Interviews
Interviewed on Radio 4 in December 2006 to highlight Nicole Wehden’s Swapaskill venture www.swapaskill.co.uk, Emma is featured in the story of the month."I swapped skills with Emma James and we featured on Radio 4 You and Yours programme this week. I am a Chef and have cooked for Princess Margaret and other royalty. Emma is a highly experienced complementary therapist who offers various therapies and specialises in massage.
My Swapaskill experience was great fun, such a friendly and sociable thing to do. Getting help and receiving something of so much value without having to worry about money was amazing. It gave me a real social experience.
Emma is a working Mum and has very little time, she needed some help cooking food that was healthy and delicious for her children. I cooked her an array of healthy dishes which I put in containers so that Emma could take them home and freeze them. In return Emma gave my husband a massage to help him with his aches and pains. I wanted my husband to have the treatment because when my husband is happy, I'm happy. Emma was just wonderful and really helped my husband, she made him feel so much better. To be able to get things that are so beneficial that you can't normally afford for something you can do in return is just marvellous!
Emma was also delighted with what I had done for her and wanted me to include this in my story. "Fay's wonderfully nutritious food and wholesome cooking gave my children delicious, balanced meals. It really helped me during a time when I had a particularly busy week in my working life. The meals didn't reach the freezer they loved it so much. After the children had woofed down all the food they asked me, "Mum when are you doing this again?" Thank you so much Fay, you're a cooking legend! I would heartily recommend Swapaskill, it fits in entirely with my ethos and principles in life and I'm very much looking forward to swapping with an assortment of skills that people can offer.
An amazing experience all round - thank you!"
The interview below was conducted by an Ecademy member, Andy Metcalf of www.holisticpro.com in 2005
Case Study - Emma James, Massage Therapist
"Emma James has been a complementary therapist in the UK for 9 years. She first trained in Therapeutic (Remedial) Massage with the College of Holistic Medicine and has since trained and qualified in Aromatherapy, Indian Head Massage, Reflexology, Bach Flower Therapy & Reiki Healing.
How long have you been a therapist?
Over 9 years.
What is your background and what led you to complementary therapies?
My background is in the arts; literature, music, drama and I have a degree in English and Drama.
I became interested in complementary therapies in the 1980's when I experienced difficulties with mild asthma and the spur for beginning my training as a homoeopath was due to my Mother's ill health and her reliance on strong medicinal drugs, although I was unable to complete my studies as a homeopath because it coincided with starting my young family.
What therapies do you practice?
I've trained and qualified in 6 therapies, including Therapeutic Massage, Aromatherapy Massage, Indian Head Massage, Reflexology, Bach Flower Therapy and Reiki Healing. I began my training in Therapeutic Massage with the College of Holistic Medicine during 1994 and from 1995 to the present day, added the other complementary therapies to my repertoire. Later this year I'm going to begin training as a Sports Massage Therapist with the London School of Sports Massage in response to demand.
Massage accounts for about 90% of my work, although I draw upon the other therapies I am trained in during the course of a treatment for maximum effect. Most people opt for Therapeutic/Aromatherapy massage and I will sometimes bring in Indian Head Massage work and/or Reiki Healing and may finish with a little reflexology, targeting specific reflex points according to the client's needs.
You've qualified in a lot of different therapies, what are your reasons for learning so many and do you recommend other therapists do the same?
I never set out to train in so many therapies, it's just that my commitment to complementary therapy has led me naturally from one course to the next. Each course I participate in expands my skill and expertise which results in greater connection and empathy with my clients. I find on-going training helps to maintain my positive momentum and the enthusiasm for my work, concurrently providing the opportunity to interact, learn and share with other therapists. As to whether I'd recommend other therapists chart the same course, I couldn't speak for anyone else because what has proved to be right for me, may not be a preferred option for another therapist. I work full-time as a therapist, running two busy practices and am branching out into the corporate market so the range of therapies I provide and the experience I have is an asset but another therapist may feel more comfortable practising part-time with a smaller range of therapies.
What are the biggest mistakes you made getting started as a complementary therapist?
I suppose the biggest mistakes I have made over the years in establishing my practice have come through ill-judged advertising. Personally I have found local newspaper advertisements to be costly and quite often they generate little or no response. Referrals from other clients are the best form of advertising which is how my business has grown over the years. I believe it must be much harder to establish a clinic nowadays because there are so many people training and qualifying in complementary therapies who are trying to establish their practices.
What information do you wish you had when you were first starting out?
I think I would have found it helpful to know how slow it can be to grow a business but reassuring to know that once a business is established, a therapist can attract new business and grow more rapidly through their existing client base and the application of their increased marketing/advertising knowledge.
What's the most important advice would you give someone who's just starting out as a therapist?
Focus on the therapy you enjoy working with the most. If you are qualified in a number of therapies and you have a preference for a particular therapy you will enjoy your work more by specialising in that therapy and your commitment and enthusiasm for your work will be obvious to your clients, which in turn will grow your business and reputation.
What do you think are the keys to becoming a successful therapist?
A commitment to people and a genuine desire to want to help people optimise their health.
What's one of the things that you find most challenging about being a complementary therapist?
I find the most challenging aspect of being a complementary therapist is purely and simply to do with the fact I am self employed, so that one week can be incredibly busy and one week very quiet and through learning how to integrate the demands of my working week with my personal responsibilities. I still find that difficult even now after over 9 years in practice!
What kind of people come to see you?
I work with men and women, children and adults from all walks of life, helping people who come to see me for relaxation, right the way through to people who are gravely ill.
What do you like most about your job, and also what do you dislike the most?
I enjoy the fact that my work is so varied. You never know what you are going to be presented with when a new client books in for a treatment and regular clients can be subjected to events in their life which will affect their customary pattern of muscular tension or symptoms. I'm very privileged to follow people through their lives in my work, enhancing their health in the process.
I find the administrative aspect of my work the least appealing; keeping on top of ordering essential supplies, transcribing case notes, marketing/advertising etc I'm in my element when I'm actually hands-on, working with my clients but administration is a vital part of running any business.
How do you manage the business & marketing aspects as well as actually do the job of treating clients?
As to marketing and advertising. I do what I can, when I can, because I have to fit the administrative aspects of the business around my professional and personal life. In an ideal world, I'd employ someone to do my marketing and advertising on my behalf but like most therapists, I manage that aspect of my business myself.
How do you re-charge your batteries?
I re-charge my batteries by training and by taking part in regular healing days with my friend and mentor, Madeline Fletcher and other local therapists.
How would you define success?
My definition of success is measured by the satisfaction and improved health of my clients and the ratio of new clients who become regular clients.
Who's inspired you the most and why?
My mother who sadly died last year. She was so frail and ill during her life but so stoical and philosophical and despite her physical limitations, she had such a strong, loving spirit combined with unconditional love.
How do you see your future?
I see my future firmly rooted in complementary health and would like to think that complementary health will be increasingly accepted to work alongside conventional medicine.