Hands On Health NC massage therapy customer testimonials

Customer Testimonials ... Passing the torch...

Over the past few years we have asked for feedback in the form of testimonials and surveys. In part one, you will see a sampling of testimonials we have received. In part two, survey results and Hands On Health's response to survey feedback. If you would like to add your own testimonial, click here, "testimonial", and fill out the form provided or email us directly at testimonial@handsonhealthnc.com and our management will receive your feedback. You will be given a choice as to whether you want to share this testimonial with others outside of Hands On Health staff - with or without your name.

PART ONE: Testimonials

"I have had fibromyalgia for fifteen years. With time and the right medication for me, I improved greatly and was virtually free of pain for 10 years. A year and a half ago, I had a terrible "flair up"... in desperation I turned to the yellow pages where I saw the ad for Hands On Health medical massage therapy. I called and they took me that day and I was helped greatly ... My therapist ... knew exactly what I needed for my problem (a light massage and not one that would aggravate the problem) ... She is very informed in regard to fibromyalgia, a total professional, treats me with the utmost dignity, is patient, and listens to what I am saying regarding how I am feeling ... My husband told our doctor about her and, consequently, he has referred patients to "Hands On Health". I have never had to wait more than 5 minutes if that much. I am greeted by everyone in a friendly, professional manner. I am called every week to remind me of my appointment. I would never think of going anywhere else. My husband has had massages when we are out of town and always says no one can beat Meridith. I would be happy for anyone needing relief from pain to contact me. I am so glad I found this remarkable practice with truly dedicated and highly skilled professionals."

- Patsy Day

Testimonial: written by Jill Preyer, customer

Please check all that apply to your session(s):
__x__ Because of the professional nature of this practice and technique as well as the long-term benefits I have received from attending this therapy, I therapy, I would endorse this facility to any insurance agency, doctor, or friend;

__x__ I did not feel pressured to receive more therapy than I believed to be necessary;

__x__ Hands on Health is able to accommodate my busy schedule;

__x__ Scheduling is less of a hassle because of their receptionist and/or online scheduling options;

__x__ I came seeking treatment for serious chronic pain in my chest;

__x _ My therapist treated my condition very specifically;

__x__ My therapist was able to answer my questions in a detailed medically appropriate; manner, but remained within his/her scope of therapeutic understanding and scope of practice;

__x__ My therapist did not hesitate to refer me to my or other medical modality when appropriate;

__x__ My therapist explained the side effects of my sessions;

__x__ Instead of feeling helpless and frustrated, I felt empowered to help myself;

__x__ The therapist specifically used massage techniques that directly addressed my complaint;

__referred from another professional__ I found this therapist by way of another medical professional;

__x__ I found this therapist by way of a friend who received treatment from him/her. Their original complaint has remained improved;

__x__ I learned a lot of educational material from the website, thus allowing me to make an informed decision about receiving care at this facility;

Please feel free to expand on any of the above &/or in your own words, explain the experience you had from a recipient's perspective:

I have had some significant chronic medical issues which have been only partially addressed with physician managed care. Over the years I have tried out many massage therapists for relief of pain. A yoga teacher whom I admire recommended Hands on Health.

When I began seeing Laura Landsiedel, LMBT, I knew I had found an extraordinary healer. Using integrative neuromuscular myofascial technique, she found problems in my body that no scan, MRI, physical therapist or physician had ever been able to identify. My rigid back was causing a complex cascade of skeletal problems and referred pain.

My treatment with Laura has been over many months and is certainly not a walk in the park! Her strong hands find points of resistance and she painstakingly works to free up immobilized parts of my aching body. Laura is both highly trained, skilled, and intuitive. No two sessions are ever the same. She takes great pains to keep me informed about why she is doing what she is doing and at times insisted on working with my physical therapist to achieve a better outcome for me.

As a result of long hours under her skilled hands, I have reduced my pain medicine for the first time in 9 years. I have come to understand my own body and no longer regard my body as the enemy. I am hopeful that I will be pain free soon.

During the course of our work together I have also talked with Laura about how she started Hands on Health and the training programs she offers other skilled and motivated massage therapists. She is a very resourceful professional with excellent business expertise, a rare and admirable combination.

Yes, you may use my full name when sharing these comments in your testimonial literature: __x____

Name: _Jill Preyer______________________ Date: Jan. 14, 2008 ___

"My therapist fully understood the problems that come from being above average in height and has done wonders to keep my back and hips in good condition. Because of the professional nature of this practice and the techniques I received as well as the long-term benefits I have received from attending this therapy, I would endorse this facility to any insurance agency, doctor, or friend. My therapist treated my condition very specifically, was able to answer my questions in a detailed and medically appropriate manner, but remained within his abilities and knowledge, and specifically used massage techniques that addressed my complaint."

-David C.

"Since these [conditions] are chronic and on-going, I have tried many different things, including acupuncture and chiropractic. My body responds well to massage therapy and my therapist is excellent at locating the exact areas that need work. He also explains what he is doing and why, thus helping me understand better how to help myself ... I plan to schedule monthly maintenance sessions after I achieve optimal health in order to stay pain free and mobile."

-Linda Buchanan

"I have had two visits (treatment sessions) with you and could not be more happy with the results. I lead a very active and stressful lifestyle and from time to time my body gets a little stiff and I suffer from associated aches and pains. You have recommended stretch exercises, which I do every morning and that is very helpful and keeps me out of trouble. Every treatment and recommendation that you have provided have been spot on. I don?t look forward to my next episode but I do look forward to knowing that you will be able to treat and relieve the problem! Until then, I am one of your biggest fans!!!"

-David, construction industry

"I have had the good fortune to work with Ms. Laurino for the past eight (or is it ten?) years and am pleased to say that the chronic back problems I suffered from have been significantly reduced by her ongoing work. Elizabeth offers a unique combination of medical massage expertise combined with an intuitive bodywork sense that provides highly effective relief of both acute pain as well as maintenance of chronic conditions. She manages to provide these benefits while offering sessions that are genuinely relaxing. One of the great signs of her professionalism is that she brings the same level of intense focus to each session, thereby offering a level of consistency rarely found in the therapeutic massage field."

- Peter M

"I came to Hands on Health seeking treatment for left phrenic nerve palsy which caused my diaphragm in my left lung to not function. Also in the freak accident that caused this, I was incurring constant pain in my left shoulder and neck. These had occurred everyday for over a year (with many, many doctor visits having taken place). This further impacted my speaking as I was "out of breath" even in everyday conversation. Truly after only one medical massage session with my therapist, the pain was basically gone and only minor discomfort occurred at certain times or motions. With each session I have improved significantly. With the help of restorative yoga and medical massage, I now speak with very little concern and am confident other breathing muscles have taken on the job my diaphragm used to do. My confidence in my body has returned, my posture has improved, and I feel 100% better. Visiting Hands on Health, even over an hour drive away, is a treatment I greatly look forward to each month... Thanks for making such a difference."
- Bob Crumley
Rocky Mount, NC

PART TWO: Survey results and follow-through

1)Q. What do you like best about our practice?

"The staff is so knowledgeable and amazing! I love my two therapists, but have enjoyed meeting the other staff. It is so wonderful seeing the business grow and become more holistic. I love all the new services being offered such as reflexology! The fee schedule is really innovative and I think very helpful for those where cost is a concern. I also like the attention paid to those with special needs and sensitivities."

"On-line scheduling is very comfortable and easy to use and wonderfully convenient. I don't even need to speak with a receptionist if I don't want to! Therapists have all been good. Goal of integrative neuromuscular myofascial therapy training for all therapists is a good one."

"Personal attention: conference before and after session, discussion of things to do to help with tension, session designed for my current needs."

"Dedication of the staff and group leaders to continuing education."

"Explanation of muscles and medical terminology -- extra time from therapist about take-home care. Always having my questions answered!"

"They ask you what you would like them to specifically work on and attend to that area really well."

"I feel that I am in a safe and professional environment"

"Truly relaxing. Good organization of staff, equipment, and session. Enjoyed choice of music."

"Your staff is great with kids! I have a 10 year old child who began having headaches after a fall from his bicycle. After two sessions with a medical massage therapist, his headaches have dimmed to an occasional low grade headache by the end of his school week."

"I like the evening and weekend hours. Because you have so many locations, I can often find an evening appointment that fits my schedule."

"I like it that the newer therapists are under the training and supervision of the more advanced medical massage therapists. They are great anyway, but it is nice to know a group is working so hard to do everything they can to serve the needs of their clients."

"It's more about healing through massage than just about feeling relaxing."

"Being made to feel like I am the only person that the therapist is seeing the entire day."

"All the therapists are very good. Those with more experience are better and more helpful. Everyone is friendly, kind, and trying their very best."

"The benefits of my massage are long-lasting and my therapist's take-home suggestions have made a huge improvement in my own personal well-being."

"I like to schedule in the Raleigh office on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I know Mocha du Doggie will be there to comfort me during my session."

"Thanks a million, billion, trillion!"

"Wellness approach to the session. Awesome session every time!"

"Responsive to my requests. You 'hear me' and customize my sessions to my current needs. Eager to please, to make this a good experience."

"The receptionists work hard to help me find a time/weekend/affordable price, etc. They also encouraged me and coached me how to use the online schedule, which I like because I can look right at my calendar at the same time as at the therapist's schedule and it's easy to match an appointment time up with my schedule that way!"

2) Q. Do you receive a warm greeting from our staff when you enter our business? A. Responders answered with an overwhelming "always"... "The staff is always cheerful, friendly, welcoming, and professional". All our therapists are encouraged to help people feel welcome into our group environment ... "Everyone seems to genuinely care about the customer from scheduling an appointment to the end of the session."

3) Q. Are your calls returned promptly when you leave a telephone message? A. "Often". Some responses mentioned having to wait, on occasion for a return phone call, but most were pleased with the response time. Many mentioned that they enjoyed knowing a receptionist was on site during regular business hours. Others enjoyed knowing they could bypass a receptionist all together by using the convenient and user-friendly online scheduling program. Although it is frustrating to all that we had to implement a username and password, customers understood the need for this kind of security, called for the password and went about scheduling their own appointments.

4) Q. Are you able to schedule appointments at times that are convenient for you? A. "It Depends". Customers often have to make their schedule fit into a medical massage therapist's openings, but find convenient openings with very skilled therapeutic massage practitioners when they are seeking maintenance and relaxation massages. They praised Hands On Health for hiring skilled and caring wellness therapists.

5) Q. Do your appointments start and end on time? A. Industry-wide, a typical massage appointment runs for 50 - 55 minutes on the table, leaving 5 - 10 minutes for check-in and check-out. Regular customers tend to receive approximately 55 minutes on the table. Most customers responded that their appointment tends to start within 5 minutes of their scheduled time and ends within 5 minutes of their scheduled end-time. Late arrivals understood why their sessions ended at the pre-arranged time, but appreciated it when a therapist could extend the time a few minutes to make up for being late, on occasion.

6) Q. Do you find our business appearance to be clean and neat? A. Most answers were always. For those who wrote "often", they suggested we try to keep the front desk area tidier when we are busy. All said the bathrooms and treatment rooms were very clean and visually appealing.

7) Q. Does your therapist allow for quiet time when you need it? A. We received a wide range of answers to this question, such as: "Yes, but I don't really like to be quiet during my session and I feel like I'm supposed to be quiet and that makes me nervous" or "Even though I'm reminded that this is my time, I feel obligated to 'catch-up' with my therapist personally" or "Yes, my therapist always asks me how I want to interact that day, do I need quiet time and when do I need/want it" or "My therapist has to do a lot of specific and uncomfortable treatments on the front of my neck and skull ... I prefer it when she explains what she is doing and why." Explanation: Our staff is encouraged to listen for signs that a customer needs quiet time, to encourage quiet time during a relaxation session, and, when performing medical massage treatments, to clarify with the customer that now is the time for us to talk and for the therapist to explain what is happening during the session. To ensure that a customer's needs are always met, our therapists ask about a person's treatment and relaxation needs each and every time they visit the office, regardless of a pre-arranged treatment plan.

8) Q. Has the difference between medical massage and therapeutic massage been adequately explained to you? A. Many people answered "no" and that answer surprised us! Basically, the difference is with customer intention and it is our job to determine whether or not your intention matches your therapeutic needs. Sometimes a person who experiences a lot of tension headaches makes an appointment for a relaxation massage, the therapist recognizes an opportunity for the person to benefit from a treatment plan that involves medical massage. The therapist will provide the person with a relaxation massage because that is what the person intended to have when he/she made the appointment, but then the therapist will recommend that the person learn more about medical massage treatments and how they can help reduce the occurrence of headache pain. Medical massage is performed because of a doctor's referral and/or because a person has a specific symptomatic complaint where massage treatment is indicated for pain relief or as a part of the person's healing program.

9) Q. Based on your experience with us, which of the following people would you refer to us? A. Overwhelming response was "all" = physical therapist, doctor, friends and family.

10) Q. Which therapists have treated you at Hands On Health? A. Most had one or two therapists that they preferred to see, but acknowledged and appreciated the option to see others if their primary therapists did not have availability. For those that had tried a variety of therapists most commented that they enjoyed each person's unique but unified approach and a few commented that they preferred to remain with their primary therapist(s).

11) Q. What items need improvement? Although most respondents were pleased with the overall atmosphere, here are a few suggestions we learned about: A few respondents would like the rooms temperature to change, either be warmer or colder. Because we cannot please all types, we have provided each room with an electric table warmer and blankets. PLEASE speak up if you are too warm or too cold. Others responded that the lighting could be softer. If you find the room light to be too bright, please ask and we will be happy to soften the light for you. A few respondents would like us to attend to outside noise such as phones ringing and hearing people walk by in the hallway. We have supplied each of the rooms with white noise machines to reduce these exterior noises. Please comment to your practitioner if you find it is still too noisy.

"It's perfect already"

"Would like more music variety" - We encourage anyone who has a favorite music or scent at home to bring them in for the session. We would be happy to add them to enhance a session with these personal items.

"In the past, I've had difficult time arranging a session due to my therapist's schedule being so full. Fortunately, I have the latitude to be somewhat flexible. She goes that 'extra mile' by encouraging me to ask to be put on the waiting list ... she will do everything she can to get me in that week, especially when it is an emergency. I also like the fact that, although I prefer her work, if her schedule is too full, I can see another therapist at her location and she won't get upset with me for seeing another therapist." -- We would rather you received timely therapies, but we will be sure to check in with you and see if your needs were met with the other therapist and what, if any, we need to do to help those needs get met.

"Location - I would love a Hands On Health in Chapel Hill or Durham; however you are worth the drive!"

"Aromatherapy or a scented candle would be nice" - We do have a selection of aroma oils. Please ask for them during your session. Because a lot of people with environmental related illness and scent sensitivities visit our offices, our rooms are scent-free, but we would be happy to add an aromatherapy to your lotion!