Treatment Room

[Juan Gomez]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but anyway here goes.......

I want to start doing treatments at my house, and I do not have a spare room that I could set up as a treatment room, the only room I could use would be the living room - do you think this would be acceptable?. I would obviously put some nice music on and some candles etc to create the right ambience. Does anyone else use their living room?.

Thanks for your help
Kirstie

 

[lorry3t]

Hi Kirstie,

Glad u brought this subject up, I too am wondering how to set up my practice. At the end of the month my daughter is leaving home and I was thinking of converting her bedroom into a treatment room, thats if the council agree. At present the only other room available is the living room. Be very interested in the replies u get.

hugs
Diane

 

[Alypathron]

at the moment i use my lounge. its got a good colour scheme, aromas, music etc. if the treatment is good, people dont mind. makes me keep it tidy too <g>.

 

[Ras Zero]

i would be in the same situation. i live in a one bedroom house so that means i dont even have chance of a spare room!!! so if i did do it i would have to use my living room to.

but dont you have to tell your mortgage people? dont know what for tho do you know?

 

[smelly bum]

Hi Sarah

If you work from home then you are not changing the use of your premises so do not have to inform your mortgage company, you will still need you public liability and professional indemnity insurance to practice though and the rest ids common sense

 

[weeofuvgijdipzepp]

Hiya
Ok sorry but here is the flip side...
not sure if I would want to be treated in a living room that has either animals/children residing there one for the clutter that comes with them (even if tidy toys stand out) and the noise. Also things like the phone ringing etc make sure its switched off. It would have to be a very neat clean minamilist type lounge if i were to go back and have a treatment there or i would just rather have it at my own place...sorry.

Hugs
T
x

 

[Imran Ahmed]

I used to go to an osteopath that treated me in her living room. I had no problem with this at all as it was still a private room. But osteopathy isn't meant to be relaxing or pampering so I don't know how I'd feel about having reflex or massage in someone's living room... I suppose it would be fine if everything was tidied away and the it didn't feel like I was intruding into someone's space. Also how would you feel about having the room where you relax being your work room too? Would you be able to switch off from that last client while trying to watch TV in the evening?!

Sarah x

 

[Mr. Tea]

I have been for a treatment with a lady who lives in a 1 bed house and I was treated in her living room. It was very tidy and had nice calm decor, candles etc. I found it a very nice experience. Now as Tracy says it's a different story if you've got others living there and their stuff is in evidence all around.

I'm using our spare room for treatments and all my people love it. It has a soothing decor, soft lighting, music, loads of candles and crystals etc. It has a futon sofabed so very easy to turn back into a bedroom when people come to stay. I have a treatment couch and also a Lafuma recliner. I can't remember what your therapy is Kirstie but if it's reflexology then the Lafuma is seriously worth having. Very quickly to put up and down and a nice size to store, also more portable than a couch.

 

[Sooner4life]

Hi everyone

I converted my utility room into a treatment room, it is very small, when I do a massage and move the table to the middle of the room, I can feel my bottom brushing against the wall. (That was just to give you some idea of the size of the room). lol

But people thave told me, they would much rather be in this small converted space that be in my living area. (That wasn't ideal as I had to chase hubby up staries to watch TV.

I was considering using a spare bedroom, but the thought of a client falling on the stairs gave me nightmares, would much rather live with the small space than having them going up and down my stairs.

Love Angel xxx

 

[Ontario Loyalist]

i dont have a phone in my lounge and i can barely hear it at the best of times. it is quite minimalist actually, and uncluttered. i dont tend to do treatments when the kids are around and if they are going to be there, they know to keep quiet (nearly 17 and 15 anyway).

i will shortly have a spare room that i can make more permanent.

to flip the coin again, i work at a leisure club of a hotel (5 star mind you) and the beauty rooms are absolute cack! ugly and not cosy at all. i often work in the hotel bedrooms as i am an extra therapist and i have worked in conference rooms with no running water where i do facials using a thermos of hot water and a slop bucket!

nahhhh i think i'll stick to my lounge, thanks ;o)

 

[lleodutrijxiijeuk]

Hi all
here's my tuppence worth
I had the choice of living room ( downstairs) or spare room upstairs
decided to ask the first few booked for their preferences and all said
upstairs. So I converted the spare room, all have said they
much prefer this to having it in my living room or theirs. I like the fact
that i can have the room constanlty ready, dont need to worry when family
or friends come round etc.

Everybody has their own comfort zones and if your lounge is where you
feel most comfortable then you go for it!! After all if you travel to a clients
9 time out of 10 it will be done in their living room!!!

Dont worry, just enjoy!!
Hugs, DC

 

[GopBLissIgnorance]

Hi Lucy

Do you have any outbuildings you could convert as a treatment room? I was in the same situation as you. I was doing Reflex and Reiki mobile which was OK sometimes but apart from carrying all my stuff about with me (very heavy treatment couch[sm=nuts.gif]) I found I couldn't really offer the 'ambient' atmoshpere that I like to create in other peoples houses. I have given treatments in my own lounge to friends and family which was alright and they didn't mind, but I wouldn't have felt comfortable giving therapy in there to a stranger, basically 'cause I would be afraid they didn't feel comfortable if you know what I mean and to be honest I don't think I would feel comfortable having a treatment in someone else living room. I'd be scared of some one walking in, even if it was just my feet on display

I now work from my summerhouse in the garden which me and hubby converted recently. Between us we've managed to make a really plush treatment room which my friend says is just as good as the rooms at a really expensive health farm she goes to. If it hadn't have been for the summerhouse I'd be stuck as treatment rooms are really hard to come by where I live. Would this be an option for you maybe??

love
S52

 

[Pompal 09.]

I think if you compare it to doing mobile treatments in other's homes then there isn't much difference in some ways, except at least you can control the environment. I did mobile stuff, in lounges, in bedrooms, in tiny rooms (bottom on wall as above) etc and none of them minded at all. Of course that was in London where they don't like to travel and they like to flop into bed after the treatment so it suits them.

Basically I think if you give a good treatment and can manage to build up your clients it can work, as long as you don't mind. Each to their own and all that....

You have to start somewhere and not everybody has spare space, though it is nicer to have it of course. Work with what you got!

 

[reese]

Hi Kirstie

I think Candie has 'hit the nail on the head', you have to work with what you've got.

As long as the room is warm and tidy and reasonably quiet the clients dont seem to mind at all.

I use my dining room usually, but also use the sitting room sometimes. ie family needing the computer in the dining room.

My family are older and fairly well behaved now. And know to keep quiet. The cats can be a bit of a pain though!! miaowing at the door so I have to shut them outside.

I also find that I can often concentrate my evening clients into 1 or 2 evenings, so that helps. I tend to offer them appointments with a choice of only 2 evenings. I dont want to work more than 2 or 3 evenings anyway. I'm trying to do most treatments at home now rather than visiting aas its a lot less stressfull for me, I have now found.

The main thing is to be warm and welcoming. It wouldnt bother me at all to be in someones sitting room, better than a cold treatment room. Its the treatment that counts after all.

lol

Jan X

Saw Sara Saturday!! Hope to see you soon. PM me if you like.

 

[BigTom]

how do people find the ratio of clients, do you have many that would rather you came to them or do they like it that they come to you?

do people worry that someone coming to their home is going to put them in danger?

once again this morning i was told that i should wait to set up my own business, and i have realised that i will come up against alot of people who try to put you down etc, but realise that only me and me alone can make it work, if i want it to. like everyone here you have to work with what you have and if you only have your living room, does that matter? as long as you make it comfy for the person and relaxing than thats fine.

good luck to all

 

[sizzemrb]

Thanks everyone for your views on this.

I would prefer it if I did have a treatment room at home, but its just not possible at this present time, so like some of you have said I have to make the best of what I have got. I am still going to offer to do home visits, but I work full time aswell and I think if I did a lot I would be knackered!!. Now I just have to find some clients...

Thanks all.


p.s. Hi Jan, hope you are ok. We must all meet up soon x

 

[wbeymuwfigaihmerv]

Personally, I like to go to the clients' places if possible because although this is more travelling for me, I think it's much better for them if they don't have to rush around again after a treatment. I expect they are probably more relaxed in familiar surroundings too, which is perhaps more of an issue with male therapists. Of course, this only really works for reflexology where you don't need a couch. And it also has the drawback that they may not choose an ideal place, without interruptions. I have had people not only failing to turn their phones off, but insisting on taking a call during a reflexology session! But I take the attitude that it's their treatment and so up to them.

To answer the original question though, it's different if you are outside London and close to your clients and in that situation. Yes, I am sure you'd be fine in your living room Kirstie, depending on the therapy you are doing.

Matt

 

[confusedcannary]

Great post Lucy! I've soaked up all the info!!

 

[Poka D]

I searched through all the threads and have been reading this one with interest. I'm currently a reflexology student and will be able to start full treatments for case studies from August, so I'm thinking ahead (as summer isn't that far away).

I've scrapped the idea of a treatment room in the garden (for the moment - see my garden room thread) as it will be too costly. I am therefore left with the option of using the spare bedroom, which is upstairs. Does anyone else have a treatment room upstairs? If you do, are your clients okay with this?
The room I'm going to use is 9'x9' and at the back of the house, so it's relatively quiet. I currently use it as a study, however, I'm going to move the filing cabinet into thegarage & I'mhoping to get a carpenter to make me some cupboards to enclose all my paper work, books, computer and printerand I will have ample space for a lafuma chair. I have a guest bathroom upstairs so access for clients and for handwashing won't be a problem. For people who can't use the stairs, I'll be able to treat them in their home or in my living room (which is where I read for my tarot clients and they find it very relaxing).

Does anyone have any experience of a home treatment room that's upstairs? What about personal safety -Ilive alone so are there any considerations? All advice and experiences welcome.

 

[??Matt??]

Isn't it best to rent a room then?[sm=angel-smiley-027.gif]