What do you do?

Like you my moments are slow, but I don't talk during the treatment unless the clinet talks to me first. Then I give feedback at the end.

I'd be quite disappointed if I didn't receive any feedback after my treatment.

You post has reminded me I've not had a treatment in a while. :rolleyes:

Hello Newtoreiki

I work with my eyes closed and give feedback after the session. I explain to the client that I work with my eyes closed and should they feel any discomfort they should let me know.

I also work with slow movements.

Desi Girl
xx

Having mentioned to a client (just after I qualified 10 years ago) that I "felt" something in reproductive area I was met with alarm that something was wrong with her by the client.

I am now much more careful of saying anything unless client asks me. I do ask them to let me know if they feel anything when I am working.

I think we should be very careful of stating what we feel as I know the medical professionals get so fed up with reflexology clients coming to their surgery telling them that their reflexologist "found" something in an area and this being unsubstantiated when medical checks are carried out.

Speed or pressure, depends what you mean by fast or slow..I would say I do a regular paced movement but then again also as a massage therapist some peoples deep pressure is another's light and visa versa same as in reflexology some clients prefer deep pressure some light. I always ask.

I had a very light, slow treatment from someone once and thought it was awful, she also spent the whole time telling me what she could "feel" culminating in her doing reiki to my hips that SHE felt were a problem. They weren't to me...she lost all credibility. This is another reason why I feel we should be careful of what we say.

I work with my eyes closed and give feedback after the session. I explain to the client that I work with my eyes closed and should they feel any discomfort they should let me know.

I also work with slow movements.

Desi Girl
xx

I used to work with my eyes closed when I was giving reiki in the very early days- but my master pointed out that I needed to keep an eye on the client and check they were ok.

Some clients may not want to speak up about any discomfort - but may give away discomfort in their face.

Since we should not be diagnosing - I think we should always be very cautious about what we tell clients about what we may pick up. There are some issues that need to be broached with great care- and even to hint at them may distress a client.

I correctly picked up on infertility once - luckily it was reiki master and she was hoping I would ;pick up on it as she was trying to show me how to sense things from client (it didn't come naturally to me!) I went all round the houses before I dared come out with the word - and I was so relieved when she confirmed that she new and I wasn't breaking emotionally distressing news.

I work at a steady pace, working for longer on points that I feel need it. I don't close my eyes because I get dizzy (I did try it but didn't like working in the dark :D) - however, I don't always look at the feet - I do look occasionally at the client to gauge any reaction on their face when I find a point that is particularly gritty. I don't like looking at them for too long or often because I feel it is too intrusive.

I may on occasion ask a question in response to something that I feel or if they mention that the area is particularly sensitive, but if they don't feel that it is of note to them then I just leave it there - if they question it further I simply state that sometimes that is just the way feet are - that there is nothing to be overly concerned about. If (and I haven't to date) I ever found something that I thought warranted a look by a GP I would be taking into consideration everything else that I knew about that person and then may suggest that they visit their GP - I might not necessarily suggest that it was the foot that indicated that but something else that they might have said. For example - I find a lump/gritty bit in their lower back and they also comment that they have been feeling pain there - I wouldn't say 'oh you obviously have back pain and I can work that out by doing such and such' - I would say, 'well, yes there is an indication of that when I treat that area but as you have been having problems it is worth seeing the (relevant professional) about it'.

I was taught that it was important to refer, refer, refer if you were out of your remit (i.e. anything that needed 'treating' with medicine or professional medical knowledge).

You get some clients that love reflexology and are convinced as you do each point that they can feel it here and there - they are the ones who readily accept that it works on specific ailments - whether you encourage that way of thinking or not. Then you get others who just want to be relaxed.

All I know is that I could do with a treatment of anything right now coz I is feeling ruuuuuun down!

Quick or slow, light or heavy, points or zones?

Been in practice for 21 years now... and gosh, how I have changed and adapted the way I work over that time!
I was initially taught a very firm, quite rapid, no-nonsense approach with the client sitting up and maintaining a lot of eye contact and plenty of dialogue about 'did that bit hurt', aah, it's probably tender there, I can feel that's gritty...etc, etc
I came to see that this could be exhausting for the client. (just remember how tiring it can be maintaining a conversation with your hairdresser when he or she seems on very faint acquaintance to be intensely interested by your family, your holiday arrangements or your weekend plans ....know what I mean?)
Further training and CPD has taught me to adapt much more to the clients needs and I now incorporate even just small parts of other reflexology methods, eg Finger-Free reflexology where the zones are worked rather than the reflex points, or Vertical Reflexology, Tony Porter's methods, or Light-Touch reflexology etc.
The thing is, you never stop learning. I'm not saying I know it all!
Here's what I often say "I tend to be quite quiet during the treatment but we will have a chat at the end, and we'll talk about anything that I find that we haven't already covered. Also, you don't need to remain alert to tell me when an area is tender, because I will generally be able to detect that myself (and not because you flinch..:) So, if you just feel you want to relax, or at any time just close your eyes and have a little rest then that's perfectly fine. However, if you want to chat with me all the way through and ask questions as we go, then that's also fine. This is your time"
Hope this helps. My best advice is to be in the moment with them, and be yourself.

I think we should be very careful of stating what we feel as I know the medical professionals get so fed up with reflexology clients coming to their surgery telling them that their reflexologist "found" something in an area and this being unsubstantiated when medical checks are carried out.

Hmm this is a topic for debate. I'm not going to start bitting my tounge on the feedback I give as not to annoy GPs. However, I do think its a bit silly if a client visits the Doc after 1 treatment if they have no presenting signs or symptoms.

I love reflexology, both as a therapist and client. I found out I have an underactive thyroid & PCOS just by regulary checking my own feet, and that to me is priceless.

I agree with each and every one of you in some way. Unfortunately there are clients out there that have "The secondary benefit of illness" syndrome, therefore I am careful with my words.

The first thing I assure them of is that if I ask them about a particular area it is because it might be slightly out of balance and I'm working to help the body balance itself. I don't diagnose, but I may ask how their "knee" or "shoulder" is or if they have ever had adrenal issues, etc. Again explaining that I'm am definitely not saying there is a problem.

My work is slow and gentle, reassuring and yet theraputic. I've seen videos with the fast work and it just isn't Me. That doesn't mean it isn't just as good. Just different.

This has been a good discussion and I've learned from it. Thanks.

BTW - I'm looking for a Reflexologist in the franklin tn, 37064. anything in the nashville area