History of MET

MET’s origins reach back to the 1930’s to a therapy then called Bindegewebearbeit that originated in the city of Bratislava, Slovakia (Hungarian: Pozsony, German: Pressburg). That was the basis for the German therapist Dr. Ida Rolf to develop the therapeutic method named after her as Rolfing in the United States. Al Drucker was her disciple, who invented Deep Tissue therapy. That’s what Ryan Kopperaud studied in Dublin, Ireland, in the late seventies. Bobby MacLaughlin learned that method from Kopperaud between 1977-1983, then launched his private practice. He joined the Co-Counselling International (CCI) organization founded by John Heron and became a renowned teacher there. MacLaughlin also participated in Shiatsu training sessions, learned reflexology and Esalen massage. During these years, he acutely became aware of what worked and what did not. He put these observations into practice. MET was created from the elements of these therapies, and from the synthesis of MacLaughlin’s experiences acquired with a wide scope of clients. Bobby MacLaughlin was also working for years as a practicing engineer. That vantage point helped him to get rid of certain elements of therapies which were inefficient or which caused too much pain. MET’s essence was gradually crystallized during those years of work.
Bobby MacLaughlin developed the MET method in Ireland. The term “therapy” found in the name of the method (Muscle Effect Therapy) does not refer to either medical activities or to interventions which could be interpreted as medical interventions, and it will not substitute clinical medical treatments and care.