by Martin Kingston
http://www.massage-therapy-london.co.uk
+44 20 8400 9712 / +44 7710 314432
This article appeared in the newsletter for BodyworkersLondon.com
Do you book a therapist on the spur of the moment? Do you rely on gut-feeling?
That is not a bad thing - intuition is important!
You must have a good attitude to the therapist to start with.
However, to save you wasted money and time, or even damage to your health,
it is worth checking your spontaneity a little!
Here is a checklist of things to think about.
· Decide on the therapy that works for you.
You may like strong work, so check the therapist has the training to do deep-tissue
massage safely.
Most therapists should be flexible, and should respond to your pressure-range,
rather than just dishing out their own style with everyone.
· Decide on the type of therapist you would like to have in your
life.
Therapy may be a nice treat, but is always more effective if you use it in a
project in your life.
You must enjoy the relationship to keep up the momentum
· Ask friends for their experience and recommendations
Remember, however, their experience is of a therapist as they were 6 months
or years ago....
· Check for qualifications and professional membership.
Anyone can legally practice as a massage therapist, without qualifications.
They are just not insured!
If someone popped your disc you would only have yourself to blame if you didn't
check their legal standing.
London Boroughs have a license system for massage therapists and clinics, but
conditions vary from borough to borough,
and they are designed to control prostitution not to guarantee the safety of
the practitioners.
· Ask about experience
Therapists very often have a specific constituency, whether older people, sportsmen,
stressed-out career women…
they will know the issues affecting their constituency better.
On the other hand, they may be more enquiring and curious about your specific
concerns if you are outside of their usual constituency.
· Check tone and manner
We all have offdays or unfortunate telephone manner, including your therapist,
but you should feel you are building a relationship even before you meet up.
If they don't have time to talk on the phone (and rarely can they afford a receptionist!),
they should suggest an alternative time to discuss your concerns further.
· Check appointment availability
Many therapists advertise specific hours but could be available outside those
hours quite easily -
for instance evenings and weekends. Does the therapist charge much more to visit
you?
· Please keep to time, and let the therapist know if you will be
late
Therapists run a schedule, and will be put off balance if the schedule is upset.
If you give less than 24 hours notice of a cancellation, the therapist will
not be able to offer that time to other people easily.
Consider paying the fee - you would pay for an osteopath or a hairdresser, after
all.
· Is the therapist clean and organised
Walk out if there is any risk to your health.
Explain it firmly and confidently if you can, otherwise just say "oh, I
left my diary in my car" and disappear.
· Does the therapist check for your safety?
They should keep a record of your appointment, including any contra-indications
to treatment.
They should refer to this at each appointment.
· Does the therapist respond to your directions?
You are in charge of your session - the therapist should be responsive to your
needs.
Please be clear about them - you are wasting your time and their energy if you
don't make clear what you want.
Is the therapist there for you, or does their ego get in the way?
Therapists have a difficult job marketing - they have to market an image to
attract clientele, but to be effective,
they have to set aside that ego during a therapy session.
The final judgement is whether after a session you feel the therapist was there
for your benefit throughout the session.
· Does the therapist allow you time to integrate the experience,
or do they manage their time poorly?
Sometimes therapists are keen to provide a good service, and they overtreat,
and run over time. Well-meaning, but it does not allow you to absorb the experience
before you have to go away.
· Does Your therapist show a commitment to your ongoing health?
Do you get aftercare advice, and do they contact you in between sessions to
check on your health?
Is the therapist treating your wellbeing as a project, or just a series of one
off sessions?
· Does Your therapist show a commitment to their own improvement,
physically, emotionally, environmentally, spiritually?
Are they understaking ongoing professional study? Do they look after themselves?
Remember, if someone is challenging themselves they sometimes look in poor shape
for a while, but will get through it.
They may be able to be a better therapist for you if they have gone through
similar challenges to the ones you face.