What To Expect At Your First Therapeutic Massage Appointment with Jen
If you’re new to Manual Lymphatic Drainage, or if you’re wondering how your appointment with me will differ from a typical massage, you’re in the right place. In this post, I’ll share what you can expect during your first therapeutic massage appointment with me, Jen. I'll cover what to wear, what to bring and what to expect during the massage to help you get the most out of your experience.
I hope this guide will help you feel confident and excited about your first specialized massage experience. Let's get started.
BOOKING YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT
If you’re a first time client, you’ll want to choose the “Initial Assessment and Massage” option on the online scheduling page. This is a special 75 minute session for first time clients only and includes a thorough discussion of your medical history and goals before the massage portion of the appointment begins.
After selecting a date and time for your first appointment, you will be prompted to provide a credit card number, which will be kept on file for future payments and cancellation fees. After booking, you will receive a text with a link to a form prompting you to provide some general information about your medical history, complaints, prescriptions, as well as a Manual Lymphatic Drainage consent form. Completing these steps at the time of booking means that we can spend less of your appointment time collecting information and more time on the table.
Once your appointment is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation email from our studio that includes the details of your appointment as well as our studio address and parking and arrival instructions. Your email will also include options to cancel or reschedule your appointment, edit your intake forms, or add the appointment to your mobile calendar.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSESSMENT SESSION?
The aim of the assessment session is for us to get to know each other and for me to learn, in depth, about what problem(s) bring you to massage therapy, and what you hope to gain from our time together.
We’ll spend the first part of the session going over your health questionnaire and discussing your medical history in detail. If you keep a symptom diary and feel like sharing your logs, please do!
We’ll typically spend 10-15 minutes on this portion of the session, leaving about 60 minutes for hands-on time.
WHAT WILL I GAIN FROM THE ASSESSMENT?
Before we head on to the massage portion of the appointment, you’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about massage therapy and Manual Lymphatic Drainage. I’ll communicate my initial reflections about your concerns, how I think massage could help you, and what committing to massage would entail practically. You’ll leave the session with a clear idea of how I can help you and what that help will look like.
WHAT WILL THE MASSAGE PORTION BE LIKE?
I love Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) and see the benefits of it for a wide range of symptoms and conditions. Because of that, I often include lymphatic drainage in our first massage. A lot of people who come to see me are already familiar with Swedish massage and are curious about trying something different to support a specific goal, so I like to start with MLD. It’s a great way to introduce you to this technique and to my style of work.
A full-body lymphatic massage typically takes about 90 minutes, so I usually reserve those for future sessions. During your first appointment, I’ll instead use our time to introduce you to the modality, either through a half-body routine or by focusing on specific areas based on your individual needs.
In some cases, we may decide that Manual Lymphatic Drainage isn’t the best fit, either due to certain contraindications or because another modality would better support your goals. If that’s the case, we’ll work together to customize your first session accordingly.
The goal of the first massage session is for you to get a feel for my style of massage and for me to understand your pressure preferences and problem areas. Other techniques like cupping or tactile ASMR are usually reserved for subsequent sessions. By the end of the introductory massage, you should have a feel for if I will be a good fit for you going forward.
WHAT DOES LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE FEEL LIKE?
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a very light, mechanical modality that works by gently “pumping” lymph along the body’s lymphatic system. The pressure is extremely gentle; during training we’re taught to use no more than “the weight of a nickel!” This work stays very superficial, right at the surface of the skin, and does not involve working into the muscles at all.
I use techniques with my hands like gentle skin stretching, thumb circles, and rhythmic pumping to encourage lymph to move along its vessels and toward the lymph nodes so it can drain more effectively. There are several different styles of lymphatic drainage, and I’m trained in the Vodder method, which is a slow, rhythmic, and methodical approach. This style is often used in clinical and hospital settings and is very different from the fast, flowy face and body sculpting techniques you may see on social media.
Above all else, you should feel very little pressure and no pain during MLD. It should feel very gentle and relaxing.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR THE MASSAGE PORTION?
Manual Lymphatic Drainage requires access to areas of the body that can feel more vulnerable than a “typical” massage. Many techniques involve stimulating lymph nodes in places that aren’t usually addressed, such as the armpits or lymph nodes near the pelvis and upper legs.
Because of this, it’s best to arrive with the expectation of receiving your massage nude, with professional draping at all times. If you prefer to wear underwear, avoid tight-fitting garments or anything with thick bands that cover these areas. Sports bras and brief-style underwear tend to restrict access. Boy shorts, thongs, or no underwear at all are the best options.
WHAT IF I DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE DURING MY MASSAGE?
To access the areas mentioned above, I may need to reposition your body during the session. This could include lifting your arm, adjusting your legs, or undraping the abdomen. I understand that this can feel vulnerable.
Your comfort is my top priority. If at any point the pressure, positioning, or a specific technique doesn’t feel right, please let me know. I will never be offended. If you need a break, want to move on to another modality, or want to stop the session altogether, we will do so with no questions asked. This is your massage.
WHAT IF YOU CAN’T HELP ME?
Occasionally, I may determine that I’m not the best person to support you based on my training, experience, or scope of practice. This is usually identified during the initial consultation, but sometimes it becomes clearer after one or more sessions.
If I don’t feel I’m the right fit for your needs, I’ll do my best to refer you to another qualified healthcare professional who may be better suited to support you.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Before we wrap up your session, we’ll discuss your therapy goals and outline an initial treatment plan. Most clients benefit from meeting on a regular bi-weekly or monthly basis at the same time each week, though this can vary depending on individual needs and circumstances.
A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT CAVEATS
This article discusses what a typical assessment session might look like with me. Assessment sessions with other massage therapists will likely have a similar structure but may be different. Also, as every human is different, and every problem unique, the exact structure and format of an assessment session will differ from person to person.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Tap the button below to schedule an initial assessment and massage with me. I can’t wait to meet you!
