Scheduling your first massage appointment with me is easy!
The first appointment that you will schedule with me is your Complimentary Consultation-- this is a 30(-ish) minute video chat where we will see each other face to face, get to know one another a little bit, and go over your health history, goals for your session(s), and how I can help make your massage more comfortable/safer/effective for you. Once we've decided on a plan, we will discuss scheduling options for your first session at my office, and I'll get you on the calendar!
All you have to do is go to ReconnectDFW.com/book and click on the blue button that says "Schedule Consultation". You will be taken to a new page where you can select a day and time for us to meet virtually.
You will receive a confirmation email with links to my intake documents, which you should print and fill out before our consultation, so we can refer to them as we talk.
Once we've scheduled your first session, you will receive an email with more information (such as info on how to get to my office-- with PICTURES!). After your session, we will discuss plans for future sessions and how to schedule those.
If you're ready to go ahead and schedule your consultation right now, you can also just click here!
I am unable to accept insurance of any type.
I am, however, able to accept HSA and FSA cards.
No. Please do not ask me to book a session for anyone other than yourself, unless you are the client's parent (for minors) or their legal guardian.
Aside of the potential awkwardness that can happen with someone is "surprised" with a massage they did not necessarily want (much to my dismay, it is not true that "everyone loves a massage"), requiring that each client schedules their own massage gives me the opportunity to ensure that I am qualified and prepared to provide the service that they expect.
You do not need to have a blanket during your session, but Texas state law does state that clients must be draped. My own policy is actually more conservative than the state's requirements; if you are one who prefers minimal or no draping, then I may not be the best massage therapist for you, because draping will be used during each session unless you are clothed.
If you know that you are particularly hot-natured, please advise me before your session so that I can have appropriate options on hand.
Likewise, if you know yourself to be very cold-natured, let me know so I can be sure to have an extra blanket available and/or make use of the table warmer for you.
Alternatively, you may elect to wear something like workout clothing during your session. If you are receiving Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD), please ask me as I must have direct access to the skin for most MLD procedures.
The short answer is "No; only if you want to. Except..."
Depending on the goals of your massage, there may be times when I will need you to be "fully present" throughout the session. I may need to check in with you about the pressure or other elements of your massage, or we may need to keep carefully focused on how your mind and body are connecting as your massage session progresses.
Chitchat is always up to you. If you'd prefer to communicate only regarding your session, that's just fine.
If you have allergies or any sensitivities at all, please let me know as soon as possible, preferably on your intake form or during our first conversation. With numerous allergies and sensitivities among my friends, family members, and myself, I am quite aware of the effects that seemingly harmless substances can have on someone who is allergic or sensitive.
I do live with a cat and a dog, so if you are sensitive to either (or both), please let me know in advance, and I will do everything in my power to be fur-free for your session. If you are extremely sensitive to pet dander, however, you should take this into consideration as you are deciding whether or not to book your massage with me. Much as I would like to, I cannot guarantee that I will be entirely animal dander-free.
The products that I use to massage are allergen-free. I would be happy to share the ingredients lists with you, if you want to see. My lotion is free of parabens, nut oils, fragrances, and gluten. Likewise, the laundry products that I use are scent-free and as "clean" as possible.
Rather than "massage oil", I use pure jojoba, which is actually a wax and is the closest substance in nature to human sebum (the oily coating that our own skin produces). My favorite brand is called Hobacare; it is the purest jojoba that I have found.
All of my massage products are scent-free, and I do not use essential oils or aromatherapy during my sessions. I do my best to keep Reconnect DFW a scent-free environment, for my own comfort (scent-induced migraines are awful to have to work through!) and for that of my sensitive clients.
In the same way that I do my best to accommodate my clients' allergies and sensitivities, I ask you to respect mine: I cannot tolerate strong scents. I have had to work through a migraine more than once due to a client's lingering perfume, cologne, or cigarette smoke they were wearing when they came to see me. Some essential oils can even trigger a migraine for me. If you are a scent-wearer, I ask you to please consider scheduling your session before you apply your favorite scents.
I never expect a tip from my clients. Of course, sending me referrals and coming back yourself is the BEST "tip" that you could give! If you are especially happy with your massage, you can also leave me a review on my Facebook page or my Google business page (or both!), and/or write out a testimonial for me to share on my website (you can send this through my contact form if you'd like).
As far as monetary tips go, I have had some comment that they should be allowed to decide for themselves whether or not to include a tip when they pay, so I do have tipping enabled in my payment software. Feel free to make your own decision at each session.
That depends on what we are planning to accomplish during your massage.
I always drape my clients modestly throughout their session, uncovering only the areas with which I am working, and re-covering them before uncovering the next area.
For general relaxation, I can work over and around your clothing, providing it is not too textured or bulky (no sequins, please; they hurt!). Something loose and comfortable would be best, if you think that you'd like to remain clothed. Basically, wherever you want lotion applied needs to be accessible.
For certain types of manual work, I will need direct access to the skin in the specific areas where we will be working. Manual Lymphatic Drainage is one example.
We will discuss draping and clothing and areas of access in our pre-scheduling conversation. Please let me know of any concerns that you have; I am happy to explain anything I can to help you feel at ease with my work.
I do require shoes to be removed for every session, though. The linens tend to get caught on the toes and heels (plus, you know, dirt and all).
Late Arrival
If you are going to be more than 5 or so minutes late for your appointment, please call or text me to let me know that you are still coming. If you arrive late, you will still be charged the full session fee, and your session will still end on time.
If you arrive too late, we may not have enough time to address your concerns.
Cancelation
If you must cancel your appointment (I hope you never do!), please do so at least 24 hours before your scheduled session.
If you cancel less than 24 hours of your scheduled session, you may be charged a late cancellation fee of up to the full session price.
If you cancel the day of your appointment, or if you "no-show/no-call", you will be charged the full regular session price.
If you are experiencing a true emergency, please let me know as soon as possible, and I will take your situation into consideration. Please try to at least give me a heads-up: as little as a text saying "At the ER" will suffice.
Forgetting your appointment, realizing at the last moment that you accidentally double-booked with me and your hairdresser, or taking an impromptu vacation do not qualify as "emergencies".
Going into labor or having an urgent health issue crop up does count as an emergency!
In this age of Covid-19, naturally, I am more than willing to work with my clients on this matter. I appreciate as much advance warning as possible (i.e., if you know that you've been exposed on Saturday and your appointment is the following Tuesday, you have time to cancel so that I can try to fill that spot). But if you begin to notice symptoms the morning of your appointment, PLEASE do not risk exposing me (and by trickle-down, my other clients and my family) by brushing it off as "hopefully just allergies".
I love questions! Whether you have a question about my policies, you need to know whether I can provide a safe massage for your particular medical condition, or you're curious about why I do (or don't do) a certain thing during your massage, or anything else not addressed here, please PLEASE feel free to ask me! You can fill out my contact form here (please do NOT put any protected health information in the form!), or you can schedule a free video consultation here.
As with any small business, Reconnect DFW relies heavily on word-of-mouth to grow.
Building trust in the community is essential for any business; your voice can help enormously.
I realize that due to the reasons why some clients come to see me, writing a review might not be appropriate. I never, ever want you to feel pressured to do so!
However, if you would like to help others like you find me, you can leave a review at one or both of these links:
You can also send me a testimonial to share through my contact page. Feel free to use just your first name or your initials here.
Please also consider sharing about me, where appropriate, with your medical and mental health care providers, in Facebook and other social media discussions, in conversations with your friends and family, and if you are so inclined, by writing out a brief testimonial for me to share here on my website.
I greatly appreciate any and all reviews, testimonials, and personal/"organic" sharing-- this is how my business will grow and enable me to continue serving you for a long time to come!