Partners

[rockin JC]

Hi there, I would appreciate your thoughts and comments on the following;

If a client came to see you and both they and their partner were in agreement, would you allow partner to be present during treatment?

As always I look forward to your wise words.

Best wishes

Footwizard

 

[just_ken_here]

Hi footwizard,

Personally I would allow partners / friends to be present ifmy client so wished.
I believe that this is a great way of 1. spreading the word aboutcomplementary / alternative therapies, and 2.potentially gaining new clients.

There may be times, most likely at the end of the session, where you would require a private word with your client, at which point you can always ask the partner etc to leave for a couple of minutes.

 

[Happy Ness]

[align=left]While I broadly agree with Mark I would question why a partner would wish to be present. I would want to stipulate that the consultation would be private. The partner could then sit in on the actual treatment but I would ask that they keep any questions until the end otherwise the clients ability to relax might be affected. It is important that there is sufficent space in the room for the therapist to focus on the client and not be distracted by the observer. We should remember that in some instances the partner may be the source of stress.


[/align]

 

[PooYho]

Forever sceptical, I would try and trust my gut instincts on this one and perhaps that is why you have raised this query in the first place - you feel uncomfortable about this.
There could be some sort of control freakery going on with one or both people ...or some sort of pervertion at play.
I suggest that if you do agree to have both of them in the room also agree with them that you will try it just the once.
If you then don't feel good about it, you could say that the next treatmentcan be much more beneficial unaccompanied.
Beware!

 

[WypoczynekSiema]

As expected some very interesting and wise advice, many thanks.

Mysterious, you are a very astute person and I agree wholeheartedly with your comments. This, I think, is a case of contol freakery,it seems obvious to methat someone should trust their partner and allow them some freedom and I am always wary when they don't.I love the comment about gut instinct, I find it fascinating that one can get an opinion of someone on the phone whch is invariably correct.

On this occasion the partner was present as all consented, in future however I would take your advice mysterious and allow it just the once.

Thanks again

 

[Larry W]

I'd certainly allow it, wizard, and have done so in the past with positive effects, eg giving someone who is nervous the confidence to try reflexology. What on earth do you mean by 'some sort of pervertion at play', mysterious? I assume you mean 'perversion', but I can't think how this would apply to reflexology?!

Good luck wizard...

Janet x

 

[zellparis]

Whilst I think that every case should be judged individually I tend to agree with feet4you. The consultation should be private unless the client absolutely insisted the partner sit in but I'd want to know why, although I know the reasons may be varied and yes, sometimes it's the partner causing the stress.

I suppose that it wouldn't hurt for one session but I'd certainly want some sessions alone with the client.

Clients sometimes tell you lots of things that they would never say in front of their partner whether they have a good relationship or not.