Nervous client can draping help

[Xylus]

Hi all, i am seeing a client tonight who i know personally. She is keen to have a massage as her work is very physical and she feels she needs some tension released, but she doesn't feel comfortable disrobing and having no clothes on.

Do you think incasing her in towels will make her feel more secure??

Or any other ideas to make this treatment a succesful one would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[fyou6382]

Just thought i would add, i am working on her back to start with and have told her she can leave her bottom half clothed andi will wait outside until she says she is ready.

Her being so nervouse is starting to make me feel nervous

 

[wilson]

It sounds like you are quite sensitive to your friend and will reassure her. I usually leave my client to undress and lay on the table and cover themselves with towels left out for them - which I straighten up when I start working. Once she is on the massage table and if you are only working on back then you can also leave the room when finished to let her get dressed.

However, if you need her to turn over for work on neck and shoulders and arms and scalp then it depends on how skillful you are with the towel (the bigger the towel the better). There are various ways of managing this turnover - one is by holding it with straightened forearms above the client so a turn is quite easy. If she is very uneasy you could also let her turn over herself and cover herself.

There are probably many other techniques with the towel or drape.

Good luck with it and I am sure she will really benefit from the treatment.

Binah
x

 

[dont worry..be happy! :D]

i would suggest doing the treatment over clothes. it is easiest if she wears a t-shirt type top so that the material doesnt clump up too much that way and you can perform many of the massage movements over the fabric.

another alternative is to use a large sheet, like a sheet you would use on a single bed. this gives the client the feeling of being wrapped up in bed and comfortable. it also gives the benefit of less exposure when turning her over for work on her neck and shoulders.

i would ask her to leave her underwear on and undo it when she is lying face down and comfortable on the bed. you can then re-fasten it before she turns over so that she is never going to be exposed.

good luck with it all!

 

[Will in TN]

Hearing about this lady's problem makes me feel sad. It must be awful to be so inhibited about being undressed; I always feel that there must be a key somewhere which when turned would liberate people like this and allow them the freedom to revel in being naked. After all, we all have bodies (admittedly some a little more beautiful than others!) Anyway, apart from saying that, I don't know what else you could do to make her feel better, apart from letting her keep her clothes on, which sort of defeats the whole object.

xxx

 

[Jsgirl]

You need your client confident and relaxed to ensure she gains the most out of the treatment. It is her treatment, she is paying for it, and it is her body.

If you are not used to working with clients who require draping and/or leaving underwear on then see this as a learning experience for you. She will not be the first client you will treat who is nervous about nudity or areas of their bodies.

I had a client who kept her bra on for the first couple of treatments and another who wasn’t comfortable having her abdomen massaged and then there are others who can’t wait to get it all off.
I had a client once, when I was training, who insisted she kept her skirt and tights on for a back massage! When I talked with my tutor about this, while the client was getting on the couch, she said it was ‘her’ treatment and in a paying situation up to me to work with such requirements, OK, the glutes weren’t worked properly but boy did those traps get a good seeing to and very pleased she was too. Horses for courses.

Build your client’s confidence up over a couple of treatments, explain your needs as a therapist and how you can not work a certain area as well if it is covered. She is then fully informed and will either relax with you over time or will accept less work in that area, 9 times out of 10 they build confidence in you as a therapist and work to your requirements. But do be confident in how you are going to deal with this client, because your nervousness will come through the massage otherwise.

RxXx

 

[heven]

I was just about to say what Cirrus said....don't show the client that you are nervous....be confident about it and act as if it's no big deal to have the clothes on or off....your client should feel less panicky and be glad that you are comfortable in any situation - which hopefully in turn will make her more comfortable.
or she can use a wrap towel thing and you slip it off her when the towels are position properly on her on the bed?

 

[Alfonzo]

Thanks for all your thoughts.

It went ok, i explained to my client exactly what would happen and gave her a couple of ideas about how she could prepare. I also talked through the first couple of movements and when i was going to start the percussion strokes. She was extremely happy with the final result and confident that she would improve which is great, i have a booking for 2 weeks time and also refererrals to her family and friends.

I'm feeling alot happier now

 

[Asterix]

Glad to hear that the treatment went well. Some clients are nervous because they don't know what to expect. I'm sure explaining what you were going to do helped to calm her nerves.

I always leave the room to let the client undress unless they need help getting onto the couch. Out of habit I even leave the room to let my mum undress.