Hi all,
Just wondering how many people chat to their clients when working with them?
I work mainly in Remedial and Sports massage and find that 90% of people who I see want to chat about daily things and i tend to just chat when they do or be quiet when they are not..
However, recently I have a new client who purely wants to be quiet and just comment on pressures.
Find it a bit odd! Although I know I shouldn't as when training most were always quiet and just enjoying the relaxation and peace from the world..
Just thought it was funny how I had got so used to it not being quiet..
Any thoughts, please share 🙂
Danny
I think it depends on the client ans what you sense from them. Some of my regulars like to chat, especially when I'm doing deep tissue work. Others just like to chill and relax.
New clients like a little chat for reassurance, but I always allow them to lead the conversation. In general, there is more talk during remedial treaments than holistic.
I think it's the strength of the therapist to understand their client's needs and create the right environment for the visit.
Myarka
As you say I always let them lead as some want to chat a lot and some bits and pieces..
I am seeing this new client tonight so will see how they are..
Thinking more about it, when I have treatments most of the time I am quiet and just enjoy the time relaxing!
As a massage client, I much prefer being quiet (after all the usual preliminaries) - I had one or two therapists who chatted quite a lot during the session which was frustrating as I just wanted to relax and focus on the sensations of the treatment. But I guess everyone is different!
Masha
I tend to chat a lot whist performing remedial massage as it detracts their mind from the pain which is being released, I also like to establish when it first manifested as it could be a manifestation of something unresolved as opposed to a simple injury which is current.
My whole work is done by seemingly casual chatting! Shifts occur as we talk. Then silence dawns after Shaktipat. It all happens as it needs to.
I have had one or two clients who wanted to chat but most of them want to be quiet and often fall asleep. I let them dictate whether we talk or not. I always want to be quiet to enjoy the sensations when I have a massage.
I saw 3 people last night, 2 very chatty and 1 wanted to totally relax..
Was actualy quite nice, leeting them relax and listen to the music.. Really relaxed me by the end of the session, just uin time to go home and chill out!
Have 3 more tonight so will see how it goes 🙂
I always allow at least 30 mins to chat and off load what ever they want to talk about before we enter the treatment room.
It always works a treat for me and I find they remain quiet and relaxed throughout the massage.
As a therapist i respect my clients' wishes. If they want to talk that's fine, if they want to keep quite that's fine too. But as a client myself, i prefer being quite, listening to my body. However, i don't mind the therapist asking me about the feedback that's all.
As a therapist I was trained to let the client lead. If they want to chat that's fine & sometimes it helps them to unload but if they want to be quiet that's also fine.
As a client I love to just climb on to the table & flake out so don't want to chat (although checking pressure is ok). I'm the same at the hairdresser - the more relaxed I feel the less I want to string a sentence together or listen to someone else.
Personally I'd find it quite annoying if the therapist chatted to me through the treatment, other than questions relating to the actual treatment itself... The therapist should definitely let the client dictate the amount of chat during the treatment and a good therapist will be sensitive and alert to the client's preferences...
Hubby paid for me to have a massage at a lucious spa, I had never had a massage before and was so looking forward to it. The therapist didnt shut up, it was awful i just wanted to relax and enjoy the experience but she totally spoiled it
As a Therapist you should always be able to tell when a client wants to talk or not! (well you would hope 😉 !
I think I just work in a chatty clinic!! 😀
Danny
I find a lot of first timers to treatments will talk throughout their first session, asking the usual questions of, what is it, what does it do, etc!
Then future sessions most clients will be more relaxed with me too, so don't feel the need to make small talk, but like most other therapists, I'll let the client decide what they want to do, and occasionally I'll say "If you want to talk to me, feel free to do so, if you want to just fall asleep or say nothing, then thats fine too!"