Looking after your mental load in the Christmas season

The winter months are a busy time for clinics, with lots of people booking treatments out of the summer sun, and the increased workload can take a toll on aesthetic professionals.

The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) is warning of the emotional toll practitioners face during this time, as their patients share their ups and downs of the Christmas period during treatments. At this time of year, clinics must put measures in place to help manage team mental wellbeing.

Suzy Reading, psychologist and resident wellness expert explains, “The energetic and emotional toll of listening to clients’ problems needs to be recognised and addressed as part of the basic training. There needs to be clarity on remit and responsibility - 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.”

As an employer:

• Allow a reasonable amount of time between treatments so your practitioners can decompress and have time to recharge before moving on to the next patient.
• 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.
• If possible, provide fresh water, tea/coffee, and healthy snacks for your staff – it’s a small gesture that goes a long way and your practitioners will be thankful after hours on their feet and in treatment rooms.

As a practitioner:

• Recognise the toll that listening to your patients’ 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 patient 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 patients 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.