First dodgy client

[Chuch Cchuchh]

Hi, I posted a thread a few weeks ago about treating men whoI ididn't know for the first time. With help and advice from other forum members I came up with a plan to:
trust instints, tell them on the phone only see men when hubby at home, pretend hubby at home when they come, have a panic button linked to my house alarm, phone friend next door to come and help if in trouble.
I have had no problems and felt entirely comfortable with the men I have been treating. however, today I had a man who sounded okay on the phone, but when he arrived I was not sure about him. During the consultation he seemed very hyper and just odd really. I fully explained the treatment and that I wanted him to lie on his front and get under the towels. While he was getting ready I rang my friend and asked him to come over as I diodn't feel comfortable. When I went back inside my treatment room the client was not under the towels and on his back. I explained again and left the room again. When I re-entered my friend coughed loudly and flushed the loo to make himself known. When he heard this the client then asked me if I felt uncomfortable and I said I did notand perhaps it would be better if we discontinued the treatment. He then got dressed and left.
I was shaking and my heart was beating very fast- there was no way I couldhave given this man a relaxing massage and I didn't want to touch him anyway- he just made me go yucckkkk!!!!
My friend stayed for a while and I am okay.It hasn't put me off treating men, all my other male cliebnts are fine, but my friend has offered to always be around when I do the consultation, then I can tell him okay and he can leave before I start the massage.
Yuck!!!
Phae

 

[Molly SH]

Hi Phae

Didn't read the previous thread but heard something interesting in college last week. Most salons where massages etc. are given treat only men who's wifes/girlfriends come for treatments. This sounds rather safe to me and maybe this is something you can think about and incorporate into how you get your clients.

 

[Nolumbehrt]

Hi Phae[/align][/align]It is your choice to treat someone or not, since I have a changingarea with curtains that my patients can draw round if they wish, I stay in the treatment room whilst they get ready so I am there to supervise them on and offthe couch.[/align][/align]Those that are shy receive the towel when they are ready to come out of the curtains with instructions on how to use it, those that aren't just get onto the couch and I cover them, often when I say Irequire them lying this way or that, they often get on the wrong way and have to turn over.[/align][/align]Now that is with me telling them just as they are ready to get on the couch not a few minute earlier, I am not saying your perception of this person not doing what you asked them to do was wrong, I am just pointing out that instructions are often misunderstood, I will ask them part way through a treatment to roll onto their right side and they will role onto their left side.[/align][/align]Just food for thought [/align]

 

[Tacobender]

Hi Paul,

I'm not saying I was suspicious about him because he was the wrong way up! As you say, clients often get confused. He had already freaked me out and him baring his underwear at me was just the last straw!

Phae

 

[seeme1995]

I’m surprised by Jobelle’s claim that


That may possibly be the case in Scotland, but it certainly isn’t my experience – although I would accept that my experience of receiving massage is confined to professional and safe environments such as hotel spas, physiotherapy clinics, the London College of Massage clinic and my local gym. I would agree that anyone who works from home, or as a mobile therapist, needs to be very aware of their personal safety, and possibly only treat male clients if they already know them. But surely one of the advantages of working in a clinic or salon environment is that the therapist can summon help from a colleague if a client behaves inappropriately. To quote from an earlier contributor on the thread [link=http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=255093]Attracting new clients[/link]



Alan

 

[ugehhuzsiwhitsefs]

Hi Phae,
Sad to hear you had a dodgy client,however please don't let that put you off massaging male clients.Unfortunately there will always be a minority of people who ruin it for genuine clients.You said him baring his underwear was the final straw,again don't judge men on their underwear of choice,unfortunately alot of male and female therapists i have seen over the years do which is really sad.In your first post you gave no indication he was looking for anything extra,he might have been just the nervous type.This thread has talked about dodgy clients what about dodgy therapists? where the clients modesty has not been observed.I have had experience of this and my first action was not to go back.I suggest this could be your action for those clients you are not sure about,DON'T BOOK THEM IN AGAIN.

 

[sucounnilync]

Phae, sorry to hear you had an unerving experience, but at least he was only baring his underwear at you You're lucky to have a friend you can call on.

Did the client ring up that day to make the appointment or was it booked well in advance? If any unknown male calls, I will always say I am booked up for the next couple of days - I may be missing out on some genuine clients, but it seems to cut down the dodgy clients significantly - they don't seem to be able to wait 48hrs. If I've seen someone before they can have an appointment straight away (if anything is available).