Know Your Therapist

Everybody is unique and each person's reason for receiving Massage Therapy is unique. In order to get the most effective therapeutic benefits from your massage, you need to be comfortable with your therapist.

The first time you see a new massage therapist for a specific problem, you want to make sure that they have the proper credentials for your state, or even some form of training at all. Every state has different regulations regarding how much training a massage therapist should have to legally work in the state. Some states require a certain number of training hours, perhaps a state license or certification, or maybe even a National Certification - and some states have no regulations at all. For example, in the state of Pennsylvania, where I practice, there currently is no regulation for massage therapy - that means that one doesn't currently need any type of training in massage therapy to become a professional massage therapist in this state. (Side note: This doesn't mean that I have no training, I actually hold over 1280 hours of training, and a Certification as well as several Continuing Education Units, or CEUs which means I have continued my studies beyond my original training program. I am actually severely over-qualified to work in this state, but I consider that an advantage to my clients.) Whatever the regulations are for your state, make sure your therapist has those qualifications.

You will also want to make sure that your therapist specializes in a type of massage that will help your problem. There are many different types of massage, so it may be difficult to know what kind of massage you need. You might look at a list of styles, or modalities, that a therapist offers and feel like you're reading a menu in a foreign country; "Why Swedish Massage? I'm in America!", "What is a Trigger Point?", "How do you pronounce Myofacial and what is it?" While the modalities sound complicated and confusing, they are all usually quite simple to understand and this is where another part of knowing your therapist comes in.

Your therapist should be willing to listen to what your issues are and be able to recommend the modality that is best for you. They should be willing to explain and describe any modalities they offer that you have questions about and educate you about which will work for your problem and why. You should be completely comfortable talking to your therapist and be confident that he or she will listen to your needs. This goes for during the massage as well as before it. If you can only tolerate light pressure, you may not want to go to a therapist who only specializes in Deep Tissue work, or if you do want to see this therapist, he or she should be willing to lighten up their pressure in they know you can't handle the deep stuff.

You should be comfortable with the communication between you and your therapist because this is the person that you will be trusting to help you get better. The main thing that should exist between you and your therapist is comfort. You are putting yourself into your therapist's hands (pun intended), and you should be completely comfortable with the person that will be touching you, otherwise, you will be too tense and on edge to enjoy the massage and have it do any good. In all, when selecting a therapist, you should consider their ability to help you, their willingness to help you, and how comfortable you are with them. A good amount of open communication with your massage therapist can benefit you in a therapeutic way, as well as mentally, which really opens all channels of healing and makes the therapy that much more effective.


Coming Next Time... The Importance of Maintenance