Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1512873
A B M P m e m b e r s ea r n F R E E C E h o u r s by rea d i n g t h i s i s s u e ! 81 30-minute sessions per week. Additionally, if their goal over one month is to be able to walk three miles without stopping but they currently can't walk a half mile, recommend a more realistic time frame. Gathering as much information and being as clear and straightforward with each other as possible will result in an effective planning process as a therapeutic team. DEVELOPING A PERSONALIZED ROAD MAP A personalized road map plots out the precise route to the end goal. While there are fine details I won't cover here, following is a basic overview of this process. Identify the Client's Goals Start with the health history form. Be sure there is a line item that asks what their goals are for your work together. Then, in the client interview, obtain as many details as possible. For example, if they say they want relief from neck pain, ask how it affects their daily life and what activities this concern hinders. When do they most notice the concern, and what exacerbates it? Perhaps they experience the most pain while driving when they turn their head to see in their periphery. So, the goal could be to increase cervical range of motion while reducing pain so they feel safer engaging in this activity. Assess Next, assess where they are so you have a sense of the distance between their present state and the goal. This is done subjectively and objectively. • Subjective—this is what the client tells you they are experiencing. It includes physical sensations as well as mental and emotional states of being. Ask the client how they feel about what they are experiencing. These are all parts of the whole and will affect the pace and type of approach you use. • Objective—this is a measurable observation and is done through multiple assessment methods: palpation, posture, range of motion, pain, and functional limitations. Also observe how their nervous system responds to their thoughts and feelings about their condition by noting their demeanor, such as facial expressions and body language. Set Specific Goals Even though you determined what their goals are, your job as the educated professional is to set more specific goals at short intervals to get them there. Use the SMART goal model—in other words, each goal should be specific, measurable, attainable/achievable, realistic/relevant, and time-bound. 1 Goals are best set and reviewed for progress in 3–4 session intervals. Then, depending on whether the treatment approach is working, you will keep doing what you are doing or pivot to a different approach. Determine the Approach This will vary depending on the type of work you perform and your client's needs. Options to consider are: • Tissue manipulation—gliding, torsion, shearing, elongating, oscillating, and/or percussive forces • Joint movement—passive, active, resistive • Static methods—static compression, myofascial release, energy work, etc. • Hot/cold therapy • Variations of application—pace, depth, rhythm, etc. • Record and track—every session must be documented and tracked for progress. GUIDING THE PATH When you take the time to guide a client's path by recommending and developing an individualized treatment plan, you show investment in them and their well- being. This goes a long way in gaining their trust, respect, and willingness to engage in their health. It also encourages your client to be invested, which increases the chances of creating change. A perk of incorporating treatment planning into your practice is more consistency of client booking, which guarantees a fuller schedule and better financial outlook. Most importantly, you make a significant difference in your clients' journeys. Note 1. George Doran, Arthur Miller, and James Cunningham, "There's a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management Goals and Objectives," Journal of Management Review 70, (1981): 35–6, https:// community.mis.temple.edu/mis0855002fall2015/ files/2015/10/S.M.A.R.T-Way-Management- Review.pdf. Since 2000, Cindy Williams, LMT, has been actively involved in the massage profession as a practitioner, school administrator, instructor, curriculum developer, and mentor. In addition to maintaining a part- time massage and bodywork practice and teaching yoga, she is a freelance content writer and educational consultant. Contact her at massagetherapyfortwayne@gmail.com. As you work with your client to chart their path, be realistic about the distance between their goal and their starting point.