Hi, I'm new, with questions!
Hi, I've been reading posts on this website for a while now, and it has already helped me loads so far. I've finally decided to register so that I can pick some brains! I am a qualified Reiki practitioner, I will be qualified in Reflexology in December, Hopi Ear Candles in June, and completing Aromaflex (a mix of reflexology and aromatherapy - without the massage bit) January next year.
I'm basically wondering (and worrying!) about getting those first clients - how long did it take you to get your feet off the ground so to speak, and were those first clients as nerve wrecking as I am imagining them to be?
I'm also going to be treating from home, I have a room (small spare room) set aside for purely for my treatments, and I think I have made it as comfortable and welcoming as possible, but I'm worrying a bit about not seeming as 'professional' as those who treat in a centre. Silly I know, but I'm concerned about things such as my dog barking downstairs, or my 18mth old crying (not that they ever really do), and things like the smell of dinner wafting up the stairs!
Also when do you ask for the money, and how do you do it? I know when it comes to that I'm going to feel really cheeky! Kind of used to treating my case studies for free.
Sorry to ramble, and for asking stupid questions, but I'd be grateful for any insights. Thanks, Katy.
Answers:
Hi Katyb
welcome to healthy pages.
Hvae you had a look at the business and markting forum too, there might be some helpful comments there
good luck when you finally dip your toe in the water
tigress
Answers:
:):)Hello Katy B,
Welcome to hp. It sounds like uve been very busy studying:eek:Well done to you.
Im sure all those things you talked about will be fine...Dog barking, little one crying.
And thereshould be some free local business firms that could give you some advice with how to get things going? Ive just had lots of tips from www
With regards to money thats a really good question...ive been having treatmens and im always worried that im going to forget to pay...so i make sure i pay at the start...
Once i did forget to pay and the therapist just said to you want to pay me upstairs or downstairs...i was really embarrassed[&:]
Could you tell me abit about aromaflex only ive not heard of that before?
Good luck
Take care
Rachelx
Answers:
Hi KatyB,
I understand your worries, I was like that a year ago. It took me a while to get clients. I gave my leaflets to as many people as I could, through friends, day time work colleagues (I work full time and do my holistic therapies in the eve), at my local shops etc. The first few were nerveracking but you have to have confidence in yourself as a therapist. I never let on to anyone that they were my "first client" for a particular therapy. I just made sure I did a full consultation with them and a quick general chat about themselves (I find people like to talk about themselves). I make sure I am as professional as possible i.e. wearing a tunic, having room clean, nice music etc.
I too have my spare room as my therapy room. I ensure that when a client is coming for treatment that I close all the other bedroom doors plus the doors downstairs, (to have a bit of privacy from my family life) and direct them up to the therapy room. I understand what you said about the "dinner smells". I try if I can when I know a client is booked in not to cook something that will linger. I have 2 boisterous boys, they know when someone is coming for treatment and in all fairness (they are 5 and 7), they know not to come upstairs and to be quiet. I try to keep them in a room which is not directly beneath the therapy room, once you have your music on and start your treatment, your client will be well chilled. I do also do a Reiki cleanse of my room from time to time so no negativity may be left!
Also, clients know you work from home and don't expect the calm and serenity as they would get in a spa environment. I find that the clients I have, like to come to my home, nobody will see them, when they have an oily head from IHM or if they arrive in their old trackies etc. compared to being in a town, having to walk out afterwards where people will see them!!! I find that all of my clients are happy to come to my home for treatment. I am sure you know but just check with your insurance company that its ok to work from home.
Best of luck with your potential clients and with your studies. Please feel free to pm if you have any other queries on this.
Love and blessings,
Rachel
Answers:
Thanks so much for all your quick replies. Enchantedhands, you've really put my mind at ease, makes me feel a lot better to know you have two boisterous boys in the house, my little boy is only 18 months, he's into EVERYTHING, and unfortunately he does not know what the word 'quiet' means!
Hallos, thanks for the website link, I'll give that a go ina minute. Aromaflex is a mixture of aromatherpay and reflexology, my reflexology tutor sort of created the idea for people that want to be able to mix and 'prescribe' essential oils, but did not want to have to do the massage aspect of the usual aromatherpay course. I'm doing my reflexology training within the AoR, and they have okayed the course and offer insurance for it. It means when I treat, be it reflexology or reiki, I'll be able to use and mix essentail oils and even create lotions and potions relevant to each client and their conditions! Strangely, even though I am authorised and insured to do this, I cannot call myself an 'Aromatherpist' - I did not even realise until recently that aromatherpay had to involve massage, maybe I can come up with a new name...
Thanks again, Katy.
Answers:
:)Hello Again Katy,
Your very welcome...And thanks for leting me know about aromaflex....it sounds fun...
Im qualified in aroma and reflexology and ive never heard of it before...Ive just googled it and there dosnt seem to be much info on it.....Are there course near you?
Bye for now
Rachelx
Answers:
Hi Rachel,
I live in Nottingham, which is where the course is run - Caritas school of reflexology. Unfortunately theirwebsite focuses purely on the reflexology side of things,and so I don't think there is any info on the course.
I have also googled it myself, and the only thing I found was a women in Australia who has combined reflex and aromatherpay and also called it 'aromaflex'. I wonder who coined the phrase first?!
To begin with I was slightly concerned as to whether the course would count as anything if I chose to pursue a 'full' aromatherapy course, my tutor is not sure on this. However, at the moment I am not really interested in the massage aspect, and I guess as long as I can use essential oils (legally!) this is all that matters. I hope one day to specialise in pregancy, so I think a knowledge of EO will be incredibly useful. x
Answers:
:)Hello katy,
I love essential oils and massage ...i did aroma before reflexology...and i must say ive such a passion for reflexology....i am thinking about doing an advanced course....(VTCT).:eek:
Yes i found the site from Australia. I used to live in lincolnshire a little town called sleaford., so i know of nottingham.
Bye for now
RaCHEL
I'm basically wondering (and worrying!) about getting those first clients - how long did it take you to get your feet off the ground so to speak, and were those first clients as nerve wrecking as I am imagining them to be?
I'm also going to be treating from home, I have a room (small spare room) set aside for purely for my treatments, and I think I have made it as comfortable and welcoming as possible, but I'm worrying a bit about not seeming as 'professional' as those who treat in a centre. Silly I know, but I'm concerned about things such as my dog barking downstairs, or my 18mth old crying (not that they ever really do), and things like the smell of dinner wafting up the stairs!
Also when do you ask for the money, and how do you do it? I know when it comes to that I'm going to feel really cheeky! Kind of used to treating my case studies for free.
Sorry to ramble, and for asking stupid questions, but I'd be grateful for any insights. Thanks, Katy.
Answers:
Hi Katyb
welcome to healthy pages.
Hvae you had a look at the business and markting forum too, there might be some helpful comments there
good luck when you finally dip your toe in the water
tigress
Answers:
:):)Hello Katy B,
Welcome to hp. It sounds like uve been very busy studying:eek:Well done to you.
Im sure all those things you talked about will be fine...Dog barking, little one crying.
And thereshould be some free local business firms that could give you some advice with how to get things going? Ive just had lots of tips from www
With regards to money thats a really good question...ive been having treatmens and im always worried that im going to forget to pay...so i make sure i pay at the start...
Once i did forget to pay and the therapist just said to you want to pay me upstairs or downstairs...i was really embarrassed[&:]
Could you tell me abit about aromaflex only ive not heard of that before?
Good luck
Take care
Rachelx
Answers:
Hi KatyB,
I understand your worries, I was like that a year ago. It took me a while to get clients. I gave my leaflets to as many people as I could, through friends, day time work colleagues (I work full time and do my holistic therapies in the eve), at my local shops etc. The first few were nerveracking but you have to have confidence in yourself as a therapist. I never let on to anyone that they were my "first client" for a particular therapy. I just made sure I did a full consultation with them and a quick general chat about themselves (I find people like to talk about themselves). I make sure I am as professional as possible i.e. wearing a tunic, having room clean, nice music etc.
I too have my spare room as my therapy room. I ensure that when a client is coming for treatment that I close all the other bedroom doors plus the doors downstairs, (to have a bit of privacy from my family life) and direct them up to the therapy room. I understand what you said about the "dinner smells". I try if I can when I know a client is booked in not to cook something that will linger. I have 2 boisterous boys, they know when someone is coming for treatment and in all fairness (they are 5 and 7), they know not to come upstairs and to be quiet. I try to keep them in a room which is not directly beneath the therapy room, once you have your music on and start your treatment, your client will be well chilled. I do also do a Reiki cleanse of my room from time to time so no negativity may be left!
Also, clients know you work from home and don't expect the calm and serenity as they would get in a spa environment. I find that the clients I have, like to come to my home, nobody will see them, when they have an oily head from IHM or if they arrive in their old trackies etc. compared to being in a town, having to walk out afterwards where people will see them!!! I find that all of my clients are happy to come to my home for treatment. I am sure you know but just check with your insurance company that its ok to work from home.
Best of luck with your potential clients and with your studies. Please feel free to pm if you have any other queries on this.
Love and blessings,
Rachel
Answers:
Thanks so much for all your quick replies. Enchantedhands, you've really put my mind at ease, makes me feel a lot better to know you have two boisterous boys in the house, my little boy is only 18 months, he's into EVERYTHING, and unfortunately he does not know what the word 'quiet' means!
Hallos, thanks for the website link, I'll give that a go ina minute. Aromaflex is a mixture of aromatherpay and reflexology, my reflexology tutor sort of created the idea for people that want to be able to mix and 'prescribe' essential oils, but did not want to have to do the massage aspect of the usual aromatherpay course. I'm doing my reflexology training within the AoR, and they have okayed the course and offer insurance for it. It means when I treat, be it reflexology or reiki, I'll be able to use and mix essentail oils and even create lotions and potions relevant to each client and their conditions! Strangely, even though I am authorised and insured to do this, I cannot call myself an 'Aromatherpist' - I did not even realise until recently that aromatherpay had to involve massage, maybe I can come up with a new name...
Thanks again, Katy.
Answers:
:)Hello Again Katy,
Your very welcome...And thanks for leting me know about aromaflex....it sounds fun...
Im qualified in aroma and reflexology and ive never heard of it before...Ive just googled it and there dosnt seem to be much info on it.....Are there course near you?
Bye for now
Rachelx
Answers:
Hi Rachel,
I live in Nottingham, which is where the course is run - Caritas school of reflexology. Unfortunately theirwebsite focuses purely on the reflexology side of things,and so I don't think there is any info on the course.
I have also googled it myself, and the only thing I found was a women in Australia who has combined reflex and aromatherpay and also called it 'aromaflex'. I wonder who coined the phrase first?!
To begin with I was slightly concerned as to whether the course would count as anything if I chose to pursue a 'full' aromatherapy course, my tutor is not sure on this. However, at the moment I am not really interested in the massage aspect, and I guess as long as I can use essential oils (legally!) this is all that matters. I hope one day to specialise in pregancy, so I think a knowledge of EO will be incredibly useful. x
Answers:
:)Hello katy,
I love essential oils and massage ...i did aroma before reflexology...and i must say ive such a passion for reflexology....i am thinking about doing an advanced course....(VTCT).:eek:
Yes i found the site from Australia. I used to live in lincolnshire a little town called sleaford., so i know of nottingham.
Bye for now
RaCHEL