body series: A New Paradigm for Practitioners
I always knew where to work.
Clients would come in with a complaint—neck pain, low back tension, a stiff shoulder—but before they even described what was wrong, I already had a sense of where my hands needed to go. Sometimes, I’d place my hands on an area they hadn’t even mentioned, and they’d say, “How did you know that’s where it hurts?”
The truth? I felt it.
I wasn’t following a biomechanical map in my mind. I wasn’t always using clinical reasoning based on posture or range of motion tests. I was led by something deeper—something that didn’t quite fit within the evidence-based model massage therapy (as defined in this province) adheres to.
I was following intuition.
The Unspoken Skill: Knowing Without Knowing
Intuition isn’t magic, and it isn’t unscientific. It’s a highly refined, deeply embodied way of perceiving information—one that draws on years of experience, subconscious pattern recognition, and attunement to another person’s body and energy.
Science calls this interoception (our ability to sense internal states) and somatic resonance (our ability to pick up on and mirror another person’s physical state). But in clinical spaces, we don’t talk about intuition—at least, not openly.
Massage therapy, like much of modern healthcare, leans heavily on quantifiable, evidence-based methods. If something can’t be measured, it’s often dismissed. And yet, the most skilled practitioners I know—whether in bodywork, coaching, or psychotherapy—rely just as much on their felt sense as they do on textbook knowledge.
To play within the rules of the profession, I had to keep this part of my practice quiet.
Why I Couldn’t Talk About It in the Profession
The increasing push toward evidence-based practice in massage therapy meant that “intuition” was often viewed as unprofessional, even irresponsible. The expectation was that every treatment plan should be based on observable assessment techniques, research-backed methodologies, and clear clinical reasoning.
But what happens when your body tells you something before your brain does?
I never disregarded clinical reasoning—I still observed, assessed, and used my knowledge of anatomy and physiology. But I also trusted what I felt in the moment:
The way tissue tension subtly pulled me toward the real source of an issue.
The way my hands could sense congestion, restriction, or stagnant energy before a client described it.
The way a person’s energy field communicated whether they needed deep work or gentle holding.
I couldn’t cite research to prove it. But I knew, with a lot of certainty, that when I followed my instincts, my treatments were more effective.
And my clients knew it too.
How Intuition and Science Work Together
There’s a misconception that intuition and science are at odds. But in reality, they complement each other.
Intuition is the ability to sense what’s happening beneath the surface.
Science provides the structure to understand and refine that perception.
Great practitioners use both. They trust their instincts and they verify with technique. They sense where the body needs attention and they apply sound clinical reasoning.
The most skilled surgeons, the most gifted therapists, the most attuned coaches—they all describe moments where they just knew what needed to be done. That’s not luck. It’s years of embodied experience translating into instantaneous awareness.
Bringing This Skill Into Coaching & Facilitation
When I stepped away from massage therapy, I didn’t leave this skill behind—I simply began using it in a new way.
Now, instead of intuitively sensing tension in muscles, I sense it in words, energy, and nervous system states.
I hear the real questions people are asking, even when they don’t say them out loud.
I feel when someone is holding back, even if their words sound confident.
I know when to push, when to hold space, and when to guide someone back to their own wisdom.
This is what makes coaching, facilitation, and leadership deeply impactful. When you develop intuitive intelligence, you stop operating at surface level and start meeting people where they truly are.
Can Intuition Be Taught?
Yes, but it’s more of a process of remembering. While some of it develops naturally through experience, it can also be cultivated through:
Deep presence – Learning to fully listen with all senses engaged.
Body awareness – Developing a strong personal practice of tuning into your own signals. And appreciating that your body’s level of presence affects the humans you work with.
Nervous system attunement – Becoming fluent in reading subtle shifts in breath, tone, and energy. Understanding that everyone carries imprints of their experiences in their tissues is the foundation of trauma-aware care.
Trusting first instincts – Learning to act on those quiet, immediate knowings instead of second-guessing. Consent plays a big role in making this practice ethical.
The best practitioners don’t just apply knowledge—they listen deeply, they perceive beyond the obvious, and they respond in a way that meets the person where they are.
Why This Matters in Every Profession
Whether you’re a therapist, a coach, a business leader, or simply someone who wants to connect more deeply with others, intuition is a skill worth refining. It allows you to:
Read between the lines of what people say by sensing the truth underlying their words.
Sense when someone needs space versus direction.
Recognize patterns and solutions faster than logic alone can provide.
And perhaps most importantly, it builds trust—because when people feel seen and understood, they open up, they soften, and they transform.
Coming Next: Trauma Sensitivity in Hands-On Work—And Why It Changes Everything
In the next piece, I’ll explore why understanding trauma sensitivity was essential to my work, how I learned to recognize the unspoken signals of nervous system overwhelm, and why this skill is just as vital in coaching and leadership as it is in bodywork.
Have you ever had a moment where you just knew something before you could explain why? What happened when you followed that knowing?
Email me: hello (at) danasmithwellness.com