How to Choose a Massage Therapist.
Choosing a Massage Therapist
Are you Choosing a massage therapist? If you are looking to be treated for the first time or are looking for a different Massage Therapist; how do you choose?
This can be a daunting task in that there are many different schools where therapists have graduated from, from these schools, therapists develop their own styles. I have compiled a short check list to assist you in the process of choosing someone:
1. Are they registered with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario(CMTO)?
All Massage Therapists must be registered with the CMTO in order to lawfully treat and be designated the title RMT, MT, Registered Massage Therapist or Massage Therapist.
All Massage Therapists must have a registration number. This registration number is put on receipts in order for you to get reimbursed by insurance. Without it, you run the risk of being declined reimbursement by your insurance company. If you go on the CMTO website you can actually look up Massage Therapists.
When choosing a massage therapist, always double check if they are registered.
2. What school did they graduate from?
Many fellow RMT’s may have their “feathers ruffled” but I am partial to a number of schools. There are many schools that open up every year and follow guidelines for educating therapists.
To be honest quality of education has an impact of the quality of the therapist. I am stating this based on my experience as an educator, student, therapist and one who regularly gets massage treatments. This is my opinion and others may have other opinions.
Here are the schools:
The “Big Three”. These are the schools that have been in existence for over 20 years and have shown consistent high passing rates on the Ontario exams, over time. These I have to qualify are schools that I have had the experience of dealing with. They have been either graduates, teachers and administrators in some capacity. Other schools that have been ignored and have been disregarded may be schools that I have had zero experience with.
- Sutherland-Chan(My Alma Mater)
- Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy(Taught there for 5 years)
- Kikkawa College(Strong passing rates, very consistent year in and year out)
Other schools that I have found outstanding include:
3. Experience is key.
The reality is that choosing a massage therapist with experience is ultra important, especially if you have a chronic condition.
Just like with any industry, experience can hold the key to results. Particularly in a health care setting.
Schooling and understanding theory is one quality but experience can possibly mean a better assessment and a more targeted treatment plan to assist you. There are some recent graduates that are excellent at these two skills but they are a rare few.
4. Are they good at communicating and teaching?
Do they just let you leave without a “run down” of treatment findings? Do they give you self-care pointers? Do they give you an idea of a treatment plan? In other words do they give you an idea of how long and how many treatments you will need?
One of the things I often hear from patients or people that I have talked to regarding their massage experience is that, the therapist had not instructed them when to come back! As a health care provider it is prudent that instructions must be given for this, otherwise assumptions can be made particularly by the patient.
For example, a patient may find that they are “still the same” after the first treatment. That particular patient may think that the massage was a “waste”. A particular condition may require 3 or 6 or 10 treatments. If the therapist fails to make mention of this, then he/she has failed the patient and assumptions will be made about the therapist and Massage Therapy in general.
5. Are they passionate about their industry?
Choosing a massage therapist with a passion for their field can be underestimated. Very simple but the passion of an individual can project in the treatment experience either positively or negatively.
Passion is hard to gauge but you as a patient will generally get an impression by the way the therapist acts, talks about the industry, continuing education and even quality of touch.
The last part is difficult to determine, if it is your first time having massage therapy. For those who have had treatment from a therapist that has passion you are able to determine this intangible better then the first timers.
6. Do you have a good “vibe” from the therapist?
Often the quality of treatment can be affected by the interaction between patient and Massage Therapist. Sometimes an individual may feel uncomfortable being treated by a particular therapist. Sometimes I unfortunately hear the word “creepy” being linked with this uncomfortable feeling that a patient may tell me about a previous therapist.
It is always a good idea in choosing a massage therapist that you can gain a good rapport and explain issues properly if ever you were to ask. It will help with the treatment process and you will feel less uncomfortable about the process of using touch for healing.
This is just a short list to assist you in your search for a Massage Therapist. Massage therapy is a very intimate form of health care. You need to access a therapist that you are comfortable with. We specialize in relieving chronic pain and tightness using deep tissue massage. Contact us so we can discuss your case.
More Resources:
Here are a number of common questions regarding deep tissue massage. Are you travelling anytime soon? Here are some pain management tips from our Pain Relief Fitness website.
