Pressure/fingerwalking

Hi Wendy,

Not of particular help with the immediate situation which is obviously very subjective but it may help in the future. When I have any new client for reflexology and particularly if I know they have had reflexology from someone else previously, I always ask after the first few moves if they are OK with the pressure I am using and whether they would prefer it firmer or softer. It is a simple thing to do but may well alleviate any grounds for complaint in the future.

If you have not had complaints previously then I would treat this as a one-off and try not to get too upset about it.
Hopefully you will get the payment resolved soon.
Best wishes
Mike

Thanks Mike, much appreciated. I did ask the client as I do with all my clients and she did tell me I needed to be firmer but to be honest I couldnt get any firmer as her bones were creaking and I felt if I went any harder Id break something or do some damage. I suppose theres not much I can do about it. My fingers/thumbs work to a certain pressure and I cannot do much more.

Hi Wendywoo,

Sorry to hear you are upset about this lady, don't let it bother you, you can't please everyone all of the time, as much as we'd like to!

I'd like to know why she wasn't seeing her 'usual' therapist if she was so pleased with her work?

I had the pressure discussion with a friend of mine recently as we swapped reflexology treatments, (both of us have been practising over 10 years each) my pressure was considerably less than his, and during his treatment to me, I squirmed a few times as it was a little bit too painful for my taste, he said that he'd had reflex from someone else and she was brutal to him, but the effects were really significant so he'd started using greater pressure... anyway... I used my normal pressure on him, and he called me the next day to say how effective the treatment had been, even though he was expecting to feel nothing! Thankfully, we had a good laugh at it, and decided that it really isn't the amount of pressure that is used, but rather the correct procedure, and (to us) the intention of helping the client heal themselves, using reflexology as a tool.

I hope you can take this too with a pinch of salt, if you want my opinion... this lady is a client that you could do without anyway. We have all come across people that no matter what we try you just cannot please! I know myself that during body massages, I can take considerable deep tissue work on my back, but anywhere else and I start screaming! I have found it difficult in the past to find someone who will be happy to vary their techniques throughout a single treatment, but it can be done.

I would also take Moonraker's advice and ask a client throughout the treatment if the pressure is good for them, if is it not suitable and you cannot offer more, then you are always entitled to say that you will not finish the treatment, and then no charge would be paid. The client is then able to find a different therapist.

Finally, keep going, don't let this put you off doing your treatments!

Caroline x

This lady is withholding payment from me even though she had a treatment for herself AND her daughter

Hi Wendy

Always good to check pressure during a session but sounds like this woman is a chancer. Think you're better off without her.

sorry, I forgot to mention the lady is a resident at a local hotel where I have my business cards, she is currently on holiday and thats why she booked me rather than her own-

I agree Caz, I also reckon too that its surely not the pressure but the correct procedure that would ensure a successful treatment?.
I suppose I will have to just put it down to being 'one of those days', I am sure if my college reflexology trainer had seen what I was doing she would have reassured me that the way I was doing it was the correct way as like I said I have never had anyone else complain or comment about the pressure before.
xx

I'm not a reflexologist but have had 2 treatments, 1 was very gentle the other really painful and put me off got to admit so won't be running back to that therapist.

Now I'm wondering if this lady is trying it on with you and trying to get a free treatment for herself and daughter.

Please don't doubt yourself you're been a therapist for 2 years and not had any complaints before so you must be good at your job or you wouldn't have any clients.

Cis

I was taught to use a good firm pressure, but found that it could be quite uncomforable for some particularly on the first treatment.
I have also introduced to prescision relexology (thank you Tranquil Moments !) which uses a technique called "linking" and you need to apply the bearest of touchwith this technique , I have always cheked with my client about what pressure they like ( I personally love a really hard treatment but I also know that a more gentle approach is just as effective) It does sound like a scam to me, like someone was trying it on, and maybe is looking for a way to avoid payment.
Just go by your regular clients, if they are happy then you are clearly doing something right, dont let this chancer put you off 🙂 xx

Hi Wendywoo,

Sound like they just want a free treatment to me. I'd be asking why she let you give them both a treatment before making the complaint. The first client must have been happy to let you continue with the second.

I hope you manage to sort the payment out

Helen

the update is that the womans husband apparently 'kicked off' about paying the bill, he ordered the hotel to comp his bill to refund the money and now my very silly husband who works in the hotel has ALSO taken the money he originally paid- BACK to the couple so they have not only had two hours of free treatments they are in credit by 70 quid!!! I am fuming! not at any time today has the hotel telephoned me to discuss this, I have been unable to get there myself as I am disabled and my hubby had the car.

I am so upset because apparently this woman spoke to the hotel manager and said that in China they are so much firmer and she was very unhappy with my 'touch', blimey, had I been any firmer I swear I would have damaged her feet and I wasnt about to be sued for breaking bones!

I am more unhappy because I trained to be a reflexologist after a bad back injury so had to find something to get me back into work that suited my own needs, I spent over two years at college studying this and Indian head massage and it wasnt easy, I had to battle with stairs, high stools, numerous obstacles yet I was adamant I wasnt going to freeload and live off benefits as a disabled person who wanted to contribute back into society. This woman has managed to make me feel like I am now useless, although I havnt had any complaints off anyone else I have treated it was clear she didnt like the look of me when I introduced myself. She took one look at me and said "oh, are YOU going to be doing it?" as if I was certainly not what she was expecting. I do not ever let my disability affect my work, why would I choose to do something I wasnt able to do??

I do feel this is personal and I have asked my husband to remove my cards and adverts from the hotel as I feel I can no longer do any work there. I am also angry that this woman had two IHM out of me and said they were ok but still she took the full amount of all four treatments back off me. I havnt been able to defend my case on any of this. As far as I am concerned what is the point? she has her money back therefore I have basically admitted liability even though I didnt have any choice in the matter. (I know a husband who will be sleeping in the spare room tonight!)

I also feel that not having a firm enough touch does NOT constitute a poor treatment and she should have asked me to stop the treatment when she clearly wasnt happy rather than let me go on to do the full 45 minutes and THEN treat her daughter!.

I now realise why so many people feel they are on the scrapheap when they have a disability and find it hard to get work 🙁

sorry for the rant...I need to go and do some deep breathing.

thanks again

Wendy woowoo
Dont let this put you off you clearly care so very much about what you do and sad to say they are people who are only too happy to take advantage. I really get the feeling you were scammed and they have done very nicely out of it thank you! I know I had a treatment not to my liking i wouldnt go back, but they had 4 treatments - so the first one must have been so awful they came back for 3 more !!!!!!!!
Take a deep breath and move on dont dwell on it, you are a competant caring therapist who has been unfortunate to meet some not very nice people!

Wendy woowoo

Surely this lady needs to take some responsibility too - why on earth sit through a whole treatment and say nothing if she wasn't happy with it? She is more than happy to kick off about not paying, so it's not as if she is shy about saying what she thinks. I also agree therefore, she is just getting out of paying.

I had a session one time with one of my course tutors, who used not just firm pressure but brute force, and it was so unpleasant and painful and my toes all cramped up - I had to tell him to stop. Stimulating someone's feet as HARD as you physically can, is not always best, and can sometimes be quite detrimental!

I do wonder though whether the lady in question is used to more of a Rwo Shur type treatment?

Wendywoo,

Please keep your chin up, unfortunately you have been trodden on, not all people out there are out to ruin the reputation of good therapists. This woman was clearly out to scam you, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Don't let this stop you doing what you do, and do not dwell on it. Take is as a learning experience and move on.

Best wishes, Caroline x

Hi WW

Sorry to read about your troubles.

Unfortunately reflexology/massage in Asia is far firmer than in the west, and the knuckle/tool techniques are used to apply more pressure. I think this is definitely a cultural problem (vice versa same happens to westerners who can't handle oriental pressures in Asia). Shame you wasn't paid, but this shouldn't put you off. If you have had lots of really good clients at this hotel, why give up. You will always meet ah* in life, as that is life.

Best Wishes

RP