talking clients

[prashant4044]

Hi, when you are doing a client , what do you doif tey talk alot??
Do you talk back to them and get on with the treatment? or just tell them to relax?
i find that some of my clients talk alot and i come away thinking i talked to much as they were talking to me all the time.
what do you do???

 

[Keith H]

Hi froggy,

I let my clients take the lead. Some want to chat the whole way through the treatment and some want an hour of peace and relaxation. Keep checking and make regular eye contact. You will soon pick up on what type of treatment theywant,
Lisa x

 

[Pompal 09.]

I personally would be really offended if a therapist told me to be quiet and I certainly wouldnt go back for more

I let my clients set the tone - if they are quiet then so am I, if they want to natter the whole way through then I am happy to oblige

I generally start a massage by working on the back and by the time I have finished the back the client has quietened down considerably and I just leave them be

their treatment, their choice, their money

 

[Victory is Mine]

absa-blinkin-lutely!

When its a new client I tell them what I am going to do - talk them through the procedure and then tell them that its their treatment, they can fall asleep, chill, not speak/speak and that its up to them, that I will take their lead.

I personally find it difficult to concentrate, especially reflexology, when they talk all the way through it. But, must admit, sometimes, its nice to get a talker, as if you are doing 5 treatments in a row, it wakes you up a bit.

 

[Prolapsed Pat]

I do massage rather than reflexology but I'd go with the same principles as many here have already expressed - that's what I do with my clients
- I speak / reply if spoken to but would never make conversation. But equally I would never ask them to be quiet. I think if things crop up in their minds then they're better expressing it rather than bursting with frustration at not being allowed to say it (or unable to relax cos they don't want to forget to mention it afterwards) - best just get it said, answered so they can move on!
Sometimes folk can be chatty to begin with then clam up as they relax into the therapy, others are quiet from the beginning. I have a few who chat throughout every therapy, but still express how relaxed and beneficial it's been (don't quite know how that works but each to their own!!)

 

[Ms. KiMoRa]

sometimes its a release for them to talk. I get one woman coming and she HATES silence, but she also doesn't really appreciate me talking either! LOL.
Think she likes to come in and talk constantly, I ask the odd question, and she's off again. Never once said anything about the treatment, ie 'oh that was nice'. Occassionally asks if something has shown up.
Think she would stop coming if I asked her to stop talking.

 

[man of iron]

I too have clients that talk all the way through a massage or facial, some so much so that I almost feel out of breath by the time they've left. They keep coming back though

 

[scounnins]

Hi ya

If I have a talkative client I let them get on with it. But at the end of the treatment I will use facial reflexology and/or head massage for 5 minutes just to quiet down they chatting monkey mind. It works really well after foot ot hand reflexology.

Cheers

Dave the Reflex Pixie

 

[hello b]

hi there all

when i first had reflexology treatment i was already interested in how it worked what it did etc and could not stop asking my friend who did the treatment questions about it all ,we still have a joke about it now she wants to know if i have my list of questions ready.

 

[Boonnajomnemy]

I always remember when a friend kindly paid for me to have a facial as a treat, just after I;d had a baby.
Well it was the first time I'd been out by myself, Jack was only a few weeks old.
I got there totally frazzled and late! Was told that it would be taken off my treatment time.
I lay their for about 35 minutes and I can honestly say I can't remember a thing of what she did, because I talked my head off. It was the first adult company I had that wasn't baby-related.
She told me she had finished and I was gobsmacked as I didn't even know she had begun! but hey-ho, I thoroughly enjoyed my captive audience.

 

[uqurmdho]

I don't mind clients talking to me, sometimes you can learn a thing or two from conversations. I also don't mind clients relaxing and even going to sleep, this way I can really concentrate on thir treatment. However, I can't stand the clients that don't sleep and don't talk, but just stare at you. I had one lady that, every time I looked up, there she was - staring! In the end I told her that I couldn't do any more for her as it was really un nerving.

 

[ayadsadda15]

Mmm, the staring would be very off-putting!

 

[Nicole J]

I have had a few of those staring ones and they freak me out. I was taught to say that it is the clients time to relax and to say that I don't usually talk so they can relax and go through their thoughts/sleep/snore or whatever. However I do respond to clients when they talk and generally know when they are ready to close their eyes. But that applies more to the reflexology as it is very hard to talk and concentrate. Massage is different as generally my clients like to have a natter and I am happy to participate.

Personally I don't know how they all stay awake, I am out like a light as soon as a therapist starts on me

 

[bowweezys wifey]

I tend to find the starers do so in their first session, or they started off as talked and can't switch off to switch off.

I'd say there can be three stages

1) The talkers - inquisitive or have enquiring minds. They might be isolated, lonely, have noone to listen to them who is objective and unjudgemental and want to offload their woes toclear their mind and heal.

2) The starers - sometimes they were the talkers in their first session. They might want to take their healing to the next level and for them, this is as switched off as they can be. I just let them be, it is their healing session, I smile and let them know they can chat if they wish or if they feel comfortable to do so, just gently let their eyes close and relax.

3) The zonkers - often the ones who want to feel pampered or want an 'experience' - soon as their head touches the couch they are off wit the fairies and no amount of coaxing will bring them out of it. They take the time to internalise things. I let these know that the healing is theirs and if they find their mind racing towards troubles, just acknowledge them and let those thoughts drift far away.

Starers can be disconcerting, used to make me feel a bit uncomfortable, like they weren't enjoying it or maybe I was doing it wrong - I realise now that is as much as they are able to switch off at that time - that is their healing, so just smile warmly at them and reassure them. The other two 'types' are easier to work with, technically and some do progress along this ladder as treatment progresses.

I wouldn't tell my clients to shut up - it's their healing and their choice. I will reassure them that whatever they choose it is fine. The worst thing to do is tell the little old lady who has had noone to shut up during her reflex treatment, when you're the only person she's seen all week and has been looking forward to the company. I let my students know that on exam day they need to encourage the client to drift off - as examiners do mark them down if they talk. However, in their own setting, I encourage them to see where the healing takes them and to focus on the experience most appropriate for this client at this time.

 

[hifufmcz]

I once had a new client who had been chatting at the start of the treatment, and then became silent, so I carried on with what I was doing - I looked up, and he was staring at me quite intently, but only with one eye. I smiled, and he smiled back. It wasn't until about 20 minutes later, when I finished the treatment, and quietly said - could you take some slow breaths - he woke up with a jolt. Both eyes were open now. He must have read my expression, because he said "I forgot to mention my false eye, didn't I?" We both laughed and it never startled me again after that! The fact that he was smiling was coincidental - he used to smile all the time once he dropped off.

I have never asked anyone to pipe down. Many of my clients live in isolation, and my brief weekly or monthly appointment is the only time they have "one to one" interaction with another person. I don't always reply, but they chat anyway.

 

[Gurpreet]

That's so funny jabba! like it! We could probably write a book on the funny monents we've all had. I once had an old lady book an appointment with me over the telephone. She arrived prompt so I took her throught to the treatment room, which she commented 'it's lovely dear, you've got it lovely!' I took her consultation and had a chat about her PMH. Then I asked her to pop up on the couch and she said ' so where do I get my hair cut then dear?' She had wanted the hairdressers next door and had taken the wrong phone number down as she passed on the bus. Best laugh i had that week. She told me some quite personal detailed PMH too! the mind boggles.

 

[Uttematievorm]

Thanks for the comments about "starers", I have had one or two and yes, I have to say I did find it a tad disconcerting.

It's like clients who find it hard to relax and sit or lie rigidly and even with the gentlest of coaxing just cant. I feel whenthey have left I haven't did my job, even when I know I have given a good treatment.

Patchouli