Treatment Room

[Junkers565]

Not for me. I cannot afford that kind of overhead and I'm not really interested in the rooms available locally.

 

[Shawn Miller]

I have my treatment room upstairs. It wouldn't be my first choice, but most of my clients are happy with it. I have only had one or two clients who are unable to use the stairs and as I don't do home visits myself, I'm happy to refer them on to people who do.

As for personal safety, if I am treating a man I don't know for the first time, I usually make sure someone is in the house.

Lesley

 

[R2 Ranch]

This has been an interesting thread and it's interesting to see what we all do and where we do it!! I have set up my spare room as a treatment room. It's upstairs and so far have only had one client who arrived and found it difficult to get upstairs - although she did make it. It's a fantastic room. Calming colours, dark blind, floaty curtains, candles and music. I have a small sofa bed in there too which I use when people come to stay - which isn't that often and so it stays as my treatment room for most of the time.

I did tell the mortgage people and they said they were fine about it. it doesn'ty really affect the mortgage anyway - more the house insurance. They weren't that happy and said that I needed to tell them when I had more than 2 or 3 unknown people each week. Well to be honest, I have repeat bookings and people that I know more than lots of unknown people and so I haven't found the need to tell them yet. And do I need to? I mean it's highly unlikely that they are going to nick or break anything in there??

I keep my money and valuables out of they way and there isn't really any chance that the client can move in to the rest of the house without me knowing. Somebody mentioned being on their own .... well I treat new poeple during they day and don't have anybody here. I suppose I am basically trusting. I always have my mobile close at hand though. I think that you can tell a person from their initial telephone call? or is that naive? I always do new men when my husband is around unless I know them, repeat bookings etc.

I suppose ideally my treatment room would be downstairs but I don't have that option and so the spare room is the best. It's at the back of the house and is therefore quiet. I have two young kids and they know when somebody is here and so amazingly know that they need to be quiet. And I turn the phone off when people are here so there is no chance of a phone ringing.

I have thought about what happens when I have to treat somebody who can't get upstairs. And if that happens then I will definitely choose to use either the dining room or the living room rather than lose the client. The atmosphere may not be exactly the same BUT the treatment I give will be and therefore the client should still be happy.

As somebody said earlier, you have to use what you have - especially until you are more established. That's what I am doing and seems to be working for me so far. Good luck.

 

[nicki_baby]

As a client I don't necessarily mind being treated in someone's (clean/uncluttered) living room, but as a therapist I hate clients in my private space. I have a seperate downstairs room with it's own entrance and short of my toilet (accessed from a seperate door so they don't go in the rest of my house) nobody goes in my private living areas. For a while I did used to use my living room but I found it too stressful keeping it clean and professional (mind you I do have 3 under 4yr olds ).

If you're happy with it then I think that's the most important thing! if I don't feel comfortable with my surroundings I don't work to the best of my capabilities.

Sarahx

 

[Mevaphavivy]

Hi
Where to practise from, has to be one of the most important decisions any new therapist, or for any therapist that moves geographical location.

I concur that it comes down to the resources (money, space, etc) that you have available and how you use these.

If you don't have the luxury of a spare room then making another room, like the living room, double up as your treatment room may be the only option particularly if you are unable to rent a room.

I have found that as long as everything is tidy, uncluttered, and most importantly, that you are comfortable in your own space, then using your home can be successful.

Be aware of the disability access issues though for those of you who have rooms upstairs. To ease your mind (if you haven't thought of this) offer a mobile service for anyone who has a disabilty that prevents them climbing stairs or have a "one off" or have an occasional arrangement with another local therapist (hire their room for an hour) who has disability access.

Lastly, if you don't want to work from home and hiring a room every week is too much of an expense (or worry) and you don't fancy the idea of being a mobile therapist here is another option. Contact other local therapists who you know have hired their own room and ask if you can have an arrangement to hire it for a few hours when you need to. This can be a way of getting your practice going without having to commit to hiring a roompermanently which may remain empty because you haven't built up your client base yet.

Best wishes