Question:

A massage professional has been working with a client who has chronic pain syndrome. Massage helps when combined with physical therapy, judicious use of pain medications, and support group attendance. Improvement in the condition begins after 6 or 7 massage sessions. After 10 to 12 sessions, the client misses 3 or 4 sessions and then returns for massage and indicates that she is right back where she started. She states that she does not feel as though the situation will ever improve. What is the most logical explanation for this behavior?