Key Point

• Seek out one of many available solutions when language or communication barriers are an issue.

There may be times when we encounter a client we have trouble communicating with. When a client doesn’t speak your language, communication can be challenging, but not insurmountable. It’s certainly easier if the client brings a family member who can translate, but that’s not always the case. 

Many years ago, when I had several Hispanic clients who didn’t speak English, I supplemented my high school Spanish (from 45 years ago) with a course in clinical Spanish for health-care providers. The course I attended was live, but there are numerous courses available online. I kept a cheat sheet on my desk with questions that could be answered with a yes or no. It worked out fine.

There are over 100 translator apps available, many of them free; if you have a speaker and microphone on your phone, that’s a quick solution. The main concern is the ability to perform a thorough intake to ascertain possible contraindications. The number of absolute contraindications for massage is a relatively small number of conditions that all practicing therapists should already be familiar with.

There are also on-demand telephone translation services that offer translators for many languages. They charge by the minute and are available 24-7. You may need to add the cost of the call to the cost of the massage, but it gives you the ability to perform a thorough intake.

A different issue is when the client is neither able to speak nor communicate through text or writing. A person who is unable to give informed consent must have a guardian give consent (and the guardian is likely the one to arrange it). The guardian should be familiar with the client’s medical history. Their medical condition may be responsible for their inability to speak, and that may or may not be a permanent status.

The most important thing is to keep your eyes on the client’s face, making frequent eye contact. Speak to them in your normal tone of voice and let them know they can give you a signal if something feels uncomfortable. That may be asking them to blink twice if something feels uncomfortable, give a nod of the head, or tap your arm if they’re able to do that. You may also need to modify the massage, such as using a sidelying position instead of the prone position, to facilitate being able to check in visually. Watch for any body language that may indicate discomfort.

Infants and young pediatric clients should have a guardian who can give a proper intake interview, including providing medical information and the client’s reason for seeking massage and who will stay in the room during the session. Again, watching the child’s face and body language for any signs of discomfort is vital to a successful session.

Our ability to communicate with our clients is as important as our ability to give a massage. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!