Mobile Therapist! Tips Please!

[Chi Jackson]

Hi Everyone [sm=wave.gif]

I'm a new member but I have been visiting Healthy Pages since qualifying as a massage therapist at the end of last year. What a great website full ofreallyuseful information and advice.

I have recentyl decided to become a mobile massage therapist, rather then work in a salon, due to lifestyle and family commitments, this option suits me better. I'm realy excited about being my own boss and I love being a massage therapist and I am hoping to add some more therapies to my cv very soon. Up until now I have been massaging freinds and family but after a recent leaflet drop, I have my first booking next week []!!!! And all of a sudden I feel quite nervous as well as over the moon of course!! Apart from the obvious concern of going into a strangers house, I keep having niggiling doubts like, what if i'm not good enough, what if i forget something..and so on! I am normaly quite a confident person so these doubts are annoying me[]. Freinds and family are saying that its natural to feel like this and that once I have visited my first client the insecurities will go, and I know they are probably right, but now I'm worried my nerves are going to affect the quality of the massage i give!!!
I am hoping that some of you maybe able to offer me some words of encouragement, tips or advice... I would very much appreciate it if you could? [sm=kiss.gif]

I know my doubts are probably down to the fact that I havent yet treated a "stranger" as such and hopefuly I wont always feel this nervous.

Also, do any of you mobile therapists take candles with you? I like to burn candles or use oil burners when giving a massage but taking a burner would be quite messy so I'm thinking should I take some tealight candles or just one larger candle? Also will my cheap little cd player be suffice or should I invest in a more expensive one for sound quality? These probably seem like silly questions but they are the ones that are bugging me!!

I look forward to hearing your comments and I thankyou in advance

Kimx

 

[komets.geo]

Hey Kim!
Listen everybody feels the way you do!!! i know that i did anyway!!! the cd player u have is fine as long as the cd doesnt skip!! and as for candles dont bring them not ur first time anyway!! its to risky, just in case they have a small room and the candles are on top of u! ur liable to be burnt! just go, be professional remember what u were thought and act like its one of the family!! or ur friend! like u should have a consultation with strangers first, cos u should feel comfortable with them the same as them with you! then they can pay for the full treatment and u can say, well, if ye want to keep that person on as a client! cos u might not feel comfortable with that person or there household! me personally, i like to get to know who im goin to be workin on before hand even tho when u do massage a person its just like a canvas for a painter u dont see the person u just see there needs unless u work in a spa which u only get tourists!! But be causious![X(] And just have fun because every day is something new and u will enjoy every bad and good experience!! i know i have and ive it ALL!! hahahhha but once u remember what u were thought ul do just fine!!!!!!!!!!
GOOD LUCK!!!!
HA i have faith in ye!!!!!!!!
[sm=sandrine.gif]
Toodles!!!

 

[uzehsurwihuicaejg]

One tip - well, a couple actually! Don't tell the client next week that they are your first booking! In fact, give them very little personal information - it then keeps the situation on a business-like footing. I started out very tentatively 30 years ago, but was advised never to discuss my home life or diary with any clients, so I never have. Make sure that what you take with you can be either carried or conveyed from a car in one go - going backwards and forwards fetching stuff is not a good idea. I would never use candles in someone elses house, nor would I carry them with me. If they have them burning, then fine - just make sure you don't get too near, like pinkdreamer94 says - you could get burnt if the space is limited. Also - incense sticks are not a good idea - many people just about tolerate them but if asked, would prefer not to have them in the room -personally they make me feel queasy so I don't use them.

CD player? I used to cart one around, but most people have them in their homes, so I now take a favourite CD with me, and use theirs.

Main thing is to enjoy it. I love doing home visits, as the clients generally relax very quickly in familiar surroundings. I regularly visit one family where, over the years, I have treated 4 generations! The little ones used to post notes under the sitting room door saying 'when is my go?'!!!

 

[Pompal 09.]

I agree with the others - home visits are very nice... and you'll get such a buzz when you walk out of your first one after your first client, and you'll know that you've done it!

Don't be nervous, everyone feels like that, but you've done your training and your practice and you'll be fine - just trust yourself and your instincts.

Ido a lot ofhome visits now and they work really well, and they do really relax as they're in their own home. I actually take my tiny ipod nano with me - I have created a "therapy" play list which just loops round from client to client - I've got about 10 CDs on the play list (then I don't get bored of hearing the same one again and again!!), then I've got some little battery powered speakers (Sony)that I plug into the Ipod and it works really well. I keep all my stuff (towels, couch covers, couch roll, blanket, an A4box file for client records and after care leaflets, oil, wipes, water, etc, etc) all in a big hold-all on wheels, which is so easy to take into someone's house. Then I've got a little luggage trolley for carrying my couch, but usually I don't need it as I can park outside their house and it's not far to carry the couch. I don't use candles or oil burners, as it's just too messy, and I'm not sure about insurance cover for those sort of things in someone else's house.

Just one more thing - keep an eye on the time. It's easy to spend too long with someone if you haven't got another booking to rush off to.... trouble is, when you get busier and need to leave promptly, you may disappoint an old customer who's used to longer! I agree with Jabba - don't let them know it's your first booking, they may be looking for problems then. Be professional and they need never know. Don't forget to rebook them at the end!!

Very best of luck and enjoy!
Best regards
Kate

 

[peggy]

Good luck with your new adventure.!

Like you I've recently started as a mobile holistic and sports massage therapist. It was daunting at first but after a couple of clients you'll get into the swing of things and get a routine going. So far all my client's have been lovely, given me very good feedback and I haven't had any bad experiences whatsoever. Like anything it's just practise........... soon you'll look back on this posting and wonder why you eve worried.

Avalondove - just wondering your tips for getting clients to re-book. I'm aware that clients are a bit spaced out after massage and don't necessarily want to commit to re-book. Although that lovely afterglow might be just the time to get them to re-book? I don't want to go in for hard sell. What do you say to your clients?

Namaste

 

[WellTraveledProg]

Hi Melanie...

Well, after their treatment, I go through the after care instructions and give them remedial stretches and yoga postures if they've got any stiffness/problem areas... for a new client, I advise also that it's good for them to have a regular massage, at least monthly, like an MOT for their body, because unless they're going to change their lifestyle completely (which is unlikely), they're liable to get stiff again and in need of a massage. Then I start packing up, they get ready to pay and when they're paying, that's when I ask them if they would like to rebook. My regulars beat me to it - asking when I can see them again, and we rebook every 4-5 weeks.

If they're not ready to book then, I make sure I leave my business card, etc, and my details are on the aftercare and stretch instructions, and tell them to call or email when they'd like their next treatment. If they haven't contacted me within the 4/5 week window, I send them a gentle email saying that it's been 5 weeks and would they like to rebook. I also send out a quarterly newsletter email which jogs some of their memories. You mustn't feel bad or awkward about this side of business... after all, you're making a tremendous difference to their lives, giving them a lovely service of value. You've put in the work and the training to get this good and you deserve the repeat business, so it's a win/win situation.

Good luck!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hi there pinkdreamer94,
Well done you for getting your first 'professional' paying booking, good feeling eh?

I totally agree with all that has been said here and it was useful to think about the candles as I always take some and a burner and never considered the issues.

However, I personally take MY CD player and CD's as I have been to peoples houses without it and spent an hour listening to... well lets just say not my choice and even though I tune out mostly, always the risk client wants to talk (which I don't). I have only ever had to change a CD once as clt didn't like.
I buy Cheapo CDs from the garden centre as they have names like bliss, peace etc and are usually less than a fiver.
That said, I do not get al lot of bookings for massage. I have done Indian head and am nearly at the end of Reflexology and have now felt confident to just get some business cards done (free from vistaprint.com only P&P to pay and this is a FANTASTIC web site). However, being a therapist is not my main job as I have a full time one and want to build the therapies slowly.
I have always been keen to help others and so volunteer my skills to a local health centre and work as a therapist for an afternoon as regularly as I can which enables Carers to be pampered and enables me to keep my hand in as it were especially as I am meeting new people each time and like to think that I act professionally.
I have recently seen an advert looking for volunteer therapists to practise in a local hospice but I have never offered palliative massage and feel a bit nervous but would like to help out.
Anyhow, I wanted to say good luck and hope that you are successful and do not worry about getting anymore gear until you have a few clients and get a better feel of what works for you and what doesn't.

 

[bananaberry]

Hi,

I just wanted to say thanks to you all for your advice and encouragement. I am realy looking forward to it but also cant wait to get it over and done with so that I can enjoy itlike some of you have said you do now!!

I remember being this nervous before my practical massage exam, and 5 or so minutes after it started I relaxed and was disapointed when the time was up!!

Anyway, thanks again, I'll let you know how I got on

Kx

 

[beachchick]

I take my own cd player with me so that I dont end up leaving my cd's behind

HG

 

[Lindsay Killer Cherry]

all good advice so far.

I remember my first home visits, I was soooo uptight and insisted, yep, insisted that the client provided a music system for me to play music, and her husband spent 20 minutes setting up a stereo in the conservatory (I'm cringing with the memory).

Take a CD, but have your CD player in the car incase someone hasn't got the facility. I always ask the client if they want music as some don't.

Try and fit everything into one bag, the one on wheels sounds brill.

Couch in one hand, bag in the other, big smile on your face and away you go.

Remember that YOU are running the session, TELL the client what you are going to do and direct them to follow you. I've had some clients answer phone calls and chat happily for 10 minutes whilst I'm waiting, and one insisted on opening her post before she would attend to me. The way to counteract that is to firstly tell them what you expect and also don't give them extra time, ie if they spend 10 mins on the phone, thats 10 mins less massage time, they soon click that they are wasting THEIR time NOT yours.

Give them aftercare, take payment, take appointment or ask to leave a card and suggest they put it onto their noticeboard/fridge to remind them.

DON'T tell them its your first time, you are inviting them to nit-pick.

And ENJOY YOURSELF

 

[sayed]

Hello,

I have been following this post because this is something I would like to do, but I have a question about safety. How do you know it is safe to go to someone's place? Do you always let someone else know where you're going?? I guess I am a bit paranoid but what if it's a psycho??

Thanks

Claire.

 

[Neetish]

Hi Claire,

A tip our tutor gave: When she goes on a mobile visit, she always rings home when she arrives and tells them she will be about.....what ever time has been agreed, she does this in front of the client.

Hope this helps

Christine )

 

[Swablerreby]

That's clever!

 

[Twilighter09]

Hi Everyone,

Well its now over and done with, my first client out of the way, and I'm really . I'm pleased to say it went really well (apart from me nearly blowing out at the last minute) I was going to ring with some ridiculous excuse as to why I could not make it, then luckily I got a grip of myself andthe sensible part of my brain took control and I just went for it! The client herself was very nice and relaxed,whichhelped. I did feel that I was a bit clumsy with my setting up ( probably in my head though), but once I began the massage I totaly chilled out. And like everyone said, I was buzzing when I left, and I even got a tip! She did say she would be in touch soon to book again so fingers crossed.

Hopefully its onward and upwards from now on. So thanks again for all your advice and good luck clochette if you decide to go mobile!

Kimx