Massage therapy services range from not as good as any other service available in the open market. If you get more than one professional suspension therapist you will find that their approach to massage is just as effective as their training and treatment. Self Employed Self Employed Self Employed Self Employed. So is being a therapist your true profession? Are you getting the best massage treatment you can get? Here are ten signs in no particular order that you re probably working with the best. Your massage therapist?
- Licensed & educated. Like any other profession massage therapy is regulated. Training and testing requirements vary from state to state. Working with licensed and certified therapists equips them with the knowledge and skills to keep patients safe respect boundaries and work within the scope of care. Look for the certificate posted on your business. It should be issued by a recognized certification authority on your behalf. You can usually go online to your states licensing or certification authority and search for your doctors name to verify certification if you have any questions. The workplace must also have a commercial license. This license allows them to practice law in the city and/or county of practice. Liability insurance is also required in most cases and is provided by the company where the doctor works or can be obtained individually by each doctor. Ask your doctor about their training and licensing if you have any questions. They are happy to talk about their hard-earned credentials. If you run go somewhere else.
- Clean and safe location. The massage treatment area should be clean and in a safe place for the client. Linen should be disinfected and replaced after each use. Massage creams and gels should be kept in clean non-allergenic containers. The room should be dust free. The only smell around you is the aroma of intentional aromatherapy. If the therapist is working at an event outside the office or when returning home or to the office they should be taken and used before and after the session. And above all wherever you meet your massage therapist should respect your personal boundaries. They should be wrapped properly while maintaining the modesty and comfort of the customer. They never make inappropriate comments or gestures (and neither do you). They always act professionally.
- Before the massage. An occupational therapist will talk to you about your goals before the session begins. They will carefully review your application form (a registration form is a must!) and ask questions about what you have said on the form that are areas of professional concern. They will talk to you about their plans for the session and tell you what to expect. They will answer any questions you may have about the session. Finally they will tell you in detail how the session will start and what they need to do first.
- Touch quality and flow. Professional therapists develop the ability to understand what happens to your body at work. Their touch is deliberate and comfortable. Bodywork sessions flow smoothly with logical and predictable transitions from one to the next. They are there (focusing only on you) and their work shows it. You will find that a variety of techniques are used and the speed of the massage can range from very slow to moderate depending on the technique used and the purpose of the massage. A therapists contact shows that they are skilled in kinesiological anatomy and that they have a solid foundation in knowledge of the work they do.
- Communication in meetings. The professional therapist keeps the lines of communication open in the group. You should always express concerns about massage such as too many or too soft areas or too much or too little pressure. In some cases there is an ongoing dialogue between the practitioner and the client especially if the work is aimed at a specific injury or concern. Sometimes your therapist will remind you to breathe or your coach will remind you to breathe to relax. Sometimes medical work flows in sleep. Or great job but feel free to talk about any concerns at any time.