Reflexology session: how long does it take you, qualified people?

[bxexpuqxiztiuuena]

Courses, books, therapists... all say that a complete reflexology treatment takes about 45 minutes, but hard as I try, mine take a minimum of one hour (not counting the consultation!!), and even worse, that's just covering all the zones (you know, the usual sequence), and not any extra time to go over the zones where you have found sensitivities or to treat systems needed depending on the client's condition! Oh, and although my course didn't mention doing relaxation techniques often throughout the treatment, I have read in various books that you should do this, specially when treating a stressed or depressed person, so although I'd like to incorporate this into my treatments, I simply cannot fit them in the time I have!!

What am I doing wrong? How do you people manage to do a whole treatment in 45 minutes?!

Please help. Thank you.

 

[Weej]

practise, practise, practise! and practical work constraints sure make you speed up!

at home, i take 45 mins - an hour, depending on what i find and how much we chat.

in a work situation when clients are booked to give you an hour, i make sure i do it in 45 - 55 mins. i dont get the luxury of a full consultation at work and most clients are one offs, so i just make sure i know what i am dealing with, verbally. at home i do a full consult for the first treatment and allow extra time for that.

you will do it in the time... really!

 

[bxeuyutmiwlivvemk]

I know how you feel Emma. When I was first learning reflexology I couldn't get under 1 1/2 hours, but as Rosie said you do become faster, which is needed when you are not in charge of the amount of time spent with each client.
Keep at it you'll get there!
[sm=banghead.gif]

 

[nadsencerviva]

Hi Yala

I agree with the others that once you've got experience it's quite easy to do a 45 minute treatment. However soemtimes you do get a client that you spend more time on, but I've never let a treatment go over 55-60 mins. As you're still training don't you find that you are constantly referring to your notes? I know I was like that, thinking "now what do I do next?". This takes up precious minutes which can make your treatment last longer. Once you're doing the sequences without thinking about it it will be much much quicker!

Sarah x

 

[Kontra~Diction]

Yes Sarah it was like that in the beginning, I never thought I would be able to work without my notes! Now I don't even need to think about it. But I'm glad to say I'm up to speed now (i qualified last month).

 

[Swinno]

Yala, I'm so so sorry!!! I didn't mean to post to you, but to Emma! I think it's because your name was the last post. I must be tired!! [&:] Sorry again. I'm sure you ARE up to speed! Hope you're not insulted!!

Sarah x

 

[Ruin again]

Don't be daft Sarah! No harm done [sm=wave.gif]

 

[Theresa]

I've just read my post again. I didn't mean it to sound the way it does!!!!!! I must be tired too!

 

[Chloe McReynolds]

I'm glad there is someone else as sad as me! Sitting in on a saturday night in my pjs

 

[julnels]

I'm not in my pj's, but am in on a Saturday night and do have the wine to hand. Mmmmmm must be a reflexologist kinda thing eh?

Also I am forever posting to the wrong person and the other day it was pointed out to me that I had sent a friendly post to an HP friend saying 'big hugs fat bum' but had sent it to the person who posted before me. Oooo er....

I allow an hour and if the consultation takes some time then I have to take a bit off the treatment time if I have somebody in right after them. Today I had four one after the other without a break so I had to cut them all down, which I don't like to do but had no choice and they all seemed quite happy and rebooked. You have to get the right balance. We lock the outside door inbetween clients if we are on our own so I have to think about the next person waiting outside and consider them.

I find I can do a full treatment in 45 minutes. I spend about 5-10 mins on a really good warm up/relaxation massage and end with the same if I have time.

 

[gamblingsucks]

Thank you all for your replies, but you see... I'm not still training! . I haven't looked at my notes since forever ago and I know the sequence back to front!

Oh well, I'll just have to keep trying .

Thanks again.

 

[jnehiuzwizsiqdenf]

Actually, I should add, to avoid confusion, that I haven't qualified yet, but I have finished my case studies and more, a few more, plus I have tried reflexology courses in the past (which I didn't finish for various reasons, but not because I didn't like reflex), so I had plenty of practice and a handful of case studies during those too, so practice I have had, just not as much as someone who's been qualified for some time .

Cheers all.

 

[kILLER mike]

I take 1Hr 15min for the first session (consultation and full diagnostic) and then 45 / 50 min thereafter. Once I'm doing treatments, I don't go over the whole foot again, except for every 8th treatment (to check for any changes). This way, I'm able to kep my time down and also give a very thorouh treatment on the reflex points needed for the condition my client is presenting with.

I think wine must definatley be a reflexology thing - I even recomend clients who have poor circulation to drink a glas of red wine a day, as this is proven to help (well it's a great excuse anyway!)

Health & happiness

Waywood

 

[cha.cha]

Emma I've just had a thought. Have you tried working to a cd? This could help with your time keeping instead of clock watching. I often use music (if the client is happy with it) and I can tell roughly which reflex I should be on during each track. I used this method alot when I was training and found it very helpful.
My favorite is Music for the Mozart Effect, clients seem to really like it. Hope this helps

 

[HaNnAh <3]

Thank you all very much for your tips. I have tried music but it's a purpose-made reflexology CD of sounds and birds and stuff, no songs that I can pace myself to , so maybe I'll try a new CD, see if that works.

I also tried today to concentrate only on the areas of my client's feet that needed treatment, but found myself unable to! I simply couldn't leave some areas out, as I relate the treatment to how I would feel if I was on the receiving end, and I know how frustrated I'd feel if the reflexologist left any bit whatsoever of my feet 'unpressed'. In my case, I'd be unable to relax cause I'd be consciously thinking all the time: "I hope he/she doesn't leave such and such a bit out!", and that would make me tense. That's just me!

Again, thanks for all your help .

 

[Alley P]

I agree in that I don't think any reflex should be left out of a treatment. Another thought for you Emma, have you tried swapping treatments with other reflexologists? You can see how they do their treatments and they can give you tips on yours, and point out why you might be taking longer than needed. I started up an AoR reflexology group locally so that I could network with others for reasons just like this. Are you with the AoR? They may have a group near you, and most accept non AoR members anyway. I'm sure with all these ideas and with a bit more experience and time you will get there!

Sarah x

 

[Tada!(sparklesparkle)]

I allow between 45 minutes and an hour for the treatment - It usually takes an hour and I add on an extra half hour to the initial treatment for the consultation and medical history.

Love and light

Sulis xx

 

[joejorob]

Dear Emma,
Yes, rather than leaving areas out, I suggest you just do your thumb-walking a little faster, that way, the whole thing will speed up.

Best wishes,

Matt