One of the hardest things about being a therapist is not having any sessions available when people come to you in pain and need of treatment.
And this happens all the time - and not just to me I imagine - my diary is typically about 75% full for the first two weeks of any month, before the month has even started.
There are many reasons for this. In no particular order:
1) People are busy and book in advance to fit in with their own schedules
2) People book a series of sessions in preparation for an event i.e. London Marathon, or to help alleviate/manage a painful injury or condition that requires ongoing treatment. It's quite normal for me to do a series of 6 sessions with someone, which obviously eats into my availability for other people.
3) I work across 3 locations - set days and hours in Streatham, Crystal Palace and the City (Moorgate), this does of course limit my availability for each location - but I will always offer you any sessions I have in any location, in case you are able to make them.
Where does that leave me if I want or need a session sooner rather than later?
If I don't have any same- or next-day appointments to offer, sometimes, I do squeeze in emergency sessions, especially for existing clients who are really in need.
This does mean I sacrifice some of my free time, where I already work usually 6 days a week, and late into the evening - an extra hour now and then won't hurt me. But, I draw the line now at working past 9pm in the evening, and like most people, I do need time off too - there's no point me putting everyone else's health and well-being before my own, and this is something I have learned from experience.
I'm also a part-time student at the British School of Osteopathy, which means I have to attend classes alternate Saturday and Sundays, and have to study in the weekdays in between, which is another commitment on top of my already busy schedule.
A normal month for me typically includes only having 2 proper days off - alternate Saturdays when not in school - but I am always trying to find ways in which to find, maintain and dare I say improve, that elusive work-life balance!
Working with local therapists
If I'm unable to squeeze anyone in, I have worked hard over the last couple of years to build up a good network of fellow therapists in all the locations I work at, so I can usually point people in the direction of a good therapist who may have more availability than me, and who I know will do a good job. These are practitioners I know personally, and often have either worked alongside ,or have tried out myself. The list of practitioners includes:
Streatham
Physio, Pregnancy massage/specialist, Acupuncturist, Massage therapists, Reflexologist, Cranio-sacral therapist, one on one and class Pilates and Yoga teachers.
Crystal Palace
Osteopaths, Acupuncturist, Nutritionist, Mindfulness/Meditation teachers, Massage therapists, Reflexologist, Yoga on-one one practitioner, Personal Trainer and Stott Pilates teachers (reformer and mat) one on one and class.
Moorgate
Osteopath, Massage/Myofascial therapist.
Similarly, I know many good remedial/sports massage/myofascial therapists in other parts of London, who I am happy to refer people on to, and regularly do.
So this is why I sometimes can't offer you same-day or next-day availability, and sometimes even same-week (Moorgate and Streatham clinics can often get booked up 2 weeks in advance) - but like most therapists, I will always try to help in some capacity - this may mean waiting for an appointment with me, coming to a different location than preferred, or being referred to a different practitioner who I think is suited to helping out and who most assuredly has my seal of approval :)
