Advice Please

[Pompal 09.]

As a therapist I disagree with this statment. For the most part doesn't matter with working as a sole practitioner or in a large environment. That is why most therapists like to take a moment to talk the the client first. And, usually sole practitioners practices are built on referrals, so, in my experience it is rare that someone just walks in "off the street" or without knowing someone who has been to my office before. On occasion, but rare.

you would think differently if you were strictly mobile. so, yes the environment is part of the story.
the other part of the story is that there are plenty of men who 'screen' well on the phone, but think that anything can be negotiated behind closed doors.

 

[Jimbo N]

you would think differently if you were strictly mobile. so, yes the environment is part of the story.
the other part of the story is that there are plenty of men who 'screen' well on the phone, but think that anything can be negotiated behind closed doors.

As I mentioned "for the most part". And that "usually sole practitioners practices are built on referrals, so, in my experience it is rare that someone just walks in "off the street" or without knowing someone who has been to my office before".

I personally have had more people looking for "services I don't offer" in the spa environment with 40 + employees (hair, esthetics, nail, massage) than I ever have in private practice. I also do hotel calls, and with that I do use the concierege as my screener. I think I've had two men looking for extra services in 7 years of that practice.

I am not saying you shouldn't be careful or that environment doesn't play a factor. I think my words were misinterpreted.

So let me try to rephrase. In my experience as a therapist, and for many of the therapists I have run across during my time of practicing - I don't find that being a sole practitioner makes one experience men looking for "extra services" more frequently than when in practice in a larger environment. I certainly am not saying practitioners should not trust thier instincts or feel un-safe. By all means, do both.

From what I have experienced, many therapists who have a privately based practices, more often have referrals, and less frequently have "walk ins". I want to be clear that just because a client is going to a sole practitoner office, this should not be a reason that a client would think the worst will automatically be assumed of them. I certainly don't assume someone is coming to me for something other than therapeutic work.


Hope that helps clarify my post.

 

[??hi?]

texas gal,

i swear you and i have had completely different experiences. i have found the opposite to be true. i worked in a spa for 2 years. worked with MANY men and was never ask or treated inappropriately. however, in my private practice, i think i was moved in 2 weeks and had already received a phone call asking for it. and now after having been there for over a 1 1/2 i've had more phone calls that i can keep track of. and have also had requests while on my table.

while i worked in the spa, i never thought about it. really, never once did have trouble or have to think about it. now, every time i receive a phone call from someone i do not know, it pops into my mind. it's something i have to be prepared to deal with. so my experience has been quite different from yours. weird eh?

 

[Josh]

... now, every time i receive a phone call from someone i do not know, it pops into my mind. it's something i have to be prepared to deal with. so my experience has been quite different from yours. weird eh?

terab,
It is definitely something to be aware of, that is for sure. Good thing we all talk about it.

-=-=-=-

I think somehow this thread got morphed back into one of those "men cause problems - threads". And the original question has been only answered intermittently. I tried to do my best to answer from my persepective and those I have hung around over the years.

For me it is important that the clients I see in my office (though they don't know this is "me" speaking for "my office", since I use a call name here *smiles*) understand if it is in my office, I treat everyone on the same premise, and don't assume there is going to be a problem with my male clients.

Jump start back to woody's original questions:

How do I express this without giving the wrong impression? Are there therapists that just have their own personal reservations about what areas they will not touch? I do not want to waste any more money hopping from therapist to therapist to find the one that can do it right. Is there any advice on how to approach my next visit to communicate my needs without make it seem improper?

Also, how often should I go and for how long should my sessions be to acheive more permanent results. I don't go that often, but if I can get the type of massage I'm looking for I would like to make it regular so I can eliminate some troubled areas of my shoulders over time. As of now, this problem has been with me for years and gets painful.