Starting clinic and nervous.

[Irish Bear]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this site and i am also new to this career path. I'm in a program in ontario so i must complete 2200 hours mandatory in class and clinic.

Clinic starts very soon and i am more nervous then i ever thought i would be. I must do an assessment and verbal consents. Run throughs have been awkward and sounded artificial and stupid. I'm not an awkward person when you talk to me and i am usually very open and easy to get along with in everyday conversations but for some reason when i am put on the spot and being watched i freak out and fail epicly. I am very nervous that this will happen with a real client in the student clinic..I'm freaking out and its days away.

Does anyone have a similar experience? What did you do to calm down and get through it in the beginning?

I might just be blowing this really out of proportion but i am very worried.

Thank you

 

[lol-ific]

Starting clinic and nervous.

Nervousness is normal in new settings. Your practice in class *is* artificial, so it is harder to sound or feel like it isn't. When you start clinics, talking to your clients will no longer be artificial. At first, it will still be a "new job" so feeling a bit awkward and nervous is perfectly normal and it will pass. Most everyone starts clinics feeling that way!

I am basically a shy person, so even seven years in, every new client causes me to feel quite nervous. I do two things to ease my awkwardness and shyness. First, I take a deep breath and set my focus on the client - rather than on how I feel or how I will "perform" or how I will sound to them. The client is there due to his or her needs, and I am there due to his or her needs, so that is my focus. I greet them, look them in the eye, shake hands when appropriate, make them comfortable and read through the intake if I didn't already have the chance to do that, and ask for clarification of what I read. Explaining the process is for their benefit, so I make sure I know if they've had massage before and what they are expecting or are concerned about, and I watch their eyes to see if there is concern or confusion or just readiness in there. Then when I step out and let them get on the table, I quickly review that intake again, then do my best to give the massage they are there for and want/need. I watch their faces and body language in case they are not feeling brave enough to ask for more or less pressure when given the opportunity. I just make it all about them.

I said two things......this is two things. I have a set protocol for how I focus on them, and I keep my focus set on them and off myself. The protocol eases the awkwardness because it is routine and after awhile there is nothing to remember because it is just automatic. The focus being on them means it isn't on me, so even when I feel shy, I can "fake it til I make it" and be okay.

Since you are normally not awkward, this will come much more quickly for you. You will do great. Soon you'll be back to post about how much fun clinic is!

 

[DuckyMcQuackers]

Starting clinic and nervous.

Thank you I needed someone to tell me that everything would be alright. You are a kind person and i appreciate your words of experience. I think i am feeling much better about the whole thing and i think i am going to be fine.. but i will let you know how it went down haha.. Thank you again

 

[Kim P]

Starting clinic and nervous.

It is definitely normal to be nervous for clinic! I still remember having butterflies on my first day, but after starting that very first massage, you'll find it's not as scary as it seems. I see this happen many times at the school I work at (it also happened to me), but students' first client on their first day will come out and ask when they're getting ready to graduate and are simply shocked that it's their first day.

Most people who come get a student massage are aware that you're a student there to practice and understand if your conversation seems scripted, and will probably understand if you have an epic fail . You are usually sympathetic when your waitress with the "trainee" nameeforum.xxx gets flustered or messes up your order, right?

It helps me (even now, after completing school) to ask clients if they have any questions for you. You can get a good feel for common questions that people ask that way, plus it lets your client know that you are listening to them. You also don't have to guide the entire conversation, putting less pressure on you and your question/answer session will hopefully flow more naturally. Good luck!

 

[Jerome-092]

Starting clinic and nervous.

taoist's point of it being a student clinic is a great one. keeping it in perspective like that was the most effective way of keeping my nerves in check when i first started clinic. take a deep breath, do what you were taught to do (and can probably do well) and then make someone feel really good the bottom line is, you're giving a massage!! while i can say some massages were infinitely better than others i've received, every one has been enjoyable. these clients know you're a just student and go there anyway, because it still feels great! take some comfort in that

and then come back here and tell us how you rocked your first clinic!

 

[ghostdog]

Starting clinic and nervous.

I had my first clinic in July and was nervous as well. The nerves ended quickly as this felt like real life. It has really given me an opportunity to grow and get some good feedback. Good luck, breath, do the best that you can, you will be fine. Let us know how you are doing.

 

[Rob M]

Starting clinic and nervous.

You'll be fine. I used to dread doing verbal consent - english was my biggest hurdle being an immigrant but I practiced until I was blue in the face! I wrote my verbal consent and memorized it, which helped with my flow, and modified my spiel as per client's signs and symptoms. Another hurdle was the orthopedic tests -- there were just too many of them! Again, there's just no substitute for studying and practicing. My teacher would go "coachey" on me and say hokey things like, practice makes permanent, but perfect practice makes perfect. whatever. lol. Well, I hope this helps. :altwink:

 

[angeleyes]

Starting clinic and nervous.

It takes time. Just keep plugging on.

 

[Rick420~57]

Starting clinic and nervous.

I understand how you feel. I too was nervous for my first official client in clinic. But, I took a deep breath and said to myself...I can do this.
Have confidence in yourself. The clients in clinic should already be aware that you are a student, which should ease your mind as well.
Just Relax.
Have other students massage you, so you'll know what you like and don't like. You can pass what you do like and those techniques on to your own clients.Massage your friends/family and get more comfortable with draping, pressure etc.
I love being a massage therapist. If you do too, you'll see that your love of that will show. Your energy will flow right on to your client. I see that I'm coming in well after you clinic appointment. How did you do? I'm sure by now you're more relaxed and not nervous any more.
http://www.massagebodybenefits.com

 

[Pompal 09.]

Starting clinic and nervous.

My gosh, I used to sweat BUCKETS in clinic... I usually projected calm, but I was always a storm inside. Don't worry, you'll get past it.