With holistic therapies it is possible for your session to be tailored to you, so, how do you get the most out of your therapy session?

Before the hands-on part of your therapy begins, you’ll find that your therapist has a little chat with you. Apart from letting you get anything off your chest so you don’t feel the need to think about it throughout your session, it’s also a chance for your therapist to discover what’s been going on and anything that needs to be considered. Have there been any new health changes since your last visit, and if so, would incorporating a specific technique or approach help? Are there different areas you want focus on, an issue that has occurred which can be addressed before it becomes a bigger problem? Depending on what therapy you have chosen you may find your therapist is identifying different aspects to concentrate on.

So, if you’re having a reflexology session, what you tell the reflexologist means they will keep that in mind during your session. As usual, they will carry out a full routine on your feet and then spend additional time on the areas you’ve mentioned and the points they’ve also picked up on.

If you’re having a Reiki session, it may mean your therapist will spend longer on a problem area, encouraging your body to do what it needs to, in order to address the imbalance you are experiencing.

If you’re having a massage, it is at this point it’s important that you think about the areas you want massaged. If you tell a therapist you have a lower back issue that you want focused on, then that is what your therapist will do. If you’re having a back, neck and shoulder massage they’re likely to spend much more time massaging the bottom of your back and helping to loosen that area rather than spending ages on your shoulders, because that is the area you have said is the problem. Some people may say their lower back is tight and they’d like a little more focus there, but also work on their neck and shoulders. This is absolutely fine and lets the therapist know exactly what you’re wanting from your session.

Also, if you know you like a particular type of pressure let your therapist know. Some people like to feel relaxed but want to feel their problem areas have had a good massage. Some like to experience a gentle massage, while others prefer a firm pressure. While each therapist has a different approach and different interpretation of firm, gentle etc, you should find they take into consideration the pressure you tell them. 

If you’re having an aromatherapy session and you want to feel relaxed but alert, don’t feel you can’t say this because they appear to be contradicting one another. While it may sound contradictory to you, to a therapist it gives them a great idea about the combination of oils to consider. If you say this to an aromatherapist they will blend your oils using a relaxing oil and also one which is stimulating. Far from being confusing, the more information you can give regardless of how random it seems, the more bespoke it will become. I have some clients who tell me they want to feel grounded, resilient, stimulated, alert, relaxed, ready for bed, clear headed – and we talk about it and I choose the oils based on it.

Regardless of which therapy you choose, it’s your session and to get the most out of it, it is useful to tell the therapist your expectations and issues so they can work with you.

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