Things to know before you book an appointment.

How do I book an appointment?

Email me to find out my availability, I usually offer massage on a Tuesday and 1 Saturday a month.  Online aromatherapy consultations can be done Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays 9.30am - 12pm.

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Once your appointment has been confirmed, you’ll receive an email confirmation which includes how to pay. I take Bacs, card or Invoice payments.  Card payments do not incur a charge but processing fees are non-refundable should you cancel your appointment.  Gift voucher purchases can be made directly from the Made by Pure Hands shop, or you can now purchase e-gift card from my website.

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Are you a legitimate therapist?

Yes, I am a legitimate therapist. I hold a Level 3 City & Guilds qualification in both Aromatherapy and Massage Therapy. Over the past 12 years, I have continually updated my knowledge through courses and CPD training. I am also a registered member of the IFA (International Federation of Aromatherapists) and CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council). You can review their codes of conduct on their respective websites. Please do not confuse my business with any other. I am a legitimate Complementary Therapist.

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What should I bring to my massage appointment?

Please bring some water, a mask (if you have a cold or cough), and a hairband (if your hair is shoulder length or longer).

If you are pregnant, please also bring a snack to eat after your treatment.

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Can I eat before my massage?

I always advise that it is best to not eat an hour before your massage, as it can be very uncomfortable to lie on a full stomach and can leave you feeling queasy.

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What should I wear for my massage?

For full body massages, you will be removing your clothes apart from your underpants or knickers, so there is no need to worry about what you wear. If you are having a back, neck and shoulder massage, I would suggest that leggings or jogging bottoms are best if you don't want to take your trousers off. 

Chair massage clients will be massaged over their clothing, unless they have a 40 minute appointment. 

Whatever type of massage you’re having, you’ll need to remove any watches, bangles, necklaces and large earrings. 

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Do I still need to wear a mask?

I am in a ‘close contact’ profession, so to keep both of us safe, masks are required if you are sneezing, have a cold or cough. Right now you only have to wear  for these reasons. This may change, should Covid levels rise or new variants emerge.

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What are your Covid safety procedures?

Masks are optional (as mentioned above) and I make sure the spaces I work from are thoroughly disinfected before and between appointments.  My treatment room is always ventilated, and we dispose of all our waste in a special bin. If I feel at all unwell, I will cancel your appointment immediately. Please do the same for me. Any sign that you are ill, or may have Covid: please reschedule your appointment.

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Do I need to have a bath or shower before my massage?

If you can, then yes please, particularly if you have been out all day. However, I realise this is not always possible, especially if you are coming straight from work. So as long as you have showered or bathed that day, that is completely fine.

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If you are having a full body massage and your feet are dirty, please request wipes to clean them before your treatment.

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Lastly, please don't be embarrassed if you get to your appointment feeling hot and sweaty: we've all been there! I always have my cooling Hydrolat Spritz to hand anyway and it’s bound to help!

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Why do I need to fill in a consultation form before coming for my massage?

You now only have to complete the online consultation if you are a new client, or coming for an aromatherapy massage.  All other treatments can fill in their consultation form on arrival to their massage. 

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Please be mindful, though: if you send your form in after 2pm the day before your treatment, it interrupts my family time and subsequent wind-down time. Let’s face it, nobody wants to come to a tired Therapist! I try as much as possible to practise what I preach when it comes to my self-care, and that means having boundaries.

 

Why do you ask for so much information during the first consultation?

Again, it allows me to offer you the best treatment and aftercare advice. This is a journey we will take together and it doesn’t end when you get off my couch!  Plus, I need to make sure that any products I use (particularly essential oils) don’t interfere with any medication you might be on, for example.

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I might also have spotted something that I think needs further attention (I’ve had a client who had a mole removed after I noticed that it looked a bit suspect). I don’t diagnose; I’ll send you to the GP. Really getting to know you is not just because I am nosey, it’s because the better the understanding I have, the more I can help you.

 

What happens after my massage?

Well, for a start, you’ll hopefully feel just like all my other clients who have told me they’re completely blissed out after leaving my treatment room! 

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Massage is often the first port of call for anyone looking to work on their self-care regime and you may well have realised that it’s time to make changes to benefit your health and wellbeing. 

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After your treatment, I’ll send you lots of information to help you carry on your journey. That process of learning to be kind to yourself and to look after yourself is something I hope we can continue working on together. 

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Any other questions?

Feel free to email me; I’m looking forward to hearing from you.