A Letter to Clients/ Resources for Eveyone

– – Posting this for easy access for all – This is a letter I sent out on June 2nd to my clients. – –

Hello,

Every time I have started one of these letters, it has taken me several days to complete and by the time I’m ready to send it out, so much has changed since I began writing.

So – as of today – June 2nd, 2020 – it appears that Multnomah County is targeting June 12th for Phase 1 of reopening. When that happens, Massage/ Bodywork as well as other “Personal Services” will be included. Please see link below if you are curious about what that means for providers. This information will be useful if you plan to get your hair cut, brows waxed or are itching for a pedicure. Basically anything that will bring you into close proximity with any provider for any extended period of time. Please know what is expected of the providers that you seek services from.

o   Guidance for Personal Service Sector

As we move into this next chapter of our shared story, we will all be grappling on a daily basis with what it means to live with an increased risk of contracting a severe illness and the complications that can accompany that. Risk tolerance may well be the theme of the rest of the year.

I believe that it is in all of our interests to be as educated as possible and transparent with one another as we consider how to begin interacting in person.

That being said, there is no guarantee of safety in any of this. In fact, personal services are considered by the CDC to be “medium risk occupations”. This means medium risk to both the provider and the client due to the time spent in close proximity.

Time in proximity and the prevalence of asymptomatic spread is a huge concern for any of the professions that must put aside the 6-foot physical distancing guidelines in order to work. I personally have concerns about the variety of ways in which this disease presents; specifically the high likelihood that asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic transmission is common as well as the prevalence of blood clots associated with COVID-19 infections. I am continuing to keep an eye on the research and hope to evolve my understanding of the ramifications and dangers involved as related to massage and bodywork.

If you would like more information about the blood clotting issues you can find them here and here.

I have thought long and hard about how and if I can return to my practice. I am settling into an acknowledgement that I believe that touch is incredibly important and deeply relevant to human health (both physical as well as mental and emotional well-being) and am therefore planning to return to my practice and looking forward to receiving bodywork again as well.

I am currently in the process of securing the needed equipment required to reopen (PPE, disinfectants, etc.), establishing/ clarifying new guidelines for my practice as well as working with the other practitioners in the building to find common ground regarding our cleaning and use of public/ shared areas.

As I move forward with resuming my practice on a limited basis, a few changes will be in place. I will be taking the following precautions in order to reduce the risk of exposure* for you and myself as well as for the other practitioners and clients that utilize the building.

• Masks are required at all times in the building. Please bring a mask or one will be provided for you before entering.

  •  An exception can be made during your sesion when you are lying face down with your face in the face cradle – We will utilize a loose pillowcase under the headrest as a loose barrier in that case.

• I will be wearing a mask during the session.

• I will be wearing a fresh change of clothes for each session.

• We will have an exhaust fan running the entire session to move air through the room and out the window.

• All surfaces that you will come in contact with in the course of your session will have been cleaned thoroughly prior to your appointment (this is not new, but I am including this for the sake of transparency)

  • Hard and non-porous surfaces will have been cleaned and disinfected with medical grade disinfectant.

  • Linens are laundered and stored in such a manner as to not allow for contamination (again, not new but now in plastic containers)

  • Treatment rooms are vacuumed daily.

What I will be asking of you:

•  Please bring a mask and a water bottle.

• Please take your own temperature prior to coming in. Anything over 100.00 is enough to require a re-schedule.

  •  If you have ANY symptoms whatsoever please be in touch to cancel your appointment. This includes allergies. There will be no late cancellation fees.

• We have a touch free thermometer and pulse oximiter for use at the office and I will take your temperature if you have not already done so prior to your session. It’s not clear to me that this screening is useful but it certainly cannot hurt.

•  I will ask you to fill out a new informed consent form prior to your first appointment back.

• If at all possible arrive freshly showered and wearing clean clothes.

• If at all possible, make your appointment the first stop of your day (i.e. please don’t go to Costco, Target and get a haircut before coming in.)

• Upon arrival, please remain in your car. I will text or call you 5 minutes before your appointment time to let you know that you may come in and I will be downstairs to meet you.

• Please utilize the provided hand sanitizer or wash your hands immediately upon entering/ before going upstairs.

• Once in my office, our sessions will proceed as they always have with the exception of now wearing facemasks for the entirety of the session (unless you are face down).

I plan to begin seeing a limited number of clients beginning July 14th. Appointments will be available at 9am and 11am on Tuesdays and Thursdays for several weeks with an expansion of available days and hours likely in the following weeks/ months.

In order to accomodate the ongoing additional time and expense, I have increased my rate by $15.00 per session. As usual, I prefer not to accept tips and encourage folks who feel inclined to tip to either schedule more sessions, purchase a session for a loved one or friend or to donate those funds to your local food bank.

Please know that I am thinking of all of you and I trust that you are finding ways to nourish and care for yourselves in the face of all that is happening in our world.

Also, while I do look forward to seeing you all in person again, in the coming weeks I will be sending a follow up email with some new offerings/ virtual treatment options for folks who would like some support but where proximity or in-person meeting is not an option.

I do hope that you will be in touch with any questions or if you would like to schedule a session in July.

*Please note that I have not used the term “safe” anywhere in this letter. I cannot state strongly enough that proximity and time (lack of physical distance for extended periods) is one of the primary reasons that massage/ bodywork is considered a medium risk occupation. Open, honest communication regarding symptoms and our daily habits, robust cleaning protocols and utilizing masks are currently our best bet for gauging our own comfort levels regarding risk and for protecting one another as we continue down this path together.

Warmly,

~A