Question:
Hi,
Just a query but does anyone feel at times dispondent with the treatments they offer,
Fatfairy [sm=confused-smiley-012.gif]
fatfairy, your post suggests YOU might be feeling despondent, and if so, I'm sorry you feel that way.
But are you feeling despondent (or enquiring if others are) about the treatments themselves ... or possibly responses from potential clients to treatments on offer? Your profile doesn't say what treatments you do.
Holistic
Hi Holistic,
At present I offer IHM, Swedish Massage, Reflexology and Reiki. At times I don't feel competent in what I am doing and the support I thought was there from my Reiki/Reflexology tutor isn't. I passed VTCT in Holistic Therapies 2 years ago and so far I have 3 regular clients.
I however don't always feel comfortable asking for money for the treatments and haven't for a while. Not sure if it's becasue of a lack of confidence and experience. But whilst studying it was implyed that we must charge a certain amount otherwise it would frowned upon and also make it difficult for others to charge for their treatments they offer.
I suppose some of the dispondent feeling has come from a client (who is now no longer a client) who had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (POS). When I first went to treat her with Reiki and she told me of this condition I admitted it wasn't something I had heard of but would research it. My findings were mixed, but it was suggested in some cases that Reflexology could help. She agreed to the reflexology along with having some Reiki at the same time as she had liked it. I feel though that at the end of 8 weeks she was expecting to be pregnant (something she said her and her husband were trying for), but I never at any point said this was a miracle cure or this would happen. I did also discuss other factors such as diet, exercise etc as she was quite overweight.
I have also just started an Access to Nursing course, which has bought on small bouts of anxiety attacks and stress! which makes me wonder whether I am actually in a position to treat people anyway?
Feeling a bit lost,
Fatfairy
Hi Fat Fairy,
Up until a couple of weeks ago that could have been me (plus EFT) talking but not now. Now,my confidence is good, I am attracting more clients, have been asked to do a workshop in stress management and treatments have improved!!
So what has happened. Well, I was lucky enough to go Gary Craig's EFT seminar and managed to clear a lot of issues and now I believe in myself. Why not visit the Mind Therapies forum and look at the EFT stuff. You never know, it might help.
Love
Sarah
xxx
Hi Fatfairy
Thanks for your full reply. I get a better picture now. What follows isjust myopinion, or suggestions … I'm saying that now so as not to keep repeating myself, hopefully!
Well, you have a good repertoire of treatments there. I'm sorry you don't seem to be getting support from your tutor. As far as the Reiki is concerned, unfortunately this does seem to happen sometimes. May I suggest you pay a visit to the Reiki forum here, see if any threads containing queries from others are any help to you, and if your questions aren't covered, please start a new thread and ask. You will get support there, even if opinions sometimes differ! Same goes for the Reflexology forum, I'm sure, though I'm not a reflexologist so not a frequent visitor there.
Three regular clients … well, if they're regular, [/i]you must be doing something right if they keep coming back for more! How did you get those clients in the first place? Can you do more of that to increase your number of clients?
If you are a qualified therapist, of course you should be charging for your services. I understand about not feeling comfortable asking for money. How could you get round the discomfort, perhaps in your choice of words, ie how you ask? If your clients are regular, perhaps they could be offered a small discount if they pre-book (and pre-pay) a given number of treatments? Maybe something to also consider for new clients?
It seems to me that your client with POS was hoping that a miracle would happen. Neither you nor your treatments can be held responsible for her failure to conceive, and you were absolutely right not to have made any claims or promises. I usually make a disclaimer on these lines before a treatment, just so I'm covered and the client has no false hopes. If this lady is no longer your client, you may not know if she's seen her GP about it, but that's the person to whom she should be referred.
It's perfectly natural to feel a little anxious and stressed when beginning something new. If there's anything specific about the course that you feel might be causing this, perhaps you could have a quiet chat to your tutor about it. I'm sure that once you've overcome these blips, you'll actually be in a better position to treat people, because you'll have the knowledge and understanding that comes from experience.
Sarah mentions EFT in her post. I can't comment from personal experience on that one, but certainly I do see EFT very highly recommended in various forums here, so I'd certainly follow her suggestion to have a look in Mind Therapies.
Another good forum to visit would be Business Development, because there's loads of advice there about many aspects of getting a business established and attracting more clients, from giving talks, having a website, design and distribution of publicity material etc
Perhaps a bit naughty and irreligious of me to suggest this, but with Christmas not s
Wow, Thank you both for your positive response.
It has helped so far to know there is somewhere for support and advice. To know that people are or have been in similar situations. I will certainly start putting some of the suggestions into practice and definatly have a look at the other forums suggested.
Thank you again,
regards Fatfairy :)
p.s. Here's to a brighter future
Love and light [sm=nature-smiley-008.gif]
Just another thought. Is there a Reiki shares in your area. I have had a lot of support from the others who go to the one I attend. It's also a great way to get yourself on the receiving end as well.
Love Sarah
xxx
Just joined tonight. Feeling pretty bloody depressed! Probably cos I teach 11-16 year olds! Hang in there. Can anyone help, I think I need to relax and I need help with anger management. I joined because I wanted to learn about Wiccan beliefs and this is what "googled" up. I love teaching but my life feels pretty unfulfilled. I need something to fill the hole! Any suggestions?
Thanks, Sue[&:]
Welcome Sue, don't envy you much, I must say[:-]
Loads of info on HP, enjoy yourself and why not go to New members forum and say Hi there, lots of people waiting to welcome you.
Gillyx
Hi :)
There were 2 reiki get togethers in my area. One was started by the tutor I mentioned before. We were charged for the room hire and she ran one then didn't bother after that. The other was held at a persons house who was also a student of the tutor. They were quite nice to go to, very relaxed, until the student fell out with the tutor about her teaching methods and what she had taught in Reiki 1 and 2. The other student phoned me telling me that most of what I had learnt in Reiki 2 was wrong. I honesly didn't want that negativity in my life and so have not gone since [:@] or had any other contact with that person.
Fatfairy [sm=nature-smiley-008.gif]
HiFatfairy:
So glad to see from your earlier post that you're feeling a bit brighter :), but "oh dear" about the fallings out between the Reiki people, and I think you were quite right not to want to be involved. There's a thread on Reiki shares pinned at the top of that forum, also a Directory at the very top of the page, which might help.
As for getting your therapies going generally,have you thought what might be your first step?
Laura.
Hi,
Sorry I didn't reply sooner but I have been a bit bogged down with my 1st 2 assignments on the Access to nursing course :eek: Thank you for the advice/words of wisdom it has done a lot of good :)
At the moment I am offering reduced price treatments to my regular clients if they introduce more clients to me. Regular clients also get a free treatment for their birthday.
There is a community centre nearby where I may be ably to do Complementary Therapy Awareness days or mornings, but I am negotiating costs with them. That's as far as I've got at the moment, but any other ideas are welcome.
Fatfairy [sm=FIFangel.gif]x
P.S. I think my weight gain also added to my dispondent low feeling and so I have joined an exercise class and will be starting swimming again too [sm=animal-smiley-085.gif].
Hi fatfairy
What a lovely post to read ... thank you! It's always wonderful to get positive feedback :)and I'm glad to have been of help. I'm sure the others will be too.
How did the assignments go? They're time-consuming, I know, but I used to really rather enjoy mine when I had to do them :)
Access to Nursing ... correct me if things have changed, but Access to XXXXX (anything) used to be a kind of introductory course, or stepping stone, to further study. Do you have a longer term goal here as regards nursing?
How are they making the introductions? Word of mouth and personal recommendation aregreat. Do they also have some leaflets or cardsto hand round with your contact details on them? I think the birthday treatmentis a lovely idea- a really nice touch (pun, sorry! :D)
A thought on the awareness days, as you say you are negotiating ... could you give a little leeway maybe, on a trial basis, subject to later confirmation and an increase in prices?
Gosh, you're really going great guns all round, aren't you ... well done! I'm sure I don't really need to say this, but I do place very high value on eating properly. Easiest thing in the world if feeling a bit low is to skimp on decent food and snack on junk. I actually have the opposite problem - maintaining weight - so I'm always eating, but if I don't make sure I eat a good, balanced diet, I soon feel like rubbish myself.[:'(]
Anyway, it all sounds very good and positive - keep up the good work :)
Laura.
EDITED to add a couple of links to other threads which may be of interest:
Books forum - Optimum Nutrition Bible
Massage forum – thread on attracting new clients
Hi Laura,
The access course will enable me to get the credits to go on to Uni and study Nursing. Ideally would like to be able to combine the Complementary therapies with the Nursing [sm=1syellow1.gif]well its the idea at the moment.
I have given out leaflets to clients to pass onto potential clients, but no joy yet. Oh well positive thought [sm=nature-smiley-008.gif]
I do try and have a balance diet but still have those one or two things that I can't stay away from. It's been great this year as my boyfriend and I managed to grow our own tomatoes, radish and a few beans and his Mum grew potatoes, leeks and beans and what a difference in taste.
I don't suppose you know anything about lay lines etc. My Mum beleives we have some sort of undercurrent of water under our home and that its depleating me of energy? I'm going to post it on one of the other forums,
Thanks again,
Fatfairy x
P.S. Not so dispondent anymore :-)
Just a query but does anyone feel at times dispondent with the treatments they offer,
Fatfairy [sm=confused-smiley-012.gif]
Answers:
fatfairy, your post suggests YOU might be feeling despondent, and if so, I'm sorry you feel that way.
But are you feeling despondent (or enquiring if others are) about the treatments themselves ... or possibly responses from potential clients to treatments on offer? Your profile doesn't say what treatments you do.
Holistic
Answers:
Hi Holistic,
At present I offer IHM, Swedish Massage, Reflexology and Reiki. At times I don't feel competent in what I am doing and the support I thought was there from my Reiki/Reflexology tutor isn't. I passed VTCT in Holistic Therapies 2 years ago and so far I have 3 regular clients.
I however don't always feel comfortable asking for money for the treatments and haven't for a while. Not sure if it's becasue of a lack of confidence and experience. But whilst studying it was implyed that we must charge a certain amount otherwise it would frowned upon and also make it difficult for others to charge for their treatments they offer.
I suppose some of the dispondent feeling has come from a client (who is now no longer a client) who had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (POS). When I first went to treat her with Reiki and she told me of this condition I admitted it wasn't something I had heard of but would research it. My findings were mixed, but it was suggested in some cases that Reflexology could help. She agreed to the reflexology along with having some Reiki at the same time as she had liked it. I feel though that at the end of 8 weeks she was expecting to be pregnant (something she said her and her husband were trying for), but I never at any point said this was a miracle cure or this would happen. I did also discuss other factors such as diet, exercise etc as she was quite overweight.
I have also just started an Access to Nursing course, which has bought on small bouts of anxiety attacks and stress! which makes me wonder whether I am actually in a position to treat people anyway?
Feeling a bit lost,
Fatfairy
Answers:
Hi Fat Fairy,
Up until a couple of weeks ago that could have been me (plus EFT) talking but not now. Now,my confidence is good, I am attracting more clients, have been asked to do a workshop in stress management and treatments have improved!!
So what has happened. Well, I was lucky enough to go Gary Craig's EFT seminar and managed to clear a lot of issues and now I believe in myself. Why not visit the Mind Therapies forum and look at the EFT stuff. You never know, it might help.
Love
Sarah
xxx
Answers:
Hi Fatfairy
Thanks for your full reply. I get a better picture now. What follows isjust myopinion, or suggestions … I'm saying that now so as not to keep repeating myself, hopefully!
Well, you have a good repertoire of treatments there. I'm sorry you don't seem to be getting support from your tutor. As far as the Reiki is concerned, unfortunately this does seem to happen sometimes. May I suggest you pay a visit to the Reiki forum here, see if any threads containing queries from others are any help to you, and if your questions aren't covered, please start a new thread and ask. You will get support there, even if opinions sometimes differ! Same goes for the Reflexology forum, I'm sure, though I'm not a reflexologist so not a frequent visitor there.
Three regular clients … well, if they're regular, [/i]you must be doing something right if they keep coming back for more! How did you get those clients in the first place? Can you do more of that to increase your number of clients?
If you are a qualified therapist, of course you should be charging for your services. I understand about not feeling comfortable asking for money. How could you get round the discomfort, perhaps in your choice of words, ie how you ask? If your clients are regular, perhaps they could be offered a small discount if they pre-book (and pre-pay) a given number of treatments? Maybe something to also consider for new clients?
It seems to me that your client with POS was hoping that a miracle would happen. Neither you nor your treatments can be held responsible for her failure to conceive, and you were absolutely right not to have made any claims or promises. I usually make a disclaimer on these lines before a treatment, just so I'm covered and the client has no false hopes. If this lady is no longer your client, you may not know if she's seen her GP about it, but that's the person to whom she should be referred.
It's perfectly natural to feel a little anxious and stressed when beginning something new. If there's anything specific about the course that you feel might be causing this, perhaps you could have a quiet chat to your tutor about it. I'm sure that once you've overcome these blips, you'll actually be in a better position to treat people, because you'll have the knowledge and understanding that comes from experience.
Sarah mentions EFT in her post. I can't comment from personal experience on that one, but certainly I do see EFT very highly recommended in various forums here, so I'd certainly follow her suggestion to have a look in Mind Therapies.
Another good forum to visit would be Business Development, because there's loads of advice there about many aspects of getting a business established and attracting more clients, from giving talks, having a website, design and distribution of publicity material etc
Perhaps a bit naughty and irreligious of me to suggest this, but with Christmas not s
Answers:
Wow, Thank you both for your positive response.
It has helped so far to know there is somewhere for support and advice. To know that people are or have been in similar situations. I will certainly start putting some of the suggestions into practice and definatly have a look at the other forums suggested.
Thank you again,
regards Fatfairy :)
p.s. Here's to a brighter future
Love and light [sm=nature-smiley-008.gif]
Answers:
Just another thought. Is there a Reiki shares in your area. I have had a lot of support from the others who go to the one I attend. It's also a great way to get yourself on the receiving end as well.
Love Sarah
xxx
Answers:
Just joined tonight. Feeling pretty bloody depressed! Probably cos I teach 11-16 year olds! Hang in there. Can anyone help, I think I need to relax and I need help with anger management. I joined because I wanted to learn about Wiccan beliefs and this is what "googled" up. I love teaching but my life feels pretty unfulfilled. I need something to fill the hole! Any suggestions?
Thanks, Sue[&:]
Answers:
Welcome Sue, don't envy you much, I must say[:-]
Loads of info on HP, enjoy yourself and why not go to New members forum and say Hi there, lots of people waiting to welcome you.
Gillyx
Answers:
Hi :)
There were 2 reiki get togethers in my area. One was started by the tutor I mentioned before. We were charged for the room hire and she ran one then didn't bother after that. The other was held at a persons house who was also a student of the tutor. They were quite nice to go to, very relaxed, until the student fell out with the tutor about her teaching methods and what she had taught in Reiki 1 and 2. The other student phoned me telling me that most of what I had learnt in Reiki 2 was wrong. I honesly didn't want that negativity in my life and so have not gone since [:@] or had any other contact with that person.
Fatfairy [sm=nature-smiley-008.gif]
Answers:
HiFatfairy:
So glad to see from your earlier post that you're feeling a bit brighter :), but "oh dear" about the fallings out between the Reiki people, and I think you were quite right not to want to be involved. There's a thread on Reiki shares pinned at the top of that forum, also a Directory at the very top of the page, which might help.
As for getting your therapies going generally,have you thought what might be your first step?
Laura.
Answers:
Hi,
Sorry I didn't reply sooner but I have been a bit bogged down with my 1st 2 assignments on the Access to nursing course :eek: Thank you for the advice/words of wisdom it has done a lot of good :)
At the moment I am offering reduced price treatments to my regular clients if they introduce more clients to me. Regular clients also get a free treatment for their birthday.
There is a community centre nearby where I may be ably to do Complementary Therapy Awareness days or mornings, but I am negotiating costs with them. That's as far as I've got at the moment, but any other ideas are welcome.
Fatfairy [sm=FIFangel.gif]x
P.S. I think my weight gain also added to my dispondent low feeling and so I have joined an exercise class and will be starting swimming again too [sm=animal-smiley-085.gif].
Answers:
Hi fatfairy
What a lovely post to read ... thank you! It's always wonderful to get positive feedback :)and I'm glad to have been of help. I'm sure the others will be too.
How did the assignments go? They're time-consuming, I know, but I used to really rather enjoy mine when I had to do them :)
Access to Nursing ... correct me if things have changed, but Access to XXXXX (anything) used to be a kind of introductory course, or stepping stone, to further study. Do you have a longer term goal here as regards nursing?
How are they making the introductions? Word of mouth and personal recommendation aregreat. Do they also have some leaflets or cardsto hand round with your contact details on them? I think the birthday treatmentis a lovely idea- a really nice touch (pun, sorry! :D)
A thought on the awareness days, as you say you are negotiating ... could you give a little leeway maybe, on a trial basis, subject to later confirmation and an increase in prices?
Gosh, you're really going great guns all round, aren't you ... well done! I'm sure I don't really need to say this, but I do place very high value on eating properly. Easiest thing in the world if feeling a bit low is to skimp on decent food and snack on junk. I actually have the opposite problem - maintaining weight - so I'm always eating, but if I don't make sure I eat a good, balanced diet, I soon feel like rubbish myself.[:'(]
Anyway, it all sounds very good and positive - keep up the good work :)
Laura.
EDITED to add a couple of links to other threads which may be of interest:
Books forum - Optimum Nutrition Bible
Massage forum – thread on attracting new clients
Answers:
Hi Laura,
The access course will enable me to get the credits to go on to Uni and study Nursing. Ideally would like to be able to combine the Complementary therapies with the Nursing [sm=1syellow1.gif]well its the idea at the moment.
I have given out leaflets to clients to pass onto potential clients, but no joy yet. Oh well positive thought [sm=nature-smiley-008.gif]
I do try and have a balance diet but still have those one or two things that I can't stay away from. It's been great this year as my boyfriend and I managed to grow our own tomatoes, radish and a few beans and his Mum grew potatoes, leeks and beans and what a difference in taste.
I don't suppose you know anything about lay lines etc. My Mum beleives we have some sort of undercurrent of water under our home and that its depleating me of energy? I'm going to post it on one of the other forums,
Thanks again,
Fatfairy x
P.S. Not so dispondent anymore :-)
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