Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Black Friday 2012

The election ad campaigns are finally over, which means the holiday season is officially upon us. Clients of mine from years past may be wondering if I'll be offering a Black Friday special as I have for the past two years. In the past couple years, my Black Friday special offer was limited to only my Facebook "fans." This year, EVERYONE is hearing about it, but those who HAVE "liked" my Facebook business page will have an added perk that I'll be sharing next week. "Like" my page so you too can enjoy the special treatment!

Here are this year's Black Friday offers:

**Buy 2 gift certificates, get 1 free

OR

**Buy a 60-minute massage gift certificate and get 30-minutes added on to it for free


In the first option, the 2 paid-for gift certificates will not expire, but the free gift certificate will expire May 31, 2013. In the second option, the full 90-minutes will expire May 31, 2013, but the paid-for 60-minute portion will not expire. For either option, this offer is limited to 3 gift certificates per purchasing person, meaning you can 'buy 2, get 1 free' OR buy 3 60-minute + 30-minute gift certificates only. 

Remember, you can "like" my Facebook page for extra special treatment not only for this Black Friday deal, but that's also where I post any same-day appointments that I'm trying to book and discount those appointments by $15!  


WHEN: 8am-12pm Friday, November 23, 2012
HOW: Call 503-318-9626 or email me at rachelsheardlmt AT gmail DOT com. I can take your card information over the phone, and either mail your gift certificates to you, or arrange a time for you to pick them up. If you choose to email me, I will need your card number, expiration date, zipcode and the 3 digit code on the back of your card. 
WHO: This offer is open to all current and past clients (and anyone you may forward this to).

By the way, do you know who my ideal clients are? I would MOST love for you to share the gift of massage with these people. Thanks! 

Gift Bags--Just In Time For The Holidays!


I've put together 5 different gift bags/sample packs, ranging in cost from $15-$70. They make a perfect add-on to the gift certificate you give this holiday season. Pre-orders appreciated, as they do take some time to put together. Call 503-318-9626 or email rachelsheardlmt@gmail.com.



Squeaky Clean
5-pk Samples Charlie's Soap (laundry “detergent”)
Large Scrub Cloth
2 oz. Aloe Bodywash
Sea Salt & Driftwood candle
$15
Save & Soothe Your Skin
2 oz Tropical Sands Sunscreen
1 oz Honey Butter
1 oz Mango Butter
1 oz Aloe Moisture Cream
2 oz Jojoba (massage “oil”)
¼ oz Aloe Foot & Callus Rub
Mountain Waters candle
$20
Warm It Up/Cool It Down
1 oz Aloe Heat crème
1 oz Cool Therapy Gel
Reusable Handwarmer
Hot/Cold Gel Pack
Amberwood & Vanilla candle
Orange Zest candle
$20
Detox & Renew
2 Detox Bath Soaks
2 oz Bodywrap Solution Gel
Large Scrub Cloth
2 oz Lavender Bodywash
Essence of Lavender candle
$40
One of Everything!
2 oz Bodywrap Solution Gel
2 oz Aloe Bodywash
2 oz Lavender Bodywash
2 oz Jojoba (massage “oil”)
2 oz Tropical Sands Sunscreen
¼ oz Aloe Heat crème
¼ oz Cool Therapy Gel
¼ oz Honey Butter
¼ oz Mango Butter
¼ oz Aloe Moisture Cream
¼ oz Aloe Foot & Callus Rub
Small Scrub Cloth
Detox Bath Soak
Reusable Handwarmer
Hot/Cold Gel Pack
5-pk Samples Charlie's Soap (laundry “detergent”)
Candles: Sea Salt & Driftwood, Amberwood & Vanilla, Orange Zest, Essence of Lavender, Mountain Waters
$70

Self Performance Evaluation

Now that I've been in business a few years, it feels time to do some re-evaluating to see what else needs some modification. I have compiled this questionnaire, put myself in the hot-seat and answered by rating 1-10, with the option of including additional comments. I would very much appreciate any and all responses to this. Fire up your (brain) engines--now's your chance to tell me how you REALLY feel! :) Let me know if I'm selling myself short on the ratings, or giving myself too much credit. 



I. Massage--This area is the most difficult for me to give a self-evaluation for, since I'm not able to experience my own work, thus, this area is especially important for you to offer feedback.

   Pressure: 9.
   Rhythm/Flow: 9.
   Intro/Closure: 9.
   Time Utilization: 8.
   Draping: 9.
   Overall: 44/50. 
   Strengths: Adapting to clients' various needs--from relaxing to deep, therapeutic techniques.
   Weaknesses: Beginning sessions with cold hands, not balancing time throughout the session as well as I'd like.

II. Spa Treatments: Bodywraps, Skin Polish, Hand/Foot Polish, Add-On Body Butters, Retail 
   Informing Clients of Available Offerings: 5.
   Quality of Products Used: 9.
   Efficacy of Spa Treatments: 8.
   Overall: 22/30.
   Strengths: Making retail products visible.
   Weaknesses: Not naturally suggesting products/services that clients might benefit from.

III. Atmosphere
   Location: 9.
   Ease of Finding: 8.
   Room Temperature: 8.
   Cleanliness: 9.
   Music: 8.
   Exterior Sounds: 8.
   Overall: 49/60.
   Strengths: Same location for 4 years; no hair or nail salon smells; nice, calming/comforting decor; recently cleaned carpets and converted all CDs to ipod use instead.
   Weaknesses: I forget to explain thoroughly to new clients that I'm at the back, downstairs, or where they should park; upstairs noise is mostly unavoidable--past hunts for the "perfect" massage room haven't been fruitful.


IV. Scheduling
   Online Scheduling Ease of Operation: 9--Please let me know if you ever run into issues with Clickbook.
   By Phone: 9.
   By Text: 9.
   By Email: 9.
   Date/Time Availability (M-F 5:15 & 7:00pm, M-W-F 9-10:30am, occasional weekends): 9.
   Proactivity: Rescheduling at end of sessions: 10.
   Follow-Up When A Client Does NOT Reschedule After Their Session: 7.
   Overall: 62/70.
   Strengths: Scheduling at the end of sessions is best--ensures clients get back in when they need it and can accommodate schedules best when booking ahead. Until recently, I had a poor-working system for following up with clients who haven't been in for a while or that didn't reschedule at the end of their session, but I feel I have found a better way to keep up with those needs now.
   Weaknesses: I am not always able to catch my phone when clients call, and don't do a lot of texting, so I forget to follow up later if I'm not able to respond immediately upon receiving a text or voicemail from a client. This is an area for me to focus on improving.

V. Time Management
   Arrive To Work On Time: 7. This is an area that I know I need to improve on, and am testing different ways to make that change (taking ownership of my time, versus blaming it on my inherited genes ;).)
   Beginning Sessions Promptly: 8.
   Ending Sessions At Their Full Length: 10.
   Balancing Time Throughout The Session: 9.
   Dependability: 10.
   Overall: 44/50.
   Strengths: A part of what makes me stand out from other massage therapists is that I intentionally spend a few minutes with clients to find out what their needs are prior to each session. Our bodies have different needs from day-to-day, and even my most long-term clients still don't have a "typical" massage.
   Weaknesses: Arriving to the office early to be set up and prepared the second clients walk in. As a family of 4 juggling 1 vehicle and trading off work and parental duties, this isn't always easy, but I also know I can make better efforts to achieve this goal.

VI. Communication
   Before Sessions: 10.
   During Sessions: 9.
   After Sessions: 9.
   Between Session/Post-Session Rescheduling Follow Up: 7.
   Continuous Contact: 9.
   Overall: 44/50.
   Strengths: I do believe I stand apart from other massage therapists in the level of time and attention I give clients to have a clear understanding of what outcome we're trying to reach at each session. I wonder sometimes if I talk with certain clients too much, but I try to let clients be the guide for the level of talking they're comfortable with. Some clients just naturally seem more at ease and relaxed when they ARE talking than if they're not, while other clients appreciate the quiet during their sessions. Please tell me if I have wrongly assumed which of these works for you.
   Weaknesses: I have been working on different methods to see what works best for me to keep up with clients and following up with them as we've discussed for me to do if they haven't rescheduled at the end of their appointment, and I know what I've tried in the past hasn't been as effective as I'd have hoped, but I do think I have a better method in place now.

VII. Professional Presentation
   Appearance: 9.
   Politeness: 9.
   Problem Resolution: 9.
   Fingernails Maintained: 9.
   Overall: 36/40.
   Strengths: I try to always look nice when I come to work and am anticipating purchasing new logo-embroidered shirts soon.
   Weaknesses: Sometimes I don't dress as nicely as I should, ie wearing jeans, and don't always have my nails filed before I arrive for my first client of the week. I go back and forth with myself as to how strongly I should enforce my reschedule policy. I want to be clear that my time has value and not allow clients to take advantage of that, but am not completely clear as to when/how hard I should put my foot down, and conversely, when to let things go and/or make more of a compromise for short-notice rescheduling. Input welcome!

VIII. Quality, Knowledgeable, Intuition, Value
   Knowledge and Understanding of Clients' Areas of Focus: 9.
   Non-Verbalized Sense of Stagnant Energy/Energetic Blocks: 10.
   Ability to Create and Communicate Treatment Plan Individually Suited to Each Client: 9.
   Ability to Meet Clients' Goals: 9.
   On-Going Follow-Up to Assure Client Satisfaction: 9.
   Services Provided Meet/Exceed Cost: 9.
   Overall: 55/60.
   Strengths: I feel I've gained a lot of experience in my 6 years as a licensed massage therapist that has added to my skill levels in treating clients, beyond relaxation-based massage. In the past 6 years, I've come to recognize more and more deeply that EVERYTHING in our bodies and lives are intertwined, am in awe of this, and love to share what I've learned with my clients along the way.
   Weaknesses: I admit openly with clients new and old that treating the lower back is not my forte, but as clients keep presenting issues here, I am enjoying the opportunities to try different ways of treating the lower back and soon enough won't have to throw out that word of caution anymore. I truly love to work with the upper back, shoulders, and neck, and wonder sometimes if I spend more time than clients would like there just because of that.
   


All in all: 356/420--85%. Room for improvement, but in terms of dealing with human bodies, I don't expect I'll ever "know it ALL," just so long as I continue to improve in my personal relations with clients and in my hands-on skills. :)



Beginning January 1, 2013, I will be raising my rates $5 across the board, as well as distinguishing between relaxation and therapeutic massage, which will be an additional $5-10. Read more about that here.

Relaxation vs Therapeutic Massage

After much thought and consideration, I have decided it is time to change my rates. If you're curious as to what lead me to this, I encourage you to read my Self Performance Evaluation hereEffective January 1, 2013, I will be raising my rates by $5 raise across the board for all massage sessions, and will then be distinguishing between relaxation massage and therapeutic massage. Therapeutic massages will then be an additional $5 or $10. Now, I know you want to know...what is a therapeutic massage versus a relaxation massage?

Relaxation massage is best described as massages that are:
  • gentle on the body (both yours and mine),
  • usually not exceeding medium pressure,
  • that do not require special focused attention or extra time working on known aches, pains, tensions, etc, and
  • can have the full body treated within one hour. There are some exceptions to this, depending on the size or build of a person's body, but for the most part, without giving extra time to "troubled" areas, a full body relaxation massage can be done in 60 minutes, and may certainly go on longer if the client chooses to have even more down time.

Therapeutic massage is best described as any session that specifically and skillfully addresses any of these 11 points:
  1. Aches, pains, spasms, tensions, or sore spots and/or use of pain scale assessments for session-to-session progress evaluation;
  2. Working primarily on a specific area of the body, though this will likely include surrounding areas that may be affected by or contributing to the "problem;"
  3. Use of very firm/deep pressure whether throughout the majority of the session or on specific points of the body that require time to allow them to release;
  4. Coaching before, during and/or after your massage for:
    (a) stress management techniques,
    (b) referrals to other healthcare modalities (chiropractic, physical therapy, yoga, etc),
    (c) stretching,
    (d) strengthening, and/or
    (e) other suggestions to modify the way you use your body throughout your life;
  5. Monitoring frequency/severity of your ailments, such as:
    (f) headaches/migraines,
    (g) numbness/tingling,
    (h) pain medications.
    These sessions may be limited to certain areas of the body for focused work done on a time/financial budget or may be worked in a full body massage within a longer session, and may be done with any range of light-firm pressure. The cost of your session will be $5 more than relaxation massage rates if 1-5 of the above points have been provided, and will be $10 more if 5-11 of the above points have been provided.
Included in EVERY session will be a discussion prior to your massage to see how you are feeling that day and how you want to spend your time. I realize most new clients who come to see me are not accustomed to this question and that it is something that sets me apart from most other massage therapists. I also firmly believe that it helps us reach the goals you have for the time and money you invest into receiving massages. This discussion will largely determine whether your session will be a relaxation or a therapeutic massage.

What happens if...
--If you expected one type of session and it turns into the other, the pricing will be based on what is actually provided to you.
--If, during our intake conversation, we decide you'll be having a relaxation massage, but then as you're on the table, I find things that could use more time spent working on, I will check in with you to see if you want to convert your session to therapeutic and address those areas more thoroughly, or if you want to continue on with a relaxation massage and not spend any extra time on those areas. If you decide to convert to therapeutic massage, your session will be an additional $5-10. 
--If, conversely, we expect your massage to be a therapeutic massage, but there isn't any coaching involved and your body doesn't have much going on to "work with" in terms of tight muscles, I will have the pleasure of telling you your massage that day would be $5-10 less than we expected! 
--If you are somewhat concerned about the financial implication of the new rates, remember that I have always considered gratuities as "never expected, always appreciated." If the new rates mean you aren't able to be as generous with gratuities as you have in the past, it's okay to leave less or none at all. While tips have made up 9% of my income so far this year, the bottom line is, I'd rather see you and not have a tip than have you stop coming altogether because you don't have money for a tip. Additionally, you can "like" my Facebook page and keep your eye out for when I post same-day appointments I'm looking to book at a $15 discount. 
--If you are really concerned about the financial implication of the new rates, I encourage you to take advantage of my upcoming Black Friday special offers and/or purchase a package of 5, 10, or 15 massages before the end of the year that can be used up to a year from date of purchase. That's a great way to lock in my current rates, and the packages are even offered at 5%, 10%, and 15% discounts. 

Raising my rates means I can continue to offer a Client Loyalty Program. A couple months ago, I was beginning to feel really sore about the Client Loyalty Program, because I really make it easy for clients to save money and was worried about MY bottom line. I almost felt like I needed to wipe out the Client Loyalty Program altogether. 

Right around that time, I had 3 clients come in within a short time span--one had just referred a new client to me and I had sent him a referral reward, another was in a delicate emotional state that I gave coping suggestions to, and another was using her benefits through her HealthNet insurance to receive massage with only a $25 copay. The man with the referral reward didn't even bring in his coupon, but paid my full rate plus a $15 tip. The one who received coping strategies then tipped me $25. The woman using her HealthNet benefits also tipped me $30. 

Not only did the generosity of all three touch my heart beyond words, it helped me understand that I AM worth it and that both my Client Loyalty Program and my rates needed to evolve with my business, skills, and experience (the Client Loyalty Program hadn't been changed since I first put it in place at least 3yrs ago, and I have never raised my rates in my 6yrs as a licensed massage therapist). So I chose to modify it a little, and to also raise my rates. In doing so, I can continue to extend my thanks to you in all the many ways still in place for your continued patronage and trusting me enough to refer your friends and loved ones to me. The clients I have already mentioned these changes to over the past few weeks have been very supportive, and I appreciate all the feedback that has been shared with me as you've helped me reach this decision.


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Two Best Words, Six Best Years

Today is a pretty special day for me. It's my 6th anniversary as a LICENSED massage therapist. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, in all the ways each of you have supported me along the way. Without you, I wouldn't be celebrating this day today. Thank you.

The best of you are regulars, but those who are..less regular..are no less important to me. Thank you for your consistency, at whatever interval that is for you. Every single appointment supports the roof over my family's head, food in our bellies, and pays our bills. Thank you. 

So many of you have taught me so much and I appreciate your patience with me as I've grown. Thank you. 


At the risk of dragging this out and watering down my point, I'll leave it at that.

Thank you.

Thank you.








Monday, September 24, 2012

So You've Been In A Car Accident...Now What?

Updated December 7, 2015

This article aims to guide you through some of the lesser-known steps you're entitled to take following a motor vehicle accident (MVA). If you or someone you know has the misfortune of being involved in an auto accident, you'll have an idea of how to proceed. Please note: I strongly encourage you to get specific information from your auto insurance representative, doctor/chiropractor/osteopath/etc, and to consult a lawyer for advice as this article does not provide any such diagnoses, claims, or guarantees of your entitlements. 

First of all...
Those "other" insurance companies are ruthless. They're waiting only a mere couple of days before beginning to call you, again and again, trying to get you to settle your claim. Let me just say, do not settle!! (Not yet anyway.) In the state of Oregon, most insurance policies will cover massage therapy, chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, even acupuncture--for up to a year from the date of the accident, or until the maximum predetermined dollar amount (personal injury protection, aka PIP) within your individual policy is used up. Your body may respond better to some of these therapies than others. I wouldn't expect you'd need to use all of these therapies, but a combination that works for you.

It doesn't take much of an impact to cause injury from an auto accident--a very "minor" accident can require several months of various therapies/treatment to get your body close to the physical condition it was in prior to the accident. You may feel "fine" after the accident--whiplash takes a couple days to set in. It is very important to be checked out (ER if you feel pain immediately following the accident, urgent care or an appointment with your regular doctor if you feel okay at first, then notice pain a few days later). The insurance companies like to have all these things documented for their records so that if/when you settle your claim, there is record of injuries sustained, treatments received and from which your condition has or has not improved. 

Is a prescription required to get massage?
Yes. You will need to get checked out by a medical professional who will determine the extent of your injury(ies), taking x-rays if needed. This first-contact medical professional may or may not prescribe massage to you. If he/she does, perfect! I'll get to your next step in a minute. If he/she does not, I recommend seeing Dr. Jennifer Pitcairn at Complete Health Chiropractic Center here in Oregon City. You'll make an appointment for a complete evaluation, returning for a subsequent appointment to review the findings, at which point you would get your first adjustment. The evaluation and review appointments are longer, but your on-going appointments to get adjusted are generally quick. Depending on the results of your evaluation, Dr. Jennifer will likely write a prescription for massage. 

You have a prescription for massage--what's next?
Call me. I'll ask you for some details about the accident, how your vehicle was impacted, how long ago the accident took place, what your injuries are,  jotting down some notes as we chat. We'll set up an appointment. As with the first appointment with Dr. Jennifer, this first appointment will be a little longer than your on-going appointments. You can speed this appointment up by filling out your intake forms ahead of time and bringing them in with you (intake form describing your health and massage history, and another form specifically for your insurance billing information). Please bring your prescription or referral, YOUR insurance company name, claim adjuster's name and phone number, your claim number, and date of the accident. 

What to expect at your first massage following an MVA
I'll review my notes from our previous phone conversation and ask you to fill in anything I may have missed. We'll talk about any treatments you've received up until then, your pain management thus far, assess range of motion (ROM) and current pain levels on a 0-10 pain scale where 0 is low, 10 is high. Your pain scales will include various parts of your body, not just ONE number overall, example: 6 at right side of your neck, 4 at left side of your neck, 5 at both shoulders, 3 at midback, 6 at lowback, 4 at right arm/hand, 1 at left arm/hand, as well as pain scales for your ROM, example: 3 at right side of neck when turning head to the left, 6 at right side of neck when turning head to the right, 7 when looking up, 5 when looking down.

Your assessment of your pain levels may be difficult for you at first, but that is something we do before and after each massage in order to gauge your progress and determine what types of treatment are most beneficial to you and will get easier for you to identify in time. Using the numerical pain scale is also much more measurable than saying "It really hurts today" before the massage and then "It feels kind of better now, but still hurts" following a massage. It's fine for you to tell me that, but I will still need you to gauge it on the pain scale--such as "8 before the massage," and "6 after the massage." I send copies of your chart notes to the insurance company when I bill them, and they need to know what you're dealing with.

Also, I am not always accurate when guessing in my mind what your pain scales will be based on your language, as we all experience pain in our own way. There may be times that a client looks like they're in a lot of pain, but say 5 on the pain scale, whereas other clients may not appear to me to be in a lot of pain, but they rate their pain at 7-8. I make notes of your verbal language, body language (wincing in pain, for example) and your numerical pain scales.

Other important information I will ask you and make notes about is how your injuries/pain are affecting your life. Does it hurt to sit/stand/drive for long periods/short periods? How often are you in those situations which exacerbate your symptoms? Does it hurt to brush/wash your hair? How are you sleeping (comfort, restful, limited positions, waking up in tears because of the pain, etc)?

Your positioning on the table will depend on your injuries and comfort. Possible positions include: lying flat on your stomach/back, side-lying using pillows for support of your head, arm, and legs, or lying mostly flat using the body cushion for additional cushioning, support and comfort. This massage will be more gentle and with lighter pressure, even if you've seen me before and have previously enjoyed a more firm pressure. The reason: the body you bring to me after a car accident is not the same body I've worked on before. You may have many more areas of tenderness or greater sensitivity than you are aware of (think about how many sore spots I can find when you come in for regular massages, and how you didn't know those spots were there until I touched them), so this first session following MVA is where I am learning about your body all over again.

About on-going massage sessions...
We'll spend a few minutes before each massage discussing how you've been feeling since your last visit, and you'll give me your "numbers"--your pain scale assessments--before and after each massage. I'll check in with you to see how you felt with pressure from your previous session, what you feel about your treatment (massage or otherwise) is working well, what you feel could be changed to improve your progress, and any changes to how your life has been affected by your injuries or improved since our last session.

You can't wait to be done with this already!
I understand how you feel--you didn't ask to get rear-ended, your life was already busy and you don't have time for this! I know. This is my shpeel (I give you credit for reading this far--give me credit for waiting this long to let it loose!): Your body has been injured. You pay for auto insurance every month so that if you happen to get in an accident and become injured, you (and your car) will be taken care of. You can see the damage on your car. You can see that it doesn't drive correctly anymore. It's obvious to you that it needs repair. Your body, on the other hand, is (hopefully!) not so visibly obvious of the damage it has sustained--yet, through our conversations and documentation, it becomes obvious that your body needs to be repaired as well. Unfortunately, our bodies take much more time to recover than our vehicles. We can't get a new one if it gets totaled, we just have to be even more patient. It's very important to make the time to get treatment early on. Your body will heal better and will have less symptoms later in life the more care you can give it now. Those "minor" accidents, left untreated, rear their ugly heads many years from the original injury, and I have many clients who can attest to this. Put all those many years of paying your insurance premiums to use, and get yourself taken care of. It is hugely inconvenient, I know, but it beats living on pain pills day after day after day. 

The other bad news...
This is probably not the first time you've heard this: Once you've been injured, you're likely to re-injure the same part of your body again. Remember when you were a kid and you sprained the same ankle four times? It became weaker and weaker with each injury, and you still don't trust it. I'll bet you didn't rest it enough to allow it to properly heal either, right? You were a kid, invincible! :) I'll bet you know you're less invincible now than you were then too, right? ;) Getting your injuries taken care of and teaching them how to heal properly now will help decrease the severity of their recurrence later in life. 

A year of treatment later
With any luck, you should be feeling pretty close to your pre-accident self by now. In the beginning of your care, you may have been seeing me twice a week, the chiropractor three times a week, the physical therapist twice a week, and/or the acupuncturist twice a week. Now, those visits are greatly reduced because you are healing, feeling better, and can go that much longer between treatments. You may now be interested in settling your claim directly with the other insurance company, or you may want to work with a lawyer. That part is far beyond my scope, but in any case, I encourage you to consider what your body will need from here on. I recommend generally healthy people to get massage about once a month. As mentioned above, your injured body parts will be more susceptible to re-injury and stress, so you will likely need more frequent care than that, so keep that in mind.

Miscellaneous information
***When I bill for your massage sessions, I bill to your insurance company. The other driver's insurance company will reimburse your insurance company. 

***I have worked successfully with the following insurance companies: Allstate, American Family Insurance, Country Financial, Farmers Insurance, Geico, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, Nationwide, Progressive, SafeCo, State Farm, Travellers, and USAA. 

***If, for any reason, the insurance company decides the injury you've been getting treatment for is a pre-existing condition and requests their payments to me be reimbursed or denies payment for treatments you have already received, you will be responsible to pay me the total amount. In the case of their asking reimbursement, upon your payment to me, I will then reimburse the insurance company. 


I know the information here can be a bit overwhelming, but I've heard experiences of too many people who weren't aware of this when they went through their car accidents, who settled within days of the accident or just didn't know what they were entitled to receive as for treatment, and are now dealing with more pain than necessary. My goal is to not let that happen to you, or your friends/family, or their friends/family. SHARE THIS ARTICLE. Have you been in an accident? SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE in the comments below. 

DRIVE SAFELY!


Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Policies


Treatment Policy
I understand that the massage/bodywork I receive is for the therapeutic purpose of relieving muscle tension, spasm, or pain; stress management, and relaxation. I will inform my LMT if I experience pain or discomfort so that adjustments in technique or pressure can be made. I understand that my LMT is not qualified to perform spinal adjustments, diagnose, prescribe, or treat any physical or mental disorder. I understand that any illicit or sexually suggestive remarks or advances by me will result in session termination and I will be liable for full payment of the session.

Reschedule Policy
With respect to my LMT, I agree to provide at least 24 hours notice when needing to reschedule my appointment. I understand I will be billed $25 for appointment changes made less than 24 hours in advance, and will be billed the full rate of my scheduled session if I miss an appointment with no notification. If I am able to send someone else in my place, my reschedule fee will be waived. Any fees assessed must be paid in full prior to receiving further treatments. Following two such cancellations within a 6-month period, I will be required to pre-pay for my treatments.

Insurance Policy
Co-pays must be paid at the time of service. In the event my health or private insurance does not reimburse my massage therapist, Rachel Sheard, LMT #13296, within 90 days of billing, I understand and agree to be held responsible for payment of all massage services provided to me. 


Gift Certificate Refunds
There will be no refunds on gift certificates, massage or bodywrap packages beyond 72 hours (3 days) after the sale. Gift certificates, massage and bodywrap packages are transferable.

What To Expect

(l know this is kind of lengthy, but if you have any reservations  about massage,  it will be helpful to you.) 

Whether this is your first massage or your 100th or more, you should know what to expect during  your massage. Communication between us, client and therapist, is key. I strive to help your body learn to heal itself, and I do that best by knowing what health concerns  are unique to you. Should you choose not to share information  with me, it may impact  the work we do and achieving your goals through massage. Your eating and exercise habits, current stress-management  techniques, medications you are taking, injuries and surgeries  you've had, and conditions  for which you are or have been treated are all elements that may affect the type of massage appropriate for you. Of course, it is your decision as to what information you share with me, and I encourage you to be open with me. Rest assured, any information you share  will remain confidential, unless  otherwise required by law. Should contact with your medical doctor be necessary, l will obtain your permission prior.

After l've reviewed your intake form and we've discussed anything of concern, I will step out of the room to wash my hands, while you remove any necklaces and bracelets, undress as much as you are comfortable with, and lay on the massage table beneath the sheet and blanket. I encourage  you to undress completely for a full body massage. You will be draped appropriately the whole time, and I will be able to work your low back, hips and glute muscles much  better,  but again, undress  to your comfort level. You may not be able to relax and enjoy your massage if you are beyond  your comfort level.

I believe  in treating  the body as a whole, though each massage  presents different  needs and areas of focus may vary from one session  to another. Most often, your massage will begin with you lying face down on the massage table, beginning  with your back and arms, then legs and glutes,  then turn face up, massage legs and feet, then arms,  and end at the neck and head. 

I will do my best to apply  pressure  at your level of preference,  and by all means,  tell me whether you would like more or less time on a particular area, more pressure, less pressure,  feel discomfort, are too warm or too cold, or anything  else that may need to be adjusted  in order for you to get the most from your massage. You may choose  to talk during your massage or remain quiet, it is completely up to you. Remember: your only task during this time is to relax! lf you'd like a difierent music choice, or none at all, you have that option,  as well as bringing your own to play.

When your session  is over, I will step out to wash my hands again. Take this time to ease your mind and body back to the world. Sit up slowly. After you are dressed, open the door, and I will come back in to privately discuss how you are feeling, answer any questions you may have, offer you water, schedule your next appointment, and take payment for this one.

lf you loved your massage, the best way to let me know is to refer your friends and family to me. Please take a look at my Client Loyalty Program for more information. I also appreciate  any written testimonials or online reviews to display on my website (and just to verify a job well done!)  as well.

lf you didn't love your massage, please email me to share your feedback with me. You may choose to remain anonymous, or add your name, so I can tailor your next massage to your preferences.

I value your patronage, and as a courtesy,  I ask that you provide at least 24 hours notice when needing  to reschedule  your appointment  to avoid  a cancellation  fee. Please also review my policies here.

Gift certificates  are available.  Visa and MasterCard  accepted,  though cash or check  preferred.

lf you have any other questions  or concems, please don't hesitate to ask.

I look forward  to meeting  you!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Non-Verbal Communication

This is one of those thoughts that comes up in my mind during almost every massage, and that I repeatedly forget about when the time comes to write a blog. Well, at long last, here it is! 

Non-verbal communication is what I depend on for a large percentage of massages I give. Here are some signs that I pick up on, and my interpretation of what they might mean to you, the client. PLEASE tell me if my interpretations are wrong, as I do use this information to guide the session. If I'm reading your signals wrong, I won't be giving you what you want, and that will make for a less than 100% satisfaction for you when we're done. 

Breath/Breathing
This is a hugely important strategy that you can use. A stand-alone deep sigh can mean you're finally beginning to relax. It might also mean I might need to back off from the intensity or the area that I've been working at. You can also sync your breath to the work I'm doing, so that you breathe in while I'm getting to the tight/tense/trouble spot, and then exhale as I zone-in and hold that spot. When I can sense you are doing this is one of my favorite things about giving massages. It means you and I are working together on this issue you have, and when we do that, you'll get the results you're after even faster. Here's what you need to know about this process: When I'm zoning-in on that spot, sometimes I need to hold into it longer than your breath cycle. For those times, I will ease up my pressure a little for you to inhale, and then I'll sink back into it as you exhale again.

Fidgeting or Flinching
You might fidget if the pressure is too much, or if I'm haven't found the right spot. A flinch might mean you're beginning to doze off and catch yourself, so you're alert again. You might also flinch if I've hit a nerve or an exceptionally tight band of muscle tissue. Depending on what my senses are telling me, I will probably check in with you to make sure you're okay. This is your opportunity to steer me back on track, tell me to lighten up or dig in deeper. Take advantage of this invitation to get what you want from your massage.

"Helping" 
This one tells me that you are not relaxed. Pretty much the only time I really need you to help is to lift your feet or knees so that I can move the bolster under them or take it out. I can usually get the leg drape without help, though lifting your leg is helpful if your skin has lost elasticity, and you NOT lifting your leg might result in me inadvertently pinching your skin as I try to tuck in the sheet. I'm working on improving that anyway. Those without skin elasticity concerns who do lift their leg make me nervous, that I might reach somewhere I don't intend when I tuck the sheet under your thigh. :-/

Holding
Holding also tells me you are not relaxed. I know sometimes it can be very difficult to relax. If you're getting your very first massage, or if it's been a very long time since your last massage can make it more difficult to relax--when you aren't really sure what to expect next. If you are one of those people who just have a hard time relaxing period, here's what you can do: Focus on your breathing, counting up to 8 while you breathe in, and then back down to zero as you exhale. It's good to take a pause between your exhale and inhale too. Another alternative to help relax is to really focus on what my hands are doing, specifically, how your body feels as I work on you.

Resisting
Resisting is a spin-off of holding. You might resist me as your body's way to protect itself if an area is particularly tight or sensitive. Some resistance can be prevented by me clearly communicating with you on what to expect, but other times, it's just your body's instinctive response. What can you do? For the former, I may give you a little wiggle or try to move your body in a way that distracts your mind from trying to anticipate what I'm doing. For the latter, get into your breath. Exhale as I'm working through that area of tension. 




Are you surprised by how much information I gather without you saying anything? I am quite fascinated by body language and am eager to learn more about it. These are the most prominent methods of non-verbal communication that I use and pick up on during sessions. As a client, do you try to communicate other ways with me that are not listed here? Let's talk about it, I'd love to learn what else I should be looking out for in my clients. 

Monday, June 18, 2012

Experience=Skill?

Dusting off the ol' blog, and hope to touch back once in a while with refreshing topics. Today, I share with you two greatly varying experiences of receiving massage. I'd love to hear feedback from your own experiences. Please share your comments below, or back at my Facebook page.

Experience #1--My Own Personal Experience
Last week, I went to my school for my (free for alumni) monthly massage. My student therapist was Veronica. I must say, I was quite impressed! She was very receptive to everything I said I was needing that day--a little more therapeutic than just relaxation as I had just begun my P90X workouts. Veronica's pressure was great. She asked about what kind of pressure I liked in our intake, and checked in with me a little bit into the massage. I said it could be just a little deeper, and she adjusted her pressure perfectly. I also asked her about doing glute work, as every massage I'd had at the school in the past 6 months, no one had worked my glutes, and I didn't know if that was a new clinic rule or something. She said it was not, and was happy to work my glutes (they're big muscles, and one of my favorite areas to get worked on!). 

As the massage was nearing the end, she had worked on my right arm, then went to my left. I felt like my right arm, particularly my triceps, needed a little more work thanks to the workout I'd done that day. She spent more time with my left before going back to my right. As I was already face up, she wasn't quite sure how to work my triceps as much as they needed. I suggested that one way would be for me to flip over, and have my arm off the side of the table, also to get into the lats that way. She quickly thought to bring my arm so my hand reached my opposite shoulder, and that worked well without needing to flip back over to my stomach again. I was impressed too, that Veronica didn't seem at all intimidated to be getting such feedback from a licensed therapist--I remember as a student or even newly LMT that I was a bit intimidated by having other LMTs as my client. 

All in all, she did a fabulous job, and I was completely satisfied. I can easily say she has been the best student therapist I've had since I've been going back to the school for massages. She'll be in clinic at Anthem College in Beaverton for another 5-6 weeks, so I definitely recommend going to see her if you happen to live/work in that area. It's $25 for a one hour (think 55min or so) massage, cash only. Call 503-906-9045 and ask for an appointment with Veronica. Appointments are Mon-Thurs at 2:15, 3:30, and 4:45. I'm not sure if there's later appointments than that currently. And let her know I sent you--I'm sure she would love to hear that!


Experience #2--Client Feedback From Massage at Massage Envy
Also last week, one of my regular clients (who has been through massage school, but is not yet licensed) emailed me after receiving a massage from a gift certificate that was given to her. Here's what she had to say: 
"So a friend gave me a free massage for Massage Envy. I used it tonight...the whole time I was just thinking about how it wasn't done very well.  Not really well at all actually. The therapist I had has been a LMT for eight years. I'm not a massage therapist, yet, but I'm pretty sure I do better than that. And I'm really not trying to be mean or anything. I mean it wasn't horrible, just very different from yours. (which I love!) Missing a part here and there, not very smooth or flowing, didn't do any compression before pulling the sheet down, just different. I found it interesting and wanted to say Thank you! By far, you are the best massage therapist I've met and I really enjoy and appreciate you and your services. :)"

What a contrast in experience, right? Not all therapists are a good fit for every client, and some may have seen the therapist at Massage Envy and be perfectly happy with their experience, just the same as you may go see Veronica and think that I'm crazy too. We all have different needs, and as therapists, we all interpret our clients' wants/needs and have different ways to reach those goals. I definitely side more with making sure I understand your wants/needs prior to beginning the massage, and hope you'll also be honest with me during your time on the table and tell me what you need to have done differently if I'm not quite getting it right for you. As a client, you have only so much time on the table--however, if my schedule allows, I may suggest you take a little more time so I can really work out what needs attention/what brought you in--and I value your time and want to make it a good investment for you. 


Have you ever had a massage at a student clinic at one of the massage schools around town? What has your experience at a massage chain (Massage Envy, Elements, etc) been like? What is your "best massage ever" story? Worst?