The Life of a Therapist

The further removed you get from massage school, the more likely it is that you’ll come across a disease or condition that you aren’t exactly familiar with. Such was the case for me last night. I had a woman visit my studio after winning a gift certificate I donated to a chinese auction.

When she made her appointment last week, she mentioned that she had neck problems and that she had never had a massage before. I was a little bit nervous, even though I love working on necks and relieving upper body tension.

I was slightly dismayed when I looked out the window to see her husband drop her off. She had a neck brace on! I wondered if I was being set up for a lawsuit or if she was freshly injured and I should decline the massage.

As it turns out, my client has degenerative disk disease. She wears a neck brace when she is a passenger in a car because she is afraid of what might happen if they are in an accident or have to slam on the brakes suddenly.

We had a lengthy conversation about her needs and expectations before her massage. I became more comfortable with her and her condition and she was comfortable with me working on her neck (carefully) as well. She felt great by the time we were done the session!

Remember, it pays to question yourself, especially if posed with a difficult situation. Never jump in feet-first if you don’t know what you are getting into. Always ask questions, and if you aren’t getting the answers you need (or the answers that make you comfortable with a massage), decline to do the work and/or refer your client back to his or her doctor for clearance.

Better safe than sorry.

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