As an holistic therapist I have a toolkit of therapies I offer, as I’m aware not everyone likes the same thing. Regardless of your therapy, I’ll have a little chat with you before the session, and it’s then you can tell me what you think you may want.
If you’re having a massage, during a consultation I have a chat with you about what you want me to focus on. I find some people are surprised when they ask if they can have a back, neck and shoulders with a bit of work on their feet, and I say yes. Over the years, I’ve been asked for half hour massages and half hour reflexology, half hour reflexology and half hour reiki, half hour Indian head massage and half hour reflexology, 40mins back, neck and shoulder massage, some time on the head and ending with a little bit of time on the feet at the end – really the combination is up to you.
I do say an Indian head combined with anything other than reiki is a little bit more disrupting, as you’ll need to change from a seat to a couch, but if you’re ok with it then I have no problem. If you’re combining a massage with a reflexology or reiki, then it’s not a problem as you can stay led on the couch for the entire session.
If you’ve never had a specific therapy and you’re not sure if you’d like it, adding it to a different therapy you know you enjoy can be a good idea. My first introduction to reflexology was with a massage therapist who gave me five minutes of reflexology, which was interesting as I traditionally hated having my feet touched. While I didn’t overly enjoy it at the time, it did teach me that someone could touch my feet and it was OK. Later, during my reflexology training I began to love reflexology and it’s still a therapy I enjoy. 
If you do have a five minute session, don’t dismiss it if it’s not 100% comfortable. Sometimes, it may be that you need to just get used to it or you may prefer the technique of a different therapist. It may be that you include the therapy as part of several sessions, so you can adjust to the idea of it and begin to relax into the session, this is something which can be difficult if you don’t know what to expect and you’re feeling a bit worried about it. Obviously, if you absolutely hated it, then you have your answer!
So, the next time you book for a session, if you want something a bit more bespoke or mixed, just let your therapist know!
Louise is an holistic therapist who owns the Therapy Centre, BS14 9HB, a clinic offering a range of holistic and beauty therapies. Louise offers reflexology, aromatherapy, aromatology, holistic massage, Indian head massage, reiki, baby massage and story massage. She is a mum of two boys and when she is not working she enjoys getting outdoors with her family. For further information visit louise-morgan.co.uk or contact her clinic on 01275 217160