almost done and still have questions

[Talltail]

is there anybody who can help me with this question:i'm soon to be done with school and i was wondering....once i get a job,is the employer gonna help me and guide me or once i'm massaging the client,i'm on my own? i'm interested in hearing about your first day at your first job.. ???

 

[ShyRockGirl]

almost done and still have questions

NERVOUS.It took a few months to stop being nervous. I think you're on your own and will learn as you go. Do you have people you are comfortable with to practice a full hour, quiet massage?

 

[Pompal 09.]

almost done and still have questions

Get phone #'s and email addies from classmates.....keep posting here....there's support when you need it!

 

[akl]

almost done and still have questions

I too am almost done. Tomorrow is my comprehensive final (and last day of class before internship - I'm in Texas). I'm making plans for the next few months, looking into where in the area would be likely to hire a therapist, costs of all kinds of things, etc.If you'd like another student-soon-to-be-on-her-own person to talk to, fee free to message me.

 

[Raven]

It would be very unusual for the employer to help you plan the session, interview the client, set up the room etc if that's what you mean.  They will expect you to be able to do the session yourself.

 

[ThaRatChick]

Have  confidence in your abilities and you won't have a problem. You will know far more than your clients, and maybe even some of your employers, so have no fear! In time you will find your own little routine that will form on its own based on your experiences in school and with  those you have worked on in the past. You also have all of us here to answer any questions you may have. Good luck!!!

 

[Becca]

thank u so much for the advice....that was very comforting....  

 

[glgl]

Jessica,I agree with Jdcan.  See if you can find some family or friends to practice on.  Pretend they are clients.  Greet them, fill out an intake form, and ask what their goals are for their session today - just want to relax, my lower back is killing me, I sit at a computer and my wrist hurts etc.  While they are undressing, center yourself and ask your angel guides to be with you, or whoever you reach out to for spiritual support.  When they are ready on the table, come in and do a contact hold.  HOLD it until YOU feel calm, centered, and connected to them.  Continue to hold until you feel their breathing and pulse.  Now, begin the massage and trust yourself.Do this several times with friends and family treating them like clients.  Visualize yourself as confident and competent.Let us know how things go! That's what this group is for.Best wishes!LaLoba

 

[Tim C]

The employer should help to let you know what the general procedure is in their establishment.  How they set up their linens? What the general approach is to the client?  Are you expected to ask them for their next appointment, or is that the responsibility of front desk staff?  Do you offer them water at the end of the massage?  Do you use a hot towel treatment with each session?  Etc.  They will most likely not say "start them prone and massage this first and that second."  You will probably do a practice massage on someone and they might let you know after that if they have any objections over something that you do.  There will be situations that you don't know what to do.  You're in the room by yourself and just have to use your common sense and wing it.  That is the time that you will talk with other therapists, maybe the management or the trusted people on this board to help you sort it all out.  You'll hear all different sides of the coin about how people handle certain situations and you can figure out what works best for you.  Sometimes all we need is to hear "you did the right thing."  It's natural to be nervous and expect that you will make some mistakes.  You will have times that you will realize when the massage is almost over that you never used the bolster.  Or you will realize that you forgot to massage their feet.  It happens.  Forgive yourself and get on with things.  Just always remember the health and safety of your client and yourself.  Keep those as top priorities and you'll do fine.

 

[Caveat Lector]

almost done and still have questions

You have gotten some great advice here. I'd like to add that nobody will know you've never been on your own before unless you tell them. Many clients have never had a massage and they are bound to be even more nervous than you are! Fake it til you make it--act like you've been doing this for years, have confidence in your training, love what you are doing and it will all work out just fine!!Good luck to you!

 

[Graci]

once i get a job,is the employer gonna help me and guide me or once i'm massaging the client,i'm on my own?

Doubtful.1st day, for me, not so bad, but I had been in the healthcare professions for about 7 years prior to adding true massage to my lifestyle.But, my first year of massage, I moved a WHOLE lot faster than I do now.  I was like a swe-deep queen who moved like no tomorrow.  I lost weight, I was moving so much!  Now, over the years, I seemed to have calmed down some.  I think it was pent-up nervousness for that whole time (looking back).Our internship was an excellent training, as was our hands on all through school. آ I buddied up with a lady and we practiced at least 3 x per week on each other extra-curricular.My best advice... practice, practice, practice. آ Take into account any and all feedback you can get. آ Find a therapist or two or three willing to show you any tips they may have. آ Then make the massage work for what you are comfortable with. آ Your style will be an ever changing thing. آ You will develope a base of work and then elaborate on it from there, and in two or three years, you will probably find you have ditched some techniques for new ones and have some that are your bread and butter. آ The nice thing is that as you learn, you will have more to use from your bag of tricks. آ Just when you think you don't need a technique anymore, that is when someone will walk in the door, that - WOW!- needs that particular move! آ Also, recieve as much as you can. آ This will give you real good ideas of what you like done and don't like done. آ I really modified my massage work based on what people did "to" me. آ And, as soon as you can take a small class, on something interesting to you, do it. آ It is good for you to see an instructor who doesn't do everything like you were taught in school.Lastly, clients will come and go. آ So, don't let it get to you if a few at first don't come back. آ As a new therapist I thought I had to "keep them all". آ I found that the reality is as an individual, you will keep people who like the way you work and the ones who don't will float by the wayside. آ It has nothing to do with your ability. آ Don't let anyone get you frustrated when they start to complain that "MassagyMarie" did it different. آ You will have a style, and though you want to try and make people comfortable, you do have to find the balance of being peaceful while working. آ So, if you get one of those "complainers" as I like to call them, just don't feel bad to tell them they may have to find someone who is a better fit for their needs.Enjoy! آ It is a wonderful profession! آ 

 

[Jne_Uwambe]

almost done and still have questions

Lastly, clients will come and go.  So, don't let it get to you if a few at first don't come back.  As a new therapist I thought I had to "keep them all".  I found that the reality is as an individual, you will keep people who like the way you work and the ones who don't will float by the wayside.  It has nothing to do with your ability.  Don't let anyone get you frustrated when they start to complain that "MassagyMarie" did it different.  You will have a style, and though you want to try and make people comfortable, you do have to find the balance of being peaceful while working.  So, if you get one of those "complainers" as I like to call them, just don't feel bad to tell them they may have to find someone who is a better fit for their needs.

Enjoy!  It is a wonderful profession!  

Thank you.   Well put.

 

[Clover G]

I agree with Lanie.....don't tell people that you're new at this.  It might make them automatically expect it won't be a good massage.  When I was in school, I worked at a spa (not doing massage).  They were in a jam one evening and needed someone to do a massage.  It was just a Swedish and I was well past that in my training and was already doing them in clinic.  I was VERY nervous.  I never let on that I wasn't a regular therapist there and the woman said "Well, I can tell you've been doing this for a long time.  Your hands feel very experienced and smooth."  I got the biggest tip out of any of the therapists that evening!  Of course, they don't normally disclose this information.  It's just that I was so excited because this was my first professional massage that I'd given and got such a generous tip that I was shouting it from the rooftops and they were all so excited for me, as they had been helping me through school.    

 

[Acid]

almost done and still have questions

Lanie, that is great advice - fake it til you make it!  I recently asked an MT with 9 years experience what she looks for when she hires a new therapist, and she said "confidence".

This goes for your clients as well....if you have confidence in yourself, they will too.