Do you discuss with your client how they would like the time split between the 2 ? or do you work to a set programe ?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Emma Torsey on December 10, 2009 at 8:25am

To me a massage treatment is a massage treatment.

Energy treatment is an energy treatment.

They are two different treatments.

I don't get asked to mix them.

E.

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on December 10, 2009 at 12:34pm

In a clinical setting the descriptions you give may be needed.

Most of my clients were there to relax and "shrug off" the world. I think it has to do more with intent and the energy senses this and flows through me to help accomplish the massage I have determined, after the initial contact and review of paperwork, is needed.

To your question. Most clients don't understand "Massage lingo" and I would never say going in that I will split time. I do very little talking to the client during the massage. Most seem to appreciate this. I never work to a set program.

As I said, in a clinical setting, it would be completely different. In that atmosphere, people expect more dialogue.

Permalink Reply by lee kalpin on December 12, 2009 at 8:33am

I thnk it is very important to discuss with the client before combining energy work and massage. It does not have to necessarily be a discussion about exactly how much time will be spent on each, but rather to determine what the client's expectations are for their massage.
Some people are not receptive to the idea of energy work and would be upset or even frightened if they were aware that it was being done. Members of some churches believe that energy work comes from the devil!

Permalink Reply by Stephen Jeffrey on December 12, 2009 at 1:27pm

Hi Lee, are there problems for therapists in " the bible belt " ?
I certainly would not include intentional energy work without prior consent.

lee kalpin said:

I thnk it is very important to discuss with the client before combining energy work and massage. It does not have to necessarily be a discussion about exactly how much time will be spent on each, but rather to determine what the client's expectations are for their massage.
Some people are not receptive to the idea of energy work and would be upset or even frightened if they were aware that it was being done. Members of some churches believe that energy work comes from the devil!

Permalink Reply by Allison Ishman on December 13, 2009 at 1:46pm

Before any session, it makes sense to agree with a client/patient on the treatment plan. That can include any type of work you provide, and should be agreed upon by both the professional expertise/judgement of the practitioner and the client. Agreement on the course of a session - clinical or otherwise - typically facilitates better results, a better attitude from both therapist and client, and the least resistance to healing. It also facilitates trust between the two, which promotes healing and is integral to successful energy work. Thanks for bringing this up!

Emma - I hear where you're coming from. I blend them a little with energy assessments, and switch to energy treatments when manual therapies elicit unexpected/unhealthy responses. I didn't used to do this, but different types of energy work fit a partial treatment than others. Intensively intuitive energy work doesn't always blend with massage. But, assessments and simple point treatments used in Touch for Health, Energy Medicine from Donna Eden, Shiatsu and others don't always require a full hour to get a good result. It's something like a chair massage - a short session can deliver simple, basic results and improve function. That's how I see it, anyway!

Permalink Reply by lee kalpin on December 13, 2009 at 9:52pm

I don't think the area where I live would be considered in the "bible belt" but certainly there are members of certain churches who regard energy work and even yoga as being contrary to their faith. At one time I had a massage therapist working in my clinic doing "medical massage" and she also taught classes in Reiki at another location. She had a notice on our bulletin board advertising her classes. One of her clients saw the advertisement and asked her in horror, if she was a devil worshiper! This is a rather extreme reaction, but I also know people who think that the meditation of yoga opens the mind to satan.
On another level, there are clients who attend their massage therapist for physical modalities only and do not believe energy work is effective. They would probably resent paying for a treatment that included energy work.

Stephen Jeffrey said:

Hi Lee, are there problems for therapists in " the bible belt " ?
I certainly would not include intentional energy work without prior consent.

lee kalpin said:

I thnk it is very important to discuss with the client before combining energy work and massage. It does not have to necessarily be a discussion about exactly how much time will be spent on each, but rather to determine what the client's expectations are for their massage.
Some people are not receptive to the idea of energy work and would be upset or even frightened if they were aware that it was being done. Members of some churches believe that energy work comes from the devil!

Permalink Reply by Allison Ishman on December 14, 2009 at 12:18am

This is an interesting reference for some Catholic clients. http://www.catholic.net/index.php?option=zenit&id=25540

I think there is a distinct difference between Reiki and practices based in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) however. TCM has years of practical application and published materials, with a good portion of the world viewing it as a primary health care method. Touch for health, light touch meridian therapies, and five element energy therapies are based in TCM. This differs from less documented forms of energy work.

These case studies might be useful when talking to clients.
http://www.innersource.net/em/resources/case-histories.html

Permalink Reply by Jorge Arnaldo Pabón Acevedo on December 16, 2009 at 5:07am

i visit my church each saturday, and i have a lot of client who visit mi own church, and it's difficult to me even try to talk about reiki with them. i just don't touch the theme, because they have a different concept about energy work. so i really understand your point. but someones comes to me and at massage session ask about energy works and what i think, i first listen to them and then i give them the education about energy work, but others is better even try to talk about energyworks.

personally i not have problem with my faith and energy, i think God is a Great Energy, and give us the gift to be a energy tool to bring energy to others. but not everbody think like me :o)
For me, in my opinion according to my understanding of the Bible, I conclude that the apostles were practitioners of Reiki, its being connected with the Divine Energy to imposition of hands and healing the sick. but it's just my opinion.

lee kalpin said:

I don't think the area where I live would be considered in the "bible belt" but certainly there are members of certain churches who regard energy work and even yoga as being contrary to their faith. At one time I had a massage therapist working in my clinic doing "medical massage" and she also taught classes in Reiki at another location. She had a notice on our bulletin board advertising her classes. One of her clients saw the advertisement and asked her in horror, if she was a devil worshiper! This is a rather extreme reaction, but I also know people who think that the meditation of yoga opens the mind to satan.
On another level, there are clients who attend their massage therapist for physical modalities only and do not believe energy work is effective. They would probably resent paying for a treatment that included energy work.

Stephen Jeffrey said:

Hi Lee, are there problems for therapists in " the bible belt " ?
I certainly would not include intentional energy work without prior consent.

lee kalpin said:

I thnk it is very important to discuss with the client before combining energy work and massage. It does not have to necessarily be a discussion about exactly how much time will be spent on each, but rather to determine what the client's expectations are for their massage.
Some people are not receptive to the idea of energy work and would be upset or even frightened if they were aware that it was being done. Members of some churches believe that energy work comes from the devil!