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A Day in the Life of a Refelexologist
 8am
Arrive at the clinic where I rent a room two days a week. Check diary for day’s client list and any messages that need my attention. Put the kettle on, turn lights on in waiting room and check magazines and leaflets are tidy. Refill some leaflets as only a few left. Open the post.
8.15
Set up therapy room with couch, chairs, towels, water, glasses, lotion, tissues and music. Get client notes out ready and read through last treatment notes. Check answer phone for any messages.
8.45
Make sure I look presentable, tie hair back etc. Go to the loo.
9am
Greet first client from the waiting room. This client is heavily pregnant (and 4 days overdue) and is hoping the treatment will help start contractions. I have had a lot of success with this in the past and reflexology can be a great way to ‘remind’ the body that labour can begin.
10am
After changing the towels on the couch and washing my hands I greet the second client of the day from the waiting room. This is the client’s first treatment and she appears a little nervous. I allow 1hour and 30mins for a first appointment as it is important to take a full medical history as well as explaining what the treatment will entail. The client tells me she has been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for the last 2 and a half years and at the age of 40 she is very worried that she may have missed her chance to have a baby. She becomes quite upset during the consultation. I try not to give her any false hope but do tell her that I have had some success with reflexology for fertility (50% 0f women coming to me with fertility problems had become pregnant). She enjoys the treatment and books another appointment with the receptionist for a week’s time.
11.30am
My next appointment is a regular client who comes for monthly treatments. She lives a hectic life working part-time and as a mother to young children so finds her monthly treat helps her to relax and stay on top of things. We have a few minutes to catch up before the treatment begins. She always falls asleep during the treatment and also says that she sleeps so much better for a few nights after the treatment. She always says it’s as though her batteries have been recharged.
12.30pm
Lunch. Today I have a nice long lunch break which gives me a chance to catch up with the other people working in the clinic; a massage therapist, an osteopath and a chiropodist. It also gives me a chance to discuss any messages and appointments with the receptionist. After eating lunch, I go for a short walk. I am very aware that my job as a Reflexologist can be sedentary, so I try to grab some fresh air and exercise when I can. When I return back to the clinic, I make sure I have the notes ready for the afternoon clients and then
2pm
My next client was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a year ago and alongside conventional medicine he is trying various complementary therapies to help ease symptoms and hopefully slow down the progression of the illness. It’s difficult to assess the effectiveness of Reflexology on such a condition as the client is taking a range of medications, and some of these are causing adverse side effects. At the moment it’s trial and error to get him onto medication that suits him more. Five minutes into the treatment, his hand tremors stop; something that normally only happens when he is asleep. He also reports feeling ‘chirpier’ for up to a week following a treatment.
We usually chat throughout the treatment and it’s nice to catch up with developments in his life.
3pm
After tidying the treatment room and making sure my client notes are up to date I set off for a home visit to my next client; a young autistic boy who I have been treating for a couple of years.
4pm
I arrive at my client’s house and chat to his mother about any recent health changes. Treatments are always very informal and usually take place on the sofa in the living room with some relaxing music on in the background. Sometimes we sing songs and nursery rhymes and ‘This Little Piggy Went to Market’ is often a great way to begin a treatment. He relaxes very quickly and seems to be almost falling asleep; a marked contrast from the very hyper young man he was when I arrived.
His mother feels he is always a lot calmer for a few days after a treatment and sleeps much better. Reflexology also helps to strengthen his immune system and digestive system which can both be weak in people with Autism. The treatment lasts about half and hour. I then have a cup of tea with the family before walking back to the clinic.
5.15pm
This is an ideal opportunity to make sure my accounts are up to date. I also start some work devising some new information sheets for pregnancy clients and put some finishing touches to an article for the National Childbirth Trust’s local newsletter.
7pm
My last client of the day arrives after a busy day and commute from central London. This is her second treatment from me following a recommendation from her GP to try Reflexology to help ease her Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
After the treatment, we look at changes she has recently made to her diet and I also give some home advice on ways to reduce or deal more effectively with stress in her life.
8pm
I pack away my couch and other equipment and go home after a satisfying day’s work. It’s a long day but I do enjoy it and hope I am making a positive difference to other people’s lives.
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