Reflexology etiquette

[Draseamhna]

I was speaking to a chiropodist friend of mine who said something which has made me worry. She says as as a matter of discretion, she always leaves the room after asking a client to remove their footwear. I wasn't trained to do this, and never have! Do other reflexologists do this, or think it is necessary? Hope someone can put my mind at rest!

Janet x

 

[h2opolochik1]

Hi Janet

I think it is a matter of how well you know your clients and how you feel they feel. Personally with all my therapies, massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, acupressure etc, I always tell the client where I want them and what clothing they need to remove if any and then I leave the room for a few minutes for them to settle and relax and then I go back into the room. I just find it gives the client 5 minutes to get used to their surroundings and the treatment they are going to have.

HOwever now with some of my clients after about 5 months of treating them, they tend to say oh you may as well stay whilst I get ready. So they obviously felt they needed that time before as it was said.

HOpe this helps.

Sam

 

[handyman]

I have never been trained to leave the room. Some of my clients come with slip on sandals, so I wouldn't even have the door open before their shoes were off! I would rather be there to ensure that my client got onto the couch safely and was comfortable. In fact I mostly don't leave the room with my massage clients. Most of them are regulars and are practically stripped off before I say 'How are you'. I use towel management mostly or turn my back to mix my oils and only occasionally (mostly when I am working in a clinic, not at home), if I have a new male client, will I leave the room.

Lesley

 

[teresa m]

I would echo Aromababes comments.


love Ru x

 

[Reggina]

Me, too I never leave the room when clients remove their shoes.. but I do turn my back if they have tights to remove!!

Sarah x

 

[eeekyuthiyciuoevk]

agreed! discretion is the key, i think and i sometimes wonder if the client wants to be left alone... i dont think i would.

at a club i sometimes work at, after, say massage, the other therapists leave at the end of the session to allow the client to get dressed and off the couch and come out. i have started to do this but then i wonder if thats right. they may feel wobbly after a treatment.

during the facials, the other therapists always come out for 10 mins to leave the mask on, and have a cup of tea. i dont. i dont do the facial that quick that i could allow that much time to spare.

but certainly with reflex, i never leave them at all, before, during or after.

 

[baseball*dreams]

I never leave the room either - some of my clients are very elderly and I have to take off / put on their shoes and socks for them. It's not like having a full body massage where you would be getting down to just undies is it?

Health & happiness

Waywood

 

[Sarah ?]

Thanks all of you! Very fast! Yes, I suppose it depends on the client and I was thinking more of new clients. Of course discretion is a priority, but I think a therapist can learn a lot from their client as soon as they come into the treatment room, and from how confident they are getting onto the table etc.! I think it's the smelly feet issue again - a client last week thought that was why I was using talc!

Janet x

 

[mamacita]

[sm=rollaugh.gif]I'm sorry, but it did make me giggle.
The thought of leaving the room while someone takes their shoes off[sm=hidesbehindsofa.gif]I hope you tell them "You can keep your hat on"[sm=rollaugh.gif][sm=rollaugh.gif] Sorry

 

[Rebekah]

the only time i leave the room is after i have seen the client on the couch to wash my hands.....
T
x

 

[U. S. observer]

Have you seen the Antibacterial handwash by superdrug? you dont need water, just squeeze it on and rub it in. brilliant[sm=idea.gif]

 

[bluedevil1642]

i always find it leaves your hands with a vague sticky residue. the washing the hands is almost a ritual as well, in as much as you are cleansing off negative energies... we were always encouraged to rinse off up to our elbows in cold water <shudder>.

 

[DesertDog]

I use that "no water soap" when I'm doing tasters at health fiars and that kind of thing, as it isn't always easy to get away to wash hands! But I wouldn't use it day to day as I agree that the water is part of the disconnection from the energy of the client.

Sarah x

 

[Haley(:]

I use standard non fragranced huggies wipes when doing a day out however at home I always was hands before and after, also I think it is a good positive reinforcement for the client to see you do this....i have sensitive skin so the no soap things generally are to harsh for me...

T
xxx

 

[monie]

I also had to laugh at this. Chiropodists are a different breed, the one at our Centre won't even have and has never had reflexology - something that I find bizarre! She doesn't have any comp treatments except a massage when crippled with back ache, so I wouldn't attach much importance.

I leave the room when clients strip totally (if they don't already whip their gear off before I get the chance) and I have never left the room for anybody to take off their socks, hilarous. I help infirm people off with stuff, up on the couch etc etc, each is individual, especially a blind client, but even she is quite independent and can undress herself without my help.

I always leave the room after a massage and tell them not to rush up (doesn't always work!) and I let them get dressed in privacy, but again, some spring up and aren't bother about being naked - myself included.[sm=dance.gif]

 

[Isabelle]

Talking about leaving a client during a treatment, as a matter of interest, does anyone working in a clinic have the problem I have.

As I work on a Saturday, there is no receptionist and I am usually the only therapist in (it is a very small clinic), so I keep the front door locked whilst I am treating. I explain to my clients that I will need to leave them towards the end of the treatment to let my next client in (they usually knock on the door). I do feel uncomfortable with this, but they all seem to understand.

Yesterday, however, I had several people knocking on the door during one poor cleint's treatment, including a client who was booked in to see a therapist who wasn't there (through a misunderstanding). I had to make a phone call to the clinic manager, who then spoke at length to the client, apologise to the client and rebook her, all whilst my client was in the treatment room mid reflexology treatment.

When I told the clinic manager on the phone that I really couldn't leave my client any longer, she was rather 'off' with me. it left me feeling very cross and negative for the rest of the treatment.

[:'(]

Lesley

 

[Xerchosten]

i would have thought saturday would be a busy day and this sort of situation was less likely. cant the clinic stretch to a saturday receptionist (a college kid)?
its not a fair situation for you or your client. i'd be miffed if i was paying for a treatment.

 

[Pauly Smith]

Hi all.

With regards the leaving of the room, I have never done this, was never taught this, and would only feel the need to do so if the client either wanted me to or if they had tights etc. to remove although most of my clients are "briefed" as it were, as to how the treatments are carried out, that their feet will be wiped as a matter of course, and to what they need to wear.

With regards the hand wash, I am currently using Tesco anti-bacterial toddler wipes. They smell of raspberries and the packet has silly pictures on them but my clients don't seem to care. It is hygeine that is important after all. I use one to wipe my hands and one on each foot before the treatment, and then another to wipe my hands afterwards. They are quite cheap, and convenient. And with them being a baby item, they are quite often on special offer (3 for 2 etc.) which reminds me....... I need some more!!!! []

see ya

Jane xx

 

[al-in-chgo]

I'm off to Tesco[sm=bouncy.gif][sm=flylicker.gif]

 

[fxgzkjmt]

Hi Aromababe, we have the same problem. We can't afford a receptionist....boo hoo. What we have to do if somebody isn't covering reception is put a sign on the door which we lock. The signs says we are open but all therapists are busy right now. If you have an appointment please take a seat (in the porch) and if not then the number is there to ring. It isn't great and we are working towards getting a receptionist, but it has to do for now.[:'(]