Client vent...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Client vent...
13
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 6:55pm
I have a client who recently sustained a back injury. She says that her doctor wants me to write a program for her so that he can approve it. I have asked for some recommendations or limitations from her doctor because a) I don't have or know the particulars of her back injury, what she is or isn't capable of and b) I don't want to further aggravate her condition. She keeps insisting that I write a program to give to the doctor (which I feel is a complete waste of time as the vast majority of exercises DO incorporate the back somehow and presently I'm unaware of her limitations). It's turned into a whole big ordeal and she's saying she might not train anymore... *sigh* The doctor is insisting that I call him (which feels rather arrogant to me) but I am willing to do this. My client has yet to give me a means by which to contact him.

I have another client who started training Monday who is very sweet but a real piece of work. She has a lot of weight to lose and she wants to lose it fast... about 75 pounds in 6 months. Of course, I tried to explain why this is both unrealistic and unhealthy and she listened to me but I'm not sure how much she really heard. I was able to talk her out of doing an Atkins-like diet and into doing Weight Watchers so that was one accomplishment. I just have a feeling this is going to be a hard case because she's so impatient and I think willing to do anything regardless of whether it's safe or not. People so often think "I'll lose the weight now and learn how to eat healthy when I'm done" and it's such deeply flawed thinking. It's frustrating for me because I made so many errors on my own (that I'm still paying for and I do tell my clients about it) that I hate to see others digging holes they will only have to claw their way out of later.

Thanks for listening.

Kel

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 7:13pm
How frustrating!





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 7:24pm
Do you think it's unreasonable of me to insist on speaking with the doctor before putting any work into a new program? I keep getting the feeling from her that I should just go along with it, but that seems pointless and a waste of time. My time is valuable and I put in a substantial amount of time for my clients aside from the actual time spent training them (which is the only time I get paid for).

I could absolutely print out articles for the other client... but I think it's like a lot of things. People know that slow weight loss is healthier just like they know that fruits and veggies are good for you and packaged baked goods have essentially no nutritional value. It's a matter of truly listening because everybody thinks they will be the exception. This client knows that I know what I'm talking about and she's seen my before pictures. I keep telling her that I'm a living breathing example of weight loss mistakes that can be made. *shrug* She's purchased 14 one-hours with me and I forsee her putting off purchasing additional training packages and finally giving up and doing gastric bypass (or some similar surgery). I know that sounds bleak but I think she's far too impatient to do this healthfully and slowly...

Kel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 7:33pm

It seems absolutely crazy to me that she'd expect you to put a program together, just in case it happened to match her back problems!






iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 7:43pm
Thank you for the validation. With the flack I've gotten about this, I was starting to wonder if it was an unreasonable request. (I don't think of myself as an unreasonable person but I also know I have my moments. :) You make a good point about telling her how much time goes into a program... I did not mention this to her and if it comes up, I certainly will. Thanks for the reminder.

As for the other client, she purchased that because we had a special. :) She sees me 2x a week so it won't last her all that long.

Kel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Wed, 10-27-2004 - 10:04am

i think you should talk to the doctor before doing the program. i don't think it is arrogant of the doctor to want to speak with you, i think it makes sense.


as far as the other client, it's frustrating, but i think eventually you'll learn not to get so emotionally invested in these situations. your client is not an atypical person, i'm sure there are plenty more where she came from. all you can do is do your best to lead her on a healthy path and beyond that, it's not your problem. all you can do is do your job, and she's going to take what you give her and do whatever she's going to do. you can't fix people, you can only educate and train them.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Wed, 10-27-2004 - 10:35am
Just to clarify, I don't think it's arrogant that the doctor wants to speak to me. I think it's arrogant that he's insisting that *I* contact him. Of course we need to communicate but when one party insists that the other party contact them first, it just seems a little holier than thou to me. Also, I admit that I have a growing bias against doctors thanks to a lot of what I hear from my clients (as well as my own personal experience).

As far as the other client goes, I absolutely know that you're right. However, it's hard not to invest myself because this *is* a deeply personal issue for me. That's the core reason why I wanted to be a trainer. I take pride in caring about my clients but along with that pride comes some frustration... and apparently I was pms'ing yesterday which doesn't help anything. :)

Kel

Avatar for soleilune
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 10-27-2004 - 12:49pm
She should be consulting a physiotherapist before a personal trainer. I specialize in rehab clients & those w/ limitations. I always insist they are okayed by their Dr. before I'll train them. Drs. for the most part, unless their field is sports medicine, know diddly-squat about kinesiology, so my rehab patients are already working/have worked w/ therapists of some sort before they begin training. I insist on consulting w/ the physiotherapist before I design a program. You should definitely speak w/ the dr. and your 1st question should be why he's okaying a trainer before a therapist.

Base any decisions/choices you make as a trainer on two things: your client's safety; your liability.

Good luck and take care.

Soleilune
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Wed, 10-27-2004 - 1:26pm
When you say physiotherapist, is that the same as physical therapist?

Thanks for your thoughts. Very good suggestions and I'll definitely ask him why she's not being referred for physical therapy.

You are absolutely right about her safety and my liability. Those are the two things that have been on the forefront of my mind since this whole mess began. Thanks again.

Kel

Avatar for soleilune
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 10-27-2004 - 1:33pm
Yep, they're the same thing.

As for him asking that he call you, look at it this way - you can contact him when its convenient for you. I've never been asked to call someone - I always insist on doing it. If he's unavailable, give a very specific time frame for him to return your call. This puts you on relatively equal footing w/ him, gives you some control in the situation and presents you as a busy professional whose time is as valuable as his - which hopefully will result in him treating you appropriately, not condescendingly.

Soleilune
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 10-27-2004 - 1:33pm
That's a great point.





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