www.thebodyworker.com

The concept of peer supervision is fairly new to the massage profession. When you hear the word supervision one usually thinks of the usual – a supervisor at work who tells you what to do.

The type of supervision I am talking about comes from the clinical supervision process in the psychology profession which is more about a process of becoming more aware and present with ourselves so that we can be more present with our clients.

I have a few sections on my websites that attempt to explain supervision and the process but it is really hard to describe and explain.

www.massagepracticebuilder.com

www.thebodyworker.com which also has a redirect from www.peersupervision.com (which I hope to make into a separate site this year.)

To me peer supervision can help you jumpstart your practice or take your practice to the next level of deepening the experience of massage for your clients. It is just as important (if not more in my view) than any marketing plan or program. Peer supervision is a place where you can come to get your needs met for being heard and listened too so that you can feel a deeper sense of yourself.

It is what I am doing online in my free Yahoo Discussion Group.

The best way to actually get an understanding of what peer supervision is all about is to experience it first hand and participate in one.

I am now offering the opportunity to experience participating in peer supervision groups through a conference call starting in March meeting for 3 Fridays for 2 hours each. You can sign up or get more details on my website www.massagepracticebuilder.com

I also have all of the details on how to set up your own peer group at the website. The big thing to learn is how to listen. It isn’t about giving advice to people or telling people what you think. The hardest thing is to just listen and let the person experience whatever feelings they are having when discussing whatever issue. It is hard for most massage therapists to sit back and just listen and not have to do or say anything. It is also the basis for the therapeutic relationship that happens with our clients. Learning to listen to others is also a process of learning to listen to ourselves as we are less likely to be able to listen to others when we are needing to be listened to (being needy). So the whole process of being listened too in the process of peer supervision is what will allow you to listen more effectively to yourself and to your clients which can bring more to the healing relationship and your massage practice.

Asking for what you want is one of the most interesting concepts and process and is what I think to be the key to the “Law of Attraction.” or basically for getting what you want.

What happens is that so often our fears get in the way of asking for what we want. There is also this expectation people have of thinking the other person will and should read our minds. They should just know what we want. It is the core of my theory about the “code of the caretaker‘ – we do for others what we so desperately need for ourselves. We set aside ourselves to take care of others.
It comes from the many years of asking for what you want and not getting it or being rejected or abandoned. How often we ask for what we want without really directly asking and then we retreat when we don’t get it?

Expecting people to read your mind is one of the ways we communicate in code. We do something for someone else hoping they will do the same for us.
We will complain about things.

“There is too much competition or the economy is bad.”

We do the same thing for someone else that we hope someone will do for us.

Calling to ask someone how they are when it is you who have something to say or communicate to that person.

Asking or saying what we need through asking the other person what they need?

Asking “Are you mad at me?” when it is you who are mad at the other person or the other really good one – “Do you want to talk about it?”

These are all really different forms of projection -seeing in others what is really in ourselves.

So asking for what you want as far as what you want in a massage client and massage practice is the basis for building a successful and rewarding practice.
First you have to know what it is that you truly want and take it step by step clearing up the “Yeah, buts” and self talk that you have that keeps you from asking for what you desire. Often people say they don’t know what they want and that is often just fear talking. They do know what they want but just are too afraid to acknowledge it. Discovering what you want is a process of uncovering the layers of doubt and self talk that has accumulated over the years. It is sometimes a process of trying different things and just finding out that you don’t want that. It is a matter of taking small steps in asking for what you want until you trust yourself enough to take bigger steps.

Dealing with the pain of rejection or abandonment and taking responsibility for your actions is part of the process. Taking responsibility doesn’t mean that you are wrong as some people may think. It is about saying “this is happening in my life as a result of my choices” and understanding that it isn’t good or bad – it just is and making the necessary changes to create something different for yourself.
It is standing up for yourself which requires building your self esteem enough so that you have the courage to ask for what you want. It requires working through the layers of self doubt and being easily influenced by the critical minds that surround you.

Marketing a massage practice or any other business for that matter, is really just about communicating what you want. If you are doing massage all it is really is letting people who want massage about what you do so they can choose whether or not to use your services. Knowing clearly what you want as far as a practice or job, starts with knowing yourself.

Peer supervision groups are support groups for professionals in the helping professions to help you deal with the issues that come up around asking for what you want.

I am offering teleclasses on the topic of creating and running your own peer supervision group. (and if in Seattle area – in person classes) To find out more see www.massagepracticebuilder.com

As a massage professional one of the easiest things you can do to build your massage business is to get regular massages.

How is that possible?

Getting regular massages can support you in so many ways.

First it really helps you to be physically, mentally and spiritually present with your self which is really important in this profession. Clients can tell when you are only half there for their massage.

Getting regular massage yourself helps you understand what you are doing to people on a regular basis. I have learned more about massage from getting massages than any class could really teach.
You are hoping/expecting that people will be regular clients. It helps to experience what you are asking of others. While trading for massage is good for your body, paying for regular massage is good for your self esteem. When you pay for massage, you are saying that you are worth it. It is the same thing you are wanting clients to say to themselves.

I also think it is a good idea to go out there once in awhile and go through the process of looking for a massage therapist either online or the phone book or whatever and go in for an appointment to a total stranger and see how you feel and what you think. Finding a good therapist is often a challenge so you will get a better perspective on what your clients are having to go through.

While it is common for massage therapists to trade massages, I also think it is necessary to go and pay for massage. It really changes the dynamics of the session. It can be all about you without having to give something back.

Would you go to a massage therapist who didn’t believe in getting regular massages themselves?