FAQ: What to expect?

A common unspoken worry about starting something new, is a “fear of the unknown”. Today’s post is all about full transparency in what to expect before, during, and after a massage session.  I want to eliminate any friction between hypothetical you and becoming a client of Massage Is Therapy For Me.  So, what should you expect?

Before:

If a prospective client reaches out to me via text, phone call, or online booking, you will hear back from me on my availability and what kind of massages I do, confirmation of location, and confirmation of time.  

I will also be interested in your reasons for booking for a variety of reasons including:

• Seeing if I can help (I am trained in many things, but do not know everything).

• So I can prepare for your session if it is an injury or concern I have not dealt with in a while

• Encourage you to start a healing process prior to seeing me

• Get supplies ahead of time ready (pillows for prenatal, cupping, bamboo, etc.)

• Protecting myself from possible unwanted, ulterior motive clients

When we agree upon a time, date, and duration of massage, we can move forward with directions of finding the building.  I am currently working at 560 Springfield Ave, Suite F Westfield NJ.  It is a shared office space in a large office building.  The best advice I have for parking is to park in the back lot, head to a clear door to the left of Summit Medical, and head up the stairs.  My office is the first door up the stairs on the left.  Should you need an elevator, right before the stairs on your right is one conveniently there for you.  Press floor two.  Upon reaching that level, go straight and make two lefts.

I like to advise clients when booking that you will not be charged for a session until right before we start or immediately after.  

I also advise all clients to arrive 10-15 mins early to find the office and to also complete a short intake form.  Upon completing that, we will discuss your expectations and what you want to get out of your session today.  I will ask questions personal to your concerns and complaints and find an approach to work with you that YOU agree is a good fit.  

Part of this intake will also include you telling me any areas of the body you do not wish for me to work on.  I will always follow it up with, are you okay with me working on “Hands, face, feet, glutes and anterior neck?”.  These are some areas people typically ask to avoid if there are any to list. 

I will explain to you where to put your clothes, to remove all jewelry and silence your phone too. 

I step out of the therapy room and close the door with you lying face up or face down, whichever seems better to your treatment, underneath the massage sheets/linens. 

I will only enter once you confirm you are under the sheets and are ready for me to come in.

During:

During the session, communication is key.  I usually am very quiet, but will check in a few times about pressure, your comfort, and your pain.  After the first few sessions, these check-ins will be less and less as I learn your body and your preferences. 

If you want to talk, you of course can!  If you want to be quiet, feel free to fall asleep.   I am perfectly fine with whatever you prefer. 

There will be “SPA” music playing off an Amazon Alexa.  If you ever want to change the music or skip a song, you can speak to Alexa or can request me to.  I just want all my clients relaxed and ready to heal and music is a good assistant in that department.  

As for draping, only the body part being worked on will be uncovered.  So while working your back, just the back is revealed to me.  Then, once completed, it is covered.  Then, I will uncover and cover one leg at a time, flip you with your modesty and privacy protected, and do the same face up with the legs, and then one arm at a time.  

All private parts will be covered at all times.  I am trained in female breast massage to help with breast milk production post pregnancy, but that would be done over the sheets. This is never done without consent. 

Typically in my sessions, abdominal work is not done unless requested or indicated.  If so, another sheet will cover the pectoral region and the current sheets will be draped at the waist to reveal the abdomen.  Again, this is never done without consent.  

Your role in the session is to communicate if anything is hurting, uncomfortable, or bothering you.  Should you ever feel uncomfortable, you have every right to ask me to stop.  If you have an emotional release, we can stop and start when you are ready.  It is totally okay to cry on the table.  The body holds onto memories and we need to release them sometimes.

As for lubricant used, I typically do not use oil, but can use if requested. It is always used in a bamboo massage.  Any other session type I use lotion or cream.  If you are allergic to many topical products, please feel free to let me know ahead of time and I can purchase what you prefer, or you can bring what you would rather me use too. 

At the end of every massage session, I will ask you to lay there for a minute or two and just breathe.  There is a minute of your life now dedicated to you just “Being”.  Focus on your breath and not worry about anything else other than that.  This will allow you to stay in this “zen mode” that you are in and not rush into the next thing in life.  

After:

From there, you dress yourself and step outside of the therapy room where we talk about what I found needing relief on your body, advice to help you heal, and you pay if you have not done so already.  

Typical forms of acceptable payment include check, card, zelle, venmo.  

Should you wish to tip, feel free to tip like you would a waiter with 18-22% as the acceptable range.  I do not accept gifts or bartering or price haggling.  My price is my price.

And lastly, should you wish to schedule another session, you can do so right there in person, or online on my website!

The next day, I will text you asking how you are feeling, any pain, soreness or concerns.  I also like to know how sleeping was, as a fun topic I see people have deeper and more restorative sleeps the night they get worked on. 

That’s really it!

Frank Gioeli, LMT

Massage Is Therapy For Me