What I learned from my first client experiences

All right guys, today I want to talk about my very first client experience when starting my business and just everything that goes into that and how nerve wracking it was, what it felt like to give you guys confidence that you can do it even though it may feel very uncomfortable, comfortable at first. And you're going to be like, I don't know how to do this. Well, here we go. I'm going to tell you everything of how it works. So for those that know or don't know, I moved from California to Virginia and my very first client, shockingly enough, was actually one of my patients in California that was moving to Virginia at the exact same time in the exact area that I was going to be in. Crazy small world, I know, like literally five and a half hour flight, two, 2,000 miles plus away. And I was able to continue treating her and get help. She had severe, you know, endometriosis and lots of chronic pelvic pain. And anyways, so my very first, she was my very first client ever and I was still nervous as heck. I've never been in someone's house. I like had to drive over like 45 minutes to get to her home. I wasn't familiar with the area at all because I just moved to the area, right? And so I was just like everything was, I don't have consent forms, I don't know how I'm going to charge her. I don't know. Like I have to get a table. Like I don't know where I'm gonna set up my table. Like what does this look like? Like I was terrified. Think of it being like a practical situation, like it was in school but like 2x that because you're just so uncomfortable because you don't know what's going on. So before I went and saw her, I actually practiced on my sister in law because it's the only person I knew in Virginia. And I was like, hey, can I come over to your house and practice on you so that I can build my confidence up and feel more confident. And she was like, yeah. So I got my table from Amazon. I had a full on suitcase that I got from the container store with my little caboodle in it. And I had my suitcase, my table and I walked up to her door and knocked on it and I'm like hey, I'm here. She's like, okay, come down to the basement. Well I have to carry my table in this suitcase one at a time down to the basement. So that was like the first thing like oh crap, I can't carry both of these things. And down, up and down all these flights of stairs. For those who don't know, DC area, everyone has a townhome and they all go straight up. So there are multiple, multiple levels of these homes. Rather than it being like a flat, you know, one story, it's. They typically are these massively high townhomes. And so that was my first lesson of like, crap, it's going to take me a minute to like get things up and down stairs. Okay. Then I was like, well, where'd I put my table? Like, I guess I can just literally put it anywhere. So. And then how to fold out the table. You think that this wouldn't be a big, big deal, but if people had like slippery floors, the table when you. Because you have to like fold it on its side, fold the legs out and then like flip it. But then the thing would slide and like hit their kitchen door. It's like. So I had to perfect that by putting my foot underneath it and then like flipping the table and. And then I was like, okay, well I guess I put sheets on that because that would be nice and it would be comfortable. And then I realized as I got into this, I was like, wait, but that means all those sheets I'm gonna have to take home and do laundry. Oh wait, now I don't want to spend three hours a night doing laundry at night. So like, then I was like, screw the sheets, I don't care, doesn't matter. And so anyways, I was at my sister in law's doing all this, like recognizing all this as I'm putting this out for her. Because then once you fold the table over, then you have to put the sheets down. That takes up more time. And it's like, no, just hop on the table. And I would just put a chuck pad down. So then I went through like a full on movement assessment. Literally like a practical full on movement assessment. Standing clothed. And then I'm like, but what do I say when I like ask her to take her clothes off to do an internal. Like, where do I go? Oh, I guess I just turn around. So then, oh wait, can I borrow a towel? Because I didn't bring one. So then she had to go get a towel. And then I realized that's good because then like I don't have to do that laundry. So win for me. And so then I would just turn around. She got undressed, I came back to the table. Then I was like, oh crap. Like I don't have my gloves close to me. Oh, Crap. Wait, I have my gloves on, but I don't have my lube next to me. Oh, wait, now I got to take my gloves off. So, like, all this I had to work through while I'm doing this basically practical situation. Like, all those little details matter because you put your gloves on, you're ready to do a vaginal exam, and then all of a sudden your Louvre is in your suitcase on the floor and it's not easy to reach. And maybe you have like a pump bottle and it should be one of those things where you have to open it. And it's just like all those little details actually do matter to make you feel very confident and comfortable and in your flow when you're with the actual client. So if you guys are starting out, I highly recommend you practicing this because this was my first experience with a client, with my client. And I again, I did a practical basically on my sister in law. And then I'm like, well, wait, when I'm done, like, how do I do? I just like turn back around, she puts her pants on and that's literally what happens. They go to the bathroom, they take the towel, they go to the bathroom, they change and then come back out and. And I'm just sitting there. Okay, well, when I first showed up, what do I do with the consent? Oh, wait, I had to print it off at home because I didn't have Jane or PT everywhere. And I literally was like, here. And they had to physically sign it. Oh, wait, how do I take payment before I leave the house? I'm like, here, here's my Venmo. Can you Venmo me? That's going to be this amount. Okay, yeah. And then a lot of times I would like leave the house and didn't get a Venmo. I'm like, wait for a Venmo. Hoping and praying that my Venmo would go through. And so all these little kinks I had to work out. And then like, how do I leave their house when they're talking to me about their kids? Or how do I leave their house when I need to go to my next patient and I'm already late, but they're offering me to sit down for a tea and drink some tea with them. There are so many little details that I had to figure out, but I just. You're able to figure it out just so you know, just so you have hope you're able to figure it out. But if you are concerned about like what this looks like, about going into someone's house and like, well, how does this look? And like, you feel like you need a lot of money to start. You don't. You need about $400 to start. That's it. And that's just for, like, supplies and insurance. That's really it. Like, how do I write a note on her? Oh, wait, I don't have wi fi. So how is that going to work? Okay, well, I guess I could just do a note section on my phone and just type out her subjective part and. And then do the Objection. Do the note stuff at home. Okay, well, I guess I'll do that. All that little stuff I had to figure out during that practical. And I didn't realize how beneficial that practical was. And it took me like two hours and a half, two and a half hours to get through that practical with my sister in law. But I was so thankful that I did that because then I was like, okay, then I need my lube. I have to make sure I get my lube ahead of time and put it on the table. And then I need my gloves here. And okay, wait, I need to ask for. Make sure that they get a towel and like all these little things help me process and feel more confident going to my client's home. Now let's get to my client. So remember, I already kind of knew her, which is a benefit. So it wasn't like meeting a random stranger. So that was a positive. However, I was highly uncomfortable with the situation going into someone else's home. And I show up and I get there, and she lives in this really small, tiny little town home. And I was like, where do I put my table? Like, there's no in the living room. There was literally no room in the kitchen. There was, like, slight room. But I was like, I'm gonna do an internal exam in their kitchen. And I was like, yep, I guess I am. There was no room in the bedroom. So I was like, okay. So I come up. I'm like, all right. So I fold out my table in the kitchen, and I'm like, I'm literally doing an internal exam in their kitchen. Okay. And you know, you just act like it's cool because it is cool. And I just did my thing. And I'm like, wow, I actually could treat someone in their kitchen. That's no big deal. And, you know, had her sign a consent form. I was like, just venmo me. I just. She went in the other room and got changed in her bedroom and then would come back out with the towel around her. And then, you know, I had all my Stuff on the table, even with like my cups and trying to get that organized, like where am I going to put that? And reaching distance to where I don't have to keep going back to my bag. And like if I fold out all my stuff in my bag, you don't just like want it on the ground. You need it like organized to where the, the patients are like, okay, well that's sanitary, you know. And so I got this little caboodle from the Container store and it, it has all this organization so everything was like in its own little compartment. So it was all sanitary, thank God. And. And so I would just pull from there. And then after that like I was just like, okay, here's my Venmo. You can Venmo me. And she did. And I remember, I. I will always forget this. I remember walking back to the car and putting my table in the car and I was so proud of myself because it was so outside my comfort zone of just feeling awkward, uncomfortable, unsure, all different things. And I completed my first ever patient and I got paid. And I will never forget that. I think I charged like 185 at the time. I will never forget that moment of treating that client and it just being a massive success. And the more I was put in these uncomfortable situations. Like I remember another one that stood out to me. It was during COVID She just had a baby and she could not walk up. She couldn't walk. Like she couldn't because she got pubic synthesis after she had a baby. She literally could not walk, stand anything because it was so freaking painful. And she was terrified of me coming into her house because she thought I would give her some dishes. Is her baby, you know, Covid and her Covid. So I. This is in D.C. remember this? Okay, this is again another 50 minute drive. Okay. I remember being in my full on winter coat in her backyard with these massive town homes, you know, on either side of the fence. It is probably 40 something degrees windshield. I don't even know. Doing internal exams on her because she needed massive help and I was willing to do it because I needed a client and I needed to help this girl because she needed to hold her baby. Like she couldn't even hold her baby. She couldn't even breath. Like it was just so painful. And. And that's what I did. I would go to her backyard and do internal exams. While I'm sure the neighbors could peek over the fence. I mean it's easy. The windows were like right on the fence. They could just easily look. I mean we had her covered and everything, but I will never forget that. And just. You're going to be put in these situations where you're like, is this really happening? Yes. And you just have to roll with the punches and go with it. And I think that is. That just, like, makes you just more diversified and being able to handle any situation. And when I look back, I'm like, I did that. Like, I really did that. And that's just, like, cool. So if you guys are, like, scared to start and, like, have your first experience with a patient, know that that's how it's going to feel. Know that it's going to be awkward, know that it's going to be uncomfortable. I would highly recommend doing a practice round on someone, anyone, and even it could be a stranger. If you don't know anyone, start making a stranger and just say. And literally just be honest. This is my first client. I'm just trying to, you know, get out the kinks here. I'm just trying to do the best I can. And that's what we're going to do. And they may actually then become a client. And then after that, I started treating people for free on trailheads. Like, seriously, that's what I used. I did. And without a table, without a shirt, without cards, and I would treat them standing in parking lots. And that's how I got my first clients. They treated them for free. And then they would refer friends or they would be like, oh, I need you, and the rest is history. That's it. And so I would say the more people that you can get underneath your belt, the more confident you're going to be to then even ask for money, to then do the thing. And I think that's the coolest part. So if you are scared or if you're like, I don't know how to treat my first client, hopefully this video helps you, because that is my experience about it being mobile and not having a facility and how I was able to get through treating my very first client without it feeling like. I mean, it was terrifying, but without it being too much to where I didn't want to do it. So hopefully that helps. Guys, we'll talk soon.