Has my training all been in vain?!
Question: Why does it feel like all my training was all in vain? I have studied doing Complementary Therapies for two years and nobody wants my services, well a lot of people dont its only a few that do, why does nobody like me or seem interested, i feel like its all been in vain and i am so miserable!!
Answers: Why does it feel like all my training was all in vain? I have studied doing Complementary Therapies for two years and nobody wants my services, well a lot of people dont its only a few that do, why does nobody like me or seem interested, i feel like its all been in vain and i am so miserable!!
I am an alternative therapist myself (20 years) and yes, it takes time to build a clientele. When it doesn't work, there can be a number of reasons. Let's see :
1) They come once and never come back:
a) What did you do to frighten them off?
b) They got better right away and didn't need to come back. Give them a call to find out (although, when this is the case, they usually send you lots of new people)
c) They had too high expectations of being cured right away like "magic" and were disappointed. That's their problem. Not yours.
2) They don't come at all:
a) You don't advertise well enough or in the wrong places. Have free presentations of one hour or so in the evening, once a month and be ready to give appointments at the presentation. Don't just give them a visiting card with a number that they have to call. They won't.
b) You address the wrong audiences. You know what your therapies are best aimed at. Address those people.
c) You don't manage to convince them.
3) You are too impatient.
It takes a while to build up a clientele. The best way - the only way - to get clients is to do a top job and let satisfied customers talk about you and the good results they experienced in their own circles of friends.
4) You are too expensive.
Consider your clientele. You don't charge Harley Street fees in Pettycoat Lane.
Cheer up! If you're good, they'll come! That's you best credentials. There are no others.
You should have like a party where anyone who is interested can come and you can talk about what you do to make more people aware of yourself or even just like a newspaper ad. Or maybe your just not in a good area, its not you don't worry alot of people have a hard time starting out.
Studying Complimentary Therapies is getting the tools only. Your problem is within yourself. You feel nobody likes you and that has nothing to do with the career you chose. You need help to boost your personality and self-esteem. A shy person cannot become a great lawyer even if he goes to the best college as an over weighed person will not become the best sprinter. I would never choose a therapist, psychologist, doctor or lawyer that doesn't boost confidence.
Well. you've said something important there 'Its only a few that do' Well why not concentrate on the few that do want your services, and by that you will gain more confidence in your abilities, and then that few will tell other's then you will have a long list of people wanting your services.
No your training hasn't been in vain, it just takes time time to build up a cliential.
Any business is going to take a few years to really hit its stride. It also can take a lot of experience to be good at what you are doing. Letting people know that you exist, what you do, and how you might be able to help them is a huge key point.
Treat it like a job that needs lots of time and effort. when you have patients, spend the time on them, when you don't spend the time on figuring out other things you can do for your practice (getting the word out, improving your skills as a practitioner and business person, improving and maintaining the space where you do your work, and so on).
Give it at least 5 years before giving up on it.