Key Point

• Consider employing new techniques and strategies with clients in order to remain fresh and mentally invigorated.

“This was so inspiring,” a therapist said following one of my seminars. “I have been feeling in a rut lately, where I have been doing the same work with the same clients and feeling unchallenged. It has made me question whether I should think about a different profession or a change of scenery.”

Inquiring further, I discovered this therapist has a full practice that’s booked out for weeks. Looking from the outside, her practice is a resounding success. She shared with me that she had raised her prices in an effort to lighten her schedule, but her clients happily pay whatever she asks. I can see why, since she’s an excellent therapist with a wonderful presence. With a full schedule and clients who appreciate her, why does she feel stifled?

I’ve seen this many times in my clinic and with therapists across the country. As an employer, I see it as an ominous warning sign, one that could torpedo an excellent practice and cause the therapist to leave the profession. For new therapists, a full schedule seems like the goal of all the work put into building a practice. It is, but there is a shadow side you may want to guard against. If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you. 

In the beginning of your career, everything is new. Each person on your schedule is a challenge and you learn and grow in adapting your newfound skills to produce results and an experience that clients appreciate. News flash: People generally love massage! Therefore, over time, the clients who might have initially come for a specific issue are likely to come for more general maintenance sessions. Adding to the experience is the relationship between therapist and client, as we get to know people in a personal way through the context of massage therapy. Clients look forward to their experience and enjoy the regular connection. 

Quite often, there is a sweet spot in your career when you have regular clients and still have time to see new people who present with challenges that push your skills. The clients who present with difficult musculoskeletal issues are the clients who teach you the most. When your go-to strategy doesn’t work, that’s when the learning begins. When you successfully address a client’s presenting needs, it’s wonderful for them, but you haven’t learned anything new. I recently heard an interview with the late Kobe Bryant, discussing his learning strategy when he was a freshman in high school. Observing his peers, he noticed that everyone tended to play to their strengths. Since they played so often, he decided to only play to his weaknesses. If he didn’t dribble well with his left hand, he played games where that’s all he did. Over time, well, we all know how successful of a professional he became. 

A few days before writing this, I had my own experience with a limitation leading to creativity and learning. I fell off my bike and sprained my left wrist. The only movement that hurt was ulnar deviation. After a day of rest, I worried how I would see a full schedule of clients the next day. At that point I decided to explore seeing clients without ulnar deviating my left wrist. The day was a rich exploration of keeping my wrist in a neutral position, which I did. Really, keeping it in a neutral position is where it should be anyway, so now I’m probably using better mechanics than before the injury. Several clients that day remarked on how locked-in and focused I seemed to be. Little did they know why. It was a great day in the clinic. 

This experience matches what experts tell us about falling into a rut when creativity is lacking. It’s paradoxical, but limitations spark creativity, not the removal of constraints. This is one reason I love shorter sessions, where time constraints force me to analyze and address issues quickly. It’s also why I’m vigilant about leaving spaces in my schedule for new clients who present with difficult problems that push my skills to the limit and beyond. Those clients are my learning laboratory, and I cherish the opportunity to learn and develop my skills. 

I’ve seen several therapists respond to feeling in a rut by learning a completely different approach, which they are excited about. Unfortunately, in many cases, their regular clients aren’t as excited about the change. This is understandable since these clients often want the predictable and reproducible experience they have come to know. Consider employing these new strategies with new clients, or slowly introducing them, if appropriate, to regular clients. Creating a practice that is rewarding for therapist and client alike is often a difficult dance, but one that should be carefully designed to have a long and rewarding career.