Assessment for Stress

Identify client goals

Is stress management what your client wants/needs?

(assuming that it is)

Establish a baseline measure of stress level (e.g. stress monitor)

Identify stressors

• Identified areas on the stress monitor may give some clues
  
  
• Start with a general question – e.g. “so what’s causing your stress?”, and follow their answers. This open-questioning approach allows your client to talk about the stressors which they are comfortable sharing with you at this time.
  
  
• Observe their body language – are they comfortable with your line of questioning?
  Respect their emotional boundaries.
  
  
• More information may come out during the massage, or in future sessions as your client becomes more comfortable with you.
  
  
• Always bear in mind your professional boundaries. Stress is strongly related to emotions and psychology. Often when we've had some kind of personal experience, we feel that we are able to give advice to our friends on matters similar to our experiential learning. This is not appropriate in a clinical space you are in a position of authority, and the client is paying for a professional service. We are not qualified to provide advice on emotional/ psychological matters, and should therefore be careful to avoid doing so & refer to others when this is required.

Record keeping

Because the information which is discussed in a stress assessment process may be very personal in nature, you need to be careful when recording the details in your records. Bear in mind that your client, and other people they authorise (most likely another healthcare practitioner), may read your records at some point in the future. Try to avoid names, and any details which are likely to identify the parties involved.