In tears during a reflexology treatment.

What do you do when your reflexology client is in tears during the treatment?

The differing opinions on this subject came to my mind when this
 situation ocurred recently during my clinic.

During my training (years ago!) we were advised that if the client became tearful we should stop the treatment, be a comfort to the client, get a cup of tea etc.  There was even a question in the written exam regarding this. 

An author of a reflexology book I was reading at that time proposed exactly the opposite.  'Work through it with the client' she said.  'Therapist and client must come through it together'.  ie keep on with the treatment regardless.

After several years of experience, I now disregard both philosophies.  I don't always stop the treatment and rush to the client's side.  Neither do I grit my teeth, carry on and suffer as well.

On this recent occasion, the tears rolled down my client's cheeks.

'Would you like me to stop the treatment?' I asked gently.

'Oh no, please don't stop,' she replied.

Afterwards, she told me she had seen her mother, who had died a few years back.  But she couldn't see her face and desperately wanted to.  But she was so happy she had made this spiritual connection and how disappointed she would have been if I had just stopped what I was doing and broken the link.

Many of my clients have found themselves weeping during a treatment and usually this takes them by surprise and they are interested in carrying on with the experience and seeing where (and why) this takes them.  I believe this just goes to show that reflexology is a therapy that truly effects mind, body and spirit.  Giving the client the option of stoppping the treatment or not, seems to me to put the control where it should be - with the client.  The therapist is just a facilitator.