Sick and cannot get hold of client

[Stephanie Wilson]

I have the flu and have cancelled 2 clients this week. One got back to me but the other I have left several messages and she has not returned my call. This is a new client. I am physically not able to perform a full massage if she turns up tonight.

How do I handle the situation if she arrives for her massage. Earlier on I thought I would be able to carry it out but as the day progresses I am feeling worse for wear. I had 0 sleep last night as I could not breathe with my asthma.

I've been sick on and off for the last 4 months which is not helping with my business.

 

[seotonsger]

All you can do is keep trying and leave a message. It may be that she has received your messages but doesn't want to disturb you by calling you back. Do you have a mobile and a land line number for her? Use both - it's about all you can do at the moment. Poor you - hope you feel better soon.

 

[agbeqqxd]

Thanks. All I have is a mobile. Just sent a text message. Now wondering whether I have the right number as loads of mobiles on my phone, which need clearing away.

 

[Debbie P]

Firstly, this is a potential nightmare for any therapist. As a counsellor I always use a written "contract" so everyone knows what to expect, and this includes a space for a name and address, email, and phone number, together with whether I can use them to leave a message. It is clearly stated there that "if I cannot reach you in this way, then you may have a wasted journey here on the odd occasiona I need to cancel our session."

And, of course, I do this because I've been in your situation. We live and, hopefully, learn.

With massage, dare I say, its not so critical, and if she turns up and gets upset after you have made all those calls and left all those messages, then, hey, perhaps she should have some sessions with me!

Secondly, your own health record is worrying. What is the universe trying to tell you?

 

[Chris69er]

A friend of mine who is a therapist recently had an operation with the recovery time being longer than he expected and asked me to cover his treatments for him. Rather than cancel clients he made an alternative arrangement which went down very well with the clients concerned. He may have lost a bit of turnover but ultimately kept the client happy and also reduced the risk of them going elsewhere.
It's going to happen and this is the benefit of having a good network of colleagues you can call on.

 

[the cool muslim]

Hi David

Thanks for the advice. As she is a new client I just take telephone details. I wait until the consultation to take further information. Usually I am very organised so this is a one off.

She did arrive but was completely understanding. I know her as we attend a toddler group together.

I am not usually this unhealthy. Yes I suffer with acute sinusitus. This cannot be helped. I am on permanent steroid nasal spray for life. Secondly I have a toddler, so whatever he gets I get and I am more susceptible to flu / colds and sinusitus because of that. This is the second time that I have got flu (last time 13 yrs ago). One must understand that when you are a mother and the carer it takes longer to recover as looking after a toddler. My toddler has had termperatures scaling 40C during the evening. So no sleep = no recovery. I am very lucky that a lot of my clients are very understanding knowing of my situation being a full time mom and working part-time.

Also thanks Philbo. I have a good network of therapist friends. I attend my local FHT support group here and have considered this thought.

 

[Silver]

this happened to me once "as the client". My therapist had been unable to contact me. She put a note on her front door, with apologies. Yes I missed my massage, but I could hardly criticise her, she had done her best. I read tyhe message and went away without bothering her. A few days later I rang to rearrange.

 

[Flying High]

Heaven spirit, i sympathise with you, i am also a chronic sinus sufferer and use a nasal spray but also find i am more susseptable to colds. On a part time basis i also work with toddlers so pick up their germs. Glad you got the situation resolved.