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Massage Therapist Clients Talking TOO MUCH!
How does conversation go when you're in a massage session? I'm considering becoming an active practitioner again. Part of the reason I left practice before was burnout, but also because I'm not interested in having 60-90 minute conversations with strangers (or people I know for that matter) Trust me, I am NOT a chatty massage therapist, but I would find it rude to try to end the conversation that the client starts. I've done that once before. It was awkward and the woman never returned. Usually I would come back into the room after the client is on the table. Ask them if I can adjust anything on the table and for them to let me know at any time if the pressure needs to be adjusted, and that they can just relax. This is after the intake conversation where I've already asked them how they are, etc. Then for some reason people just start conversations as the massage is going on.
One regular client I had, kind of started turning into a friendship because after a while all there is to talk about is your life, so we were really getting to know each other...even pretty personal things.
I'm not trying to make friends with my clients. I just want a nice professional relationship. Is that unrealistic?
What are your relationships like with your long term clients? What do you talk about? How have you specifically handled keeping boundaries with your long term clients? (Over a year, and at least seeing you once a month)
Views: 2164
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ofelia Margarita Sierra on
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It is a fine line to walk between being polite (and replying to conversation) and telling the client you'd rather just work and not talk. I had to implement a trial effort today. A client returned from being away for several years who always talked non-stop. On his first day back today, I told him the massage is more effective if he looked within and really let go by breathing deeply and feel his body relax. It lasted a minute. I again told him it's a good idea to breathe deep and then I said "by being quiet." Well, he gave me a hard time about me not wanting to hear him talk. I may have to try to find some other ways to tell him that I'm not there as his psychotherapist, friend, etc, but for now, i will only answer in one word answers and maybe he'll catch on. Fortunately, it doesn't bother me, but I know how you are feeling.
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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on
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As a therapist. I’ve gotten in trouble for talking too much( more then once). The client comes in to relax, or talk. They are paying the big bucks . It’s their massage.
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Permalink Reply by Mintaka Gazer on
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Ofelia Sierra, It's good to know I'm not alone lol. I will have to try that, telling them to "look within and let go by breathing deeply...quietly " I'm brainstorming on things to work out this situation. I enjoy massage, but those talkative clients really take the joy out of it for me. I might just start having to make up reasons to refer them to other MTs
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Maybe telling them before the session that you really like to focus on your work and you typically prefer to refrain from lots of conversation, unless its massage related. If it disrupts your energy flow, then just speak your voice. It's another way to nip it in the bud. Best!
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Permalink Reply by Massage sucks on
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I had one instructor in massage class mention something about that. She said something to the effect of telling them to breath deeply, then give an extra hard push somewhere to feel a little bit of pain.
Many people how ever can't relax if there not talking. It's just a fact of life for them. We however aren't trained in psychology and we aren't really friends with them. That doesn't mean some level of friendship can't develop. We are however trained as massage therapists, and that's the job we are being paid to do.
To be fair to everyone not every client is for every therapist. You might be able to find other ways to make the treatment room more peaceful. You could try different music, white noise machines, incense, water fountains or something else. In the end it comes down to this, if something the client does bothers you enough, it will interfere with the massage your giving. If it interferes with the massage your giving, the client isn't getting the best you can give. It may be time to find someone else to refer him to.
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