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Tips on how to conduct cl. interviews, esp. initial intakes (the little things)?
Hello! I’m a student at the Cortiva Institute (Boston campus) and I’m wrapping up my first quarter of coursework at the program (yay! I love it!). I’m going to be starting work in the student clinic starting at the beginning of my next quarter—mid–April...ish—and I’m really, really, REALLY bad at not becoming a nervous wreck during the mock client interactions we’ve been roleplaying together in our clinical foundations/prep class.
I have Asperger’s syndrome, so getting a handle on how to properly interact with clients—espeeeeeecially during the first intake—is...absurdly difficult for me. It’s something I have to have explained to me; I can learn mimicry of aspects to social interaction, but it’s always a very conscious effort on my part...it doesn’t come naturally. & it takes...um...literally years&years...for me to learn through trial and error. I’m going to be practicing conducting interviews throughout the upcoming break, but I was really hoping to get some input/tips from as many experienced therapists as I possibly can about what little things I can be making a conscious effort to be doing to help make my clients feel...welcome, and safe, and comfortable, and all that good stuff?...in spite of my Asperger’s, which I usually get away with passing off as painfully shy...but I know I can’t be using that as a crutch anymore (at least insofar as being a massage therapist is concerned).
& I’m particularly interested in things that I can be doing while I’m still a student—I know this’ll become much easier for me the more I know about what the hell I’m doing, which’ll only come with time/experience/education—but the little interaction stuff that, for whatever reason, makes a difference...nobody teaches that, really, in our classes, at least not to the degree that I need it...so...please!...save me the stress/pain/anguish of figuring exaaaactly how many ways I can botch an interaction with a client in the student clinic:
iiif you’ve been at this for awhile, and if there’s anything you’ve come to notice makes a difference—some little, subtle things that clients aren’t even aware of you doing, or how it’s affecting how they perceive/react to you—please, please, pleeeease note it in a response to this thread. (& I’m sure such replies would be useful to any student beginning to learn how to interview clientele...sooo it’s not like posting a reply is liable to only be useful to aspie MTs...considering we’re [I’m?] not exactly a demographic well–represented in this & other bodywork professions...)
I’m already aware of how important eye contact (!) is, and I’m...working on that...it’s really hard to not just stare at my clipboard instead...but yeah, already know to work on that thing. (I’m making good progress working up to looking at somebody’s forehead or nose without being uncomfortable! ...slow but steady...)
Anybody got anything else...?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by elizabeth mount on
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remember they are coming to see you! they want to see you. It would probably be easiest for you to have a standard set of questions that works well for you. Do you have any you are required to ask? high blood pressure ect. Beyond that ask a few open ended questions. Make a statement of what you hear from them and what you will do to help them. This part gives me confindence that we are in agreement about the goals for the session. further explanation below:
"i hear you are really sore from rock climbing all weekend and your right shoulder is bothering you the most, well climbing uses lots of different muscles all over so we can work on a full body massage with a little extra time on your shoulders." Here i have made sure they know what I heard from them. I have also told them my plan for the session. This gives the impression that I listened and that I am confident and know what i'm doing. This also helps me because I know the client is okay with my plan.
Would working with a speech thearipist be helpful for you? consider it part of your educational expenses.
don't push you're self so hard on the interaction that you are fidgeting a lot. What ever stage you're at go with it. looking at clipboard, quick eye flick up to them, clipboard,question, eye flick, clipboard, statement/question from you.
thanks for the inspiration to be better at this!
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Permalink Reply by Lee Edelberg on
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deleted my reply....I misread the question
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Permalink Reply by Epiphany Hawkins on
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Thanks for this reply. I will keep this in mind.
elizabeth mount said:
remember they are coming to see you! they want to see you. It would probably be easiest for you to have a standard set of questions that works well for you. Do you have any you are required to ask? high blood pressure ect. Beyond that ask a few open ended questions. Make a statement of what you hear from them and what you will do to help them. This part gives me confindence that we are in agreement about the goals for the session. further explanation below:
"i hear you are really sore from rock climbing all weekend and your right shoulder is bothering you the most, well climbing uses lots of different muscles all over so we can work on a full body massage with a little extra time on your shoulders." Here i have made sure they know what I heard from them. I have also told them my plan for the session. This gives the impression that I listened and that I am confident and know what i'm doing. This also helps me because I know the client is okay with my plan.
Would working with a speech thearipist be helpful for you? consider it part of your educational expenses.
don't push you're self so hard on the interaction that you are fidgeting a lot. What ever stage you're at go with it. looking at clipboard, quick eye flick up to them, clipboard,question, eye flick, clipboard, statement/question from you.
thanks for the inspiration to be better at this!
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Permalink Reply by Penne Phifer on
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This is probably going to seem simplistic but, when you don't need to be in class or studying, find a beautysalon or chiropractor who will let you offer "free" massage for the practice. Explain you're a student and you need the experience, there will be no monies exchanged, just practice. Once people get the word out, you will get willing clients, best part is they know you are a student and won't notice your shyness. This was required where I attended massage school. Everyone is so happy to get a "free"massage, they won't be judging. I still have a client from my school days as a practice client. They love to see your progress. Remember some of your clients are shy about the intake form, too. Don't be too hard on yourself and remember to "de-stress" with a massage yourself. Good luck
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