Spa Client Intake: Fill & Download for Free

In my experience, it’s usually to maximize time management and profitability. When the client books an hour massage, they are given one hour in the spa. It takes time to do even a cursory client intake, time to disrobe and get on the table, and then time to get up and get dressed at the end of the treatment. Consequently, the spa plans for about 10 minutes for the client that doesn’t include hands on service. This means that they can schedule another massage immediately afterwards, and not have to worry about adding time buffers between appointments.Fundamentally, I disagree with this method for a few reasons. The first is that massage isn’t cheap. Your client comes in and they paid at least $60 of their hard-earned money for an hour of massage. We’re trained to be capable of performing 60 minutes of massage without needing a break throughout the session, so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be fulfilling that expectation in the first place.The second is that it’s important for the massage therapist to have adequate time with their client to assess their needs and restrictions beforehand so they can plan an effective treatment. If we feel rushed, we may miss something that could really help (or hurt) our client.The third is that we need adequate time between clients to reset the treatment room and take care of ourselves. It doesn’t take long, and it doesn’t have to be a full fifteen minute break, but it does help to have a little time to reset yourself before you take on another client, so that you can perform at your best more consistently and for longer periods of time. Feeling rushed leads to sloppiness and cutting corners, and honestly our clients deserve better from us for what they’re paying.Thanks for the A2A!

Thank you for the A2A. When I used to work at massage therapy, it was in a clinical or spa setting--are you a narcissist; or are you a psychopath? are not questions asked on the intake form; and unless it is related to a problem that massage was being used to treat, I found keeping talking to a minimum was one way to enhance the experience for the client. I don't ever remember attempting to analyze a client's personality during the massage.

Most spas the sessions are 50 minutes long, that allows for time to do a brief intake, allow you to undress and then time to dress at the end of the session so your therapist can make the table for the next client.Most spas book on the hour so every minute is precious. I do not cut clients short unless it is a client that is known for taking a much longer than usual time getting on or off of the table for whatever reasons. In some cases it's that the client seems to think this is a good time to check phone messages and send texts, please don't do that, as I said every moment is precious and you can check your phone or your hair or whatever once you leave the room.If the client before you causes the therapist to be late in getting you onto the table that should not be taken out of your time, you should receive your full time, 50 min in a spa unless stated otherwise, some spas do offer a full 60 min hands on session but they also allow for time in between for the therapist to get the table ready for the next client.If you do find that a therapist is cutting your sessions short do bring this up to the management because there is a strong chance you are not the only person the therapist is cutting short and that needs to be addressed.