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Talking during session to best effect

I am a quite Mt. Sometimes I do a great job discussing with clients what's going on, ect. How can I learn to discuss and advise most effectively. I do listen to what's going on before session and restate to client what I'm hearing they want out of the session, then deliver. After I talk about posture awareness breaks, and rom exercises. I have an arm one I discuss during the massage if I use it. I just don't talk much during the session. What do you do? Have you noticed any good clues for gaugeing client interaction.

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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on November 26, 2012 at 3:33pm

I've done zillions of massages... And the few times that I have gotten complaints, its because I talked too much. Its not quite this simple or defined.. But I have basically two major types of clients...Ones that want to relax because of stress, and others that want massage because they hurt somewhere...If you are working on someone that wants to relax because they are stressed out. Its generally best to be quiet, and let them relax...However if someones main reason for getting a massage is because they are hurting.. You better communicate with them to make sure that what you are doing is effective.. because that requires more individual specific work. And I may add to that by saying.. How you talk to a client has a major influence on the effectiveness of your treatment. I would suggest studying Neural Linguistic Technique. There are good books on the subject at Amazon.com PS- there are good books on the Placebo Effect that go with the NLT books. My sessions are much more effective because of my studies. Without doubt.

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Permalink Reply by Jimswife on November 26, 2012 at 5:13pm

Most of the time I am fairly quiet. But I can be chatty when the patient/client is chatty. I usually start off giving short answers to discourage all the talking. The reason for this is because I find that I can't do a good job if I am talking. I can't "feel" as much because I am not focused.

I haven't heard any complaints about it. Actually the patients will tell me that they were able to relax even though they were getting deep tissue work done.

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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on November 26, 2012 at 8:50pm

Another addition as to my line of thinking.. During a massage there should never be any idle chat ,unless for whatever reason thats what the client wants. But the client should feel free to communicate if necessary .. That feels good. Press harder( sometimes I hate hearing that one..lol) or I dont like that, Or that feels good.. Then the therapist can give a better massage...Again I want to remind everyone in here everything I say is my truth or opinion only.

Gordon J. Wallis said:

I've done zillions of massages... And the few times that I have gotten complaints, its because I talked too much. Its not quite this simple or defined.. But I have basically two major types of clients...Ones that want to relax because of stress, and others that want massage because they hurt somewhere...If you are working on someone that wants to relax because they are stressed out. Its generally best to be quiet, and let them relax...However if someones main reason for getting a massage is because they are hurting.. You better communicate with them to make sure that what you are doing is effective.. because that requires more individual specific work. And I may add to that by saying.. How you talk to a client has a major influence on the effectiveness of your treatment. I would suggest studying Neural Linguistic Technique. There are good books on the subject at Amazon.com PS- there are good books on the Placebo Effect that go with the NLT books. My sessions are much more effective because of my studies. Without doubt.