My first night in clinic

[maggie]

Hi Everyone!

I've been quiet recently, but thought I'd share my experience of my first night in the clinic. I started school last July and it is amazing how fast time has flown!

I was nervous but overall, it went well. I had a full night, 3 clients, 2 "real" clients and the other was a fellow student. My biggest thing - I still need to work on deep tissue. Not my favorite but I can see that people love it. My last client wanted only deep tissue on her back, neck and shoulders. She was little, so that proved challenging and she wanted it REALLY deep. She gave very detailed feedback which was nice, even if it wasn't all positive. I shifted too much during strokes and didn't maintain consistent pressure. She is very aware of her body and knows the muscles / bones so it was almost like working on another therapist! I also need to build the confidence to say, "you know, deep tissue doesn't have to hurt to be effective". I think she was one of those people that buys into that belief. After getting two amazing deep tissue sessions, I now realize that is not true. And the deep tissue we do is something totally new to me. It's not just the use of elbows and other tools to work out knots while doing a circulatory massage. We do deep tissue sculpting, and no oil is used, just compressions and compress & follows. I have a hard time with the slow pace of it (one reason I shift I think).

She also had a couple reactions that I wasn't sure how to interpret. She laughed a couple times and once said, "oh that's terrible!" I said, "is that too much?" and she said, "no, I guess you just have to give in to it". Mmmm. How do you maintain your confidence and respond to a comment like that?!?

Everything she said on the feedback, I knew I still have to work on, so it wasn't surprising, but still frustrating. You want them all to say "that was amazing!", right? Overall, I guess I'll say it could have been better and it could have been worse. I did make $25 in tips, so I got that goin' for me ;-) I keep thinking back to when I waited tables. I remember my first night and specifically my very first table. I was so nervous and kept thinking, I'm terrible! I can't do this! Well, after 8 years I was very good, confident and able to handle the toughest situations.

I have mixed emotions, but I'm trying to not dwell on it and only focus on what I need to improve. Fellow students are in agreement that a full, and very specific, deep tissue session is very challenging for a new student.

The time did fly by and I wasn't physically tired, other than basically having a 14+ hour work day (I work full time). Pacing was also a bit of an issue. I ran out of time with the second client and had to kinda rush the end. An hour really isn't that long!

~Robin

 

[sexy mum43]

Robin

Clinic is nerve racking for the first time. I, like you, am a student and under scrutiny. Most of our clients however come in for relaxation which makes it easier.

Being a student myself, I'm not sure what kind of advice that I can offer but I will say this: I think that people can feel you through your hands and not just your touch. I believe through your touch you can covey so many emotions; fear, pain, joy, comfort, love... I am not sure what you do to focus and balance yourself before massage but doing so is important. Just starting out, I think that you need to affirm to yourself that you are a healer and speak that through your hands with every stroke. If you operate just on a basic mental level with your clients, they are apt to respond the same way back. I don't think that you operate this way but perhaps your first time in clinic you were all too focused on performance which may have left your client all to focused on your performance as well.

Just a thought, for what it worth.

 

[Girl <3]

Hi Robin,

Sounds like you had an eventful fruitful first experience in clinic. don't worry it only gets easier. And before you know it you'll be confident and having a great time at the same time.

Say which school are you going to in San Diego and do you like it?

I went to Mueller and really got a lot out of it.

jason

 

[Kontra~Diction]

My first night in clinic

Hi Everyone!


She also had a couple reactions that I wasn't sure how to interpret. She laughed a couple times and once said, "oh that's terrible!" I said, "is that too much?" and she said, "no, I guess you just have to give in to it". Mmmm. How do you maintain your confidence and respond to a comment like that?!?

Everything she said on the feedback, I knew I still have to work on, so it wasn't surprising, but still frustrating. You want them all to say "that was amazing!", right? Overall, I guess I'll say it could have been better and it could have been worse. I did make $25 in tips, so I got that goin' for me ;-) I keep thinking back to when I waited tables. I remember my first night and specifically my very first table. I was so nervous and kept thinking, I'm terrible! I can't do this! Well, after 8 years I was very good, confident and able to handle the toughest situations.

~Robin

Robin, talk about jumping into the frying pan! Clinic is great, not only do you get to practice your massage on clients, you get to learn to deal with the vast array of personalities that will be on your table. Not all clients will be like her with their comments. Yes, on one hand it is great feedback, but on the other you are a student. You have only done so many deep tissue massages.

In one of my classes we did some role playing with eachother and posed as some "difficult" clients. Our teacher gave us different objectives to act out for our therapist ~ the talker, the director, the complainer, and so on. It was funny at the time and it helped prepare me for the occassional difficult client.

You are going to do great, Robin. If you had that type of situation on your first night I suspect you will develop the skills to handle those situations with grace. Just remember to keep perspective when it comes to any feedback. Sometimes you have to sift through it a bit and sometimes it's right on. Some people seem to get off on dishing it out to others and those are the times to really sift it out to see if it's valid or it's just their issues.

 

[203]

Thank you for all the comments! My 2nd night was much better, even though I only had 1 "real" client The first two hours we spent working on each other and I got a great shiatsu session and came out to find my last session was booked. I was so relaxed at that point, that it went great. I was a little concerned at first because a previous therapist had said it was a "weird" session and the client had some behaviors that were suspicious. I thought, "great! last week the DT client and now this!" But, I went in as unbiased as possible, knowing I would handle anything that came up (pun intended ). The client was great, a perfect gentleman. He was a talker though! And that threw my pace off so much that I ended the full body work with about 12 minutes to go! At one point, I swear the clock stopped...except it is digital! :shock: I slowed down and did LOTS of Thai & Shiatsu work on his legs and he LOVED it! He said at the end that he wished he could have 2 hours with me and on the feedback form said he'd be back as "Robin's client". I was very happy

Rocky Mts - you are so right about personalities! I have had 3 "real" clients and 3 totally different personalities. I can't wait to see what is in store for me tonight!!

Jason - I go to IPSB and I absolutely love it.

tmstclaire - you say some great things and if you are this way as a student, I know you will do great things. I am trying to not focus so much on technique (with is still hard with DT since I am not as comfortable) and just feel the body and respond to what they want & need. Getting that first night over with was a huge step!

~Robin

 

[Chris69er]

I'm sorry you had that experience..but, alas, it's true , you will be exposed to clients like that..I still feel devastated if I feel a client didn't like my massage..and I feel GREAT when it's a positive treatment.

I've been a massage Therapist for 8 years and still stress over that stuff..lol..getting better tho..

I remember when I was doing clinic, I was told I didnt give enough pressure..ahh! It was so hard for me in that way..

I can do deep pressure now tho..don't worry, over time you will learn everything and get your confidance built up with many positive comments..I sometimes think, some people enjoy shaking up students lol

 

[heaven mclovin]

Clinic and now externship...

Hi folks:

I had a different experience in Clinic. Our school (Greenville Tech) required us to set up our own business and have a manager, scheduler, receptionist and supply coordinator (someone who makes up the tables between clients). All the students had to rotate through each of the jobs except manager. My class wanted one person to run the whole clinic. I got nominated for that lovely job. I also had to do my share of massages of course.

Each student had a certain number of massages to do before the end of clinic and it was my job to make sure that happened. Well, the end result was that everyone made their goal and the school's foundation made almost $6,000 from the massage fees.

I guess I did a good job because now for my externship they want me to reopen the clinic with just a few students and handle clients until we graduate in May.

I think I have learned alot from my experience and I have certainly learned about the various personalities. The feedback was great and I really wanted to hear from people other then family and other students.

Two more months!!!

Tony

 

[parkerjiscool]

That sounds like a good experience, Tony. I haven't heard of having a scheduler who wasn't already the receptionist, and I haven't heard of a supply coordinator - THAT would have made student clinic easier, where I went! We had 50 minute massages scheduled every hour on the hour, and the *extra* 10 minutes was for intake, client undressing and redressing, exit interview and sheet changing. They were trying to get us "spa ready", and that is how spas around the area run.

You must have done a great job! I'm sure you learned a lot, too. Are you interested in spa work and working towards a managerial position?

 

[Nine]

Spa Work...

Not really, I am not really a spa type person and I am too ld to work for anyone else.

I plan on going into private practice after I pass the Federated exam.

Tony

 

[HOE is a sick Kitty]

Spa Work...

Not really, I am not really a spa type person and I am too ld to work for anyone else.

I plan on going into private practice after I pass the Federated exam.

Tony

That was my feeling exactly, and I haven't regretted for a second that I went into business for myself! Congratulations.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Sharon...

I am in this really for the joy of giving people confort and some relief from cronic pain. I certainly don't expect to become rich although I expect to do fairly well.

Once my wife graduates school next year - we will open up our practice full time at home.

All I have to do is get past the exam.