How to Lighten The January Load For Beauty Professionals
The decorations have been packed away, the new gym membership is feeling less shiny and the mid-January gloom is settling upon many of us. But while off-loading to a favourite beauty therapist during a monthly nail appointment might leave clients feeling lighter, according to Suzy Reading, psychologist and British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology’s (BABTAC) resident wellness expert, it can be mentally challenging to offer client’s counsel day after day.
“The energetic and emotional toll of listening to clients’ problems needs to be recognised and addressed as part of the basic training,” she states, “There needs to be clarity on remit and responsibility – i.e., you are not a trained psychological therapist and it’s not your job to fix or provide emotional support but to establish rapport and help people feel at ease so they can get maximum benefit from your work.”
How To Manage The Mental Load This January
There are things that both the individual and the employer can do to stop the stress of being a constant sound board taking its toll from January into the year ahead:
As an employer:
Allow a reasonable amount of time between treatments so your therapist can decompress and have time to recharge before moving onto the next client.
Provide a clean and welcoming space for your team to take breaks and where they can check in with team members regularly – whether it’s to lighten the load or simply change the subject.
Check in with your team to make sure they have the support they need and that they feel valued and listened to. People need to feel cared for and communication is key to this.
Provide fresh water, tea/coffee and healthy snacks if possible for your staff – it’s a small gesture that goes a long way and your therapists will be thankful after hours on their feet and in treatment rooms.
As a therapist:
Recognise the toll that listening to your clients’ problems can take and give yourself permission to articulate and honour your boundaries within the session. Healthy boundaries mean you get to decide what feels safe for you to talk about so instead of asking people what’s happening in their life, find something more neutral like – how was your journey in today?
After you finish with a client or when you notice yourself taking on their stress, have a ritual to encourage a feeling of letting go. Suzy recommends a gesture like shaking your hands or a breathing practice like candle breath (in through the nose, out through the lips for a long cathartic exhale). A few minutes in fresh air is another good go-to if the location allows.
Remember that the stress, emotion or problem you’ve just heard is not yours and turn the worry into wishing your clients well, maybe say a little prayer or set an intention for them and then bring your mind back to the moment. And remember to give yourself some of the same kindness and compassion too!
Don’t ignore what fills your cup. When you’re feeling low and depleted you’ll be more likely to be affected by others’ problems so whether it’s sleep, exercise, socialising, solo time, cooking, make sure you implement some small steps to give you a big boost.