How to Prepare for a Reflexology Session and Establish a Therapeutic Relationship

Whether practising reflexology in your own home or at the home of a patient, it is important to create a suitable environment for treatment. The place where you work should be peaceful, private and comfortable, perhaps with some quiet relaxing music playing in the background.

A typical reflexology session may well last for up to an hour so it is absolutely vital to ensure that both the comfort of the patient and practitioner are cared for.

The room you use should be well lit, well ventilated, scrupulously clean and pleasantly warm. Patients should be seated on a suitable reclining chair or bench that is covered with clean linens and paper or fresh towels at each session.

Pillows can be placed behind the head and back, and under the knees so that the patient is in a semi-recumbent position.

Take care that they aren't bent into a "U" shape at all because, during the course of a session as this could divert blood flow and cause congestion in the pathways of the abdominal organs.

When working, the practitioner should be seated comfortably, with a straight back, preferably on an adjustable low stool, so that the feet or hands of the patient are at chest height, allowing for clear eye contact.

There is no need to use oils or lotions during treatment as these can cause the hands to slip off the reflexes. If you really wish to use talcum powder, keep this to an absolute minimum: when inhaled, the dust produced can irritate allergies and may cause respiratory problems.

Before starting reflexology at a session, always make an assessment of the patient's general demeanour so that you can tailor the treatment accordingly. You can learn a great deal about a person's state of health just by observing their body language when they enter the room.

Pay special attention to posture, breathing and tone of voice, and look out for clues, such as uneven wear and tear of shoes, that may indicate an imbalance in the body.

If you are treating someone for the first time, take a full case history to inform your approach.

Once the preliminary preparations for a session are complete, it is important to establish a therapeutic relationship between patient and practitioner so that the patient can gain the maximum benefit from reflexology.

Establishing A Therapeutic Relationship

One of the keys to the success of a touch therapy such as reflexology is for the patient and practitioner to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship.

As you are the practitioner, preparation for this relationship should begin with you, and you need to equip yourself physically, mentally and emotionally to give treatment.

Make sure you are sitting comfortably in a relaxed position before you start, an incorrect working position can cause repetitive strain injuries on your hands and shoulders.

Mentally and emotionally you should be in a relaxed state, any tension could adversely affect your work. Try a short relaxation exercise or take a few deep breaths before you begin.

Take a holistic approach to reflexology and its practice and share this with your patient where possible. Be aware of other therapies (such as aromatherapy massage) that may compliment the treatment.

You might discuss lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise that could highlight an underlying cause of a patient's illness or imbalance. People do not become ill overnight, and many health problems could be avoided if we all became more aware of behaviour patterns and lifestyle issues, and how these may impact on our health.

Endeavour to be a good communicator, make sure you are able both to give and to receive information effectively. Speak clearly but gently, and listen actively so that you encourage your patient to communicate openly with you. Before starting a session, be sure to discuss the aims of the treatment so that you are both happy with all aspects of it.

Perhaps the most important facet of a therapeutic relationship is the ability to cultivate empathy with a fellow human being. Our emotions, joy, fear, or anger to name a few, can cause changes to the internal organs and their functions: for example, the heartbeat, breathing or glandular secretion may speed up or slow down.

To be able to identify, recognise and comprehend some of the emotions and feelings that may be causing an imbalance in a patient, and to really empathise with them, will help you to build and maintain a valuable therapeutic relationship.