One of the most significant aspects of a Massage Therapy session is the client discussion. The conversation is how you learn about the client’s expectations for their session and what they require.
It will assist you in developing a strategy for putting what you’ve learned about massage therapyinto practice and doing effective Massage Therapy. It’s the first step in informing your clients about massage, what it accomplishes, and what you do with it specifically.
It also lays the groundwork for establishing trust and beginning a therapeutic connection with a client.
What you’re doing is trying to figure out why they’re there so you can address and meet their needs during your Massage Therapy session.
Getting to the root of the problem can assist you in developing a treatment plan for them that includes follow-up sessions.
People don’t always want to give their information, whether for personal reasons or because they don’t realize it could help them get better Massage Therapy.
Clients frequently expect you to read their minds and know exactly what they require due to transference and the power differential. For example, I know it isn’t easy to converse during a massage.
I frequently visit a deep region that is part relaxation and maybe part early childhood. Touch’s ability to make people feel nurtured and cared for will accomplish this.
It’s also useful to keep track of what they say so you can use it in future sessions. You can also demonstrate development in this manner, as they may not appear to be progressing, but keeping notes can assist you in establishing their improvement.
Finally, when speaking with clients, keep the following in mind:
- Take care with the personal information you obtain from each client.
- Pay attention to nonverbal cues, including posture, stride, and body holding patterns. Be conscious of your body language as well.
- Learn to express exactly what you do in a massage or what happens when various massage techniques are applied to the body in multiple ways, and explain what is ideal for their state.
- Allow plenty of time for a comprehensive interview. You can also ask questions while working. Use active listening to demonstrate that you understood the client by paraphrasing or telling them what they said.
- Ask yes-or-no questions as well as open-ended ones.
Most massage therapists are taught to ask questions to understand the client’s condition better and apply their techniques to a client.
This assumes that knowing about the condition will aid in discovering a solution or the resolution of the problem. Unfortunately, most issues do not have a single correct answer.
The massage client interview will look very different if you change the goal of asking questions to empower clients rather than fixing them.
It re-establishes healing in the hands of the massage client, focusing on what the client desires in their life rather than the problem. Empowering clients allows them to discover their healing abilities and guides them away from the victim mentality.
These are the kinds of questions that get a client’s attention. They cannot be answered simply with yes or no. Instead, active listening is used after the question is asked to repeat the information to the client to clarify.
Have you ever seen a massage therapist?
This is a great first question because it gives you a lot of information in one query. For starters, it tells you if this is the first time, they’re attempting to treat their problem or if they have a history of treatment that has or hasn’t worked in the past.
This can greatly shorten your consultation time and allow you to determine the best line of action quickly and efficiently. Then, you can use your own experience to figure out where to go from there.
Do you have any discomfort? Where does it bother, and how does it feel?
Whatever way you take this question, you should try to determine the reason for their presence. Is it to reduce stress, or do they have a more chronic condition? It’s a multi-step process to figure out what they need, but you have to start somewhere.
What is your line of work?
By asking this question, you can learn a lot from a client. For example, a client’s lower back pain might be caused by various factors.
Suppose they spend their days moving heavy boxes around a storage warehouse. In that case, you might be able to eliminate a number of those options and come up with a way to repair the injury while also preventing it from recurring.
Ask how they execute any of the duties you believe might contribute, even if it’s as basic as how they sit on their office chair, to go deeper into this subject.
What effect does this injury have on you?
Find out what outcomes they’d like to reach at the end of your sessions now that you know their basic working lifestyle and condition.
People frequently seek massage therapists late in the process rather than as soon as possible, so you may be assisting people who are already experiencing significant disruption in their daily lives due to a common injury.
Have you tried any other options?
This inquiry is similar to the first in that it yields the same results, but it also tells you if they’ve attempted any additional conventional (or non-traditional) treatments.
Are you using any medications that could make massage dangerous?
It’s critical to know whether your client is taking any drugs that could modify their massage experience or the style of treatment that’s best for them. This includes anticoagulant drugs (sometimes known as blood thinners).
Do you suffer from any allergies?
People frequently forget to disclose things that seem apparent to you, so it’s still necessary to ask the basic questions before starting treatment, such as whether your client is allergic to anything.
The last thing you want is your customer to have a rash because you used oil that they’re allergic to for their treatment. So it’s always preferable to be safe than sorry.
Do you understand how massage therapy works?
Inquire about their understanding of the treatment they are about to get. For example, if they’ve previously seen a massage therapist, explain how your procedure differs. If not, go over the essentials of how what you’re about to do will benefit them as a person.
You don’t have to go into the full history of massage, but you should let them know what you’ll be focusing on or what techniques you’ll be employing so they can assist you.
Request that they play out specific pain scenarios.
If your client is complaining of a repetitive ache that isn’t so severe that they won’t perform it, have them run through a movement cycle similar to the one that produces the pain.
If it’s reaching for something, have them act as if they’re going for it, and so on. You’ll be able to figure out when, where, and why they’re in pain (in most cases).
Make small talk by asking a few personal inquiries.
Finally, remember that the best massage is all about relaxing and keeping your client in a comfortable position. They’re entrusting you with a lot, so try to be conversational and nice to put them at ease and ensure that they enjoy their massage (and come back to you for more!)
When it comes to generating customized treatment plans for your customers, client interaction is crucial. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to educate them. So before beginning a massage, ask the necessary questions to ensure better results and client satisfaction.
