Fact is, I have seen more LICENSED MT’s diagnosing, and treating (not within their scope) than unlicensed bodyworkers.

I , for one, let my license expire and will never again pay the government or these organizations to state what I already know…I am not a prostitute. No other professional has to pay for that right, and I shouldn’t have to either.

Kris

You are so right. Writing about something you’re so emotionally invested in (your practice) is tough. Writing about it so your clients “get it” takes patience and practice, but, oh, it pays off. If you start talking to the clients you want, those are the clients you’ll get.

Practice, practice. Ask “So what?” a lot.

By the way, I did just write an entry on writing website content if you’d like to take a gander: http://www.naturaltouchmarketing.com/blog/marketing-matters/2008/06/designing-writing-website-2/

Sincerely,
Eileen

Well, this is all so interesting. In the courses I teach, many students, including physical therapists and exercise physiologists, tell me I am teaching the exact opposite of what they were taught in their schools, which includes university level training. Yet they say what I am teaching makes much more sense, and when they try it out in the treatment room, it works so much better. Then, when I show them the sciences behind what I teach, its like, how can we argue against THAT? Especially since those sciences come right out of orthodox medical research textbooks? (Job’s Body by Deanne Juhan does an excellent job of summarizing much of this kind of research as applied to bodywork.) … So, since I do not agree with nor teach nor practice what is being taught in those schools, should I be outlawed? … If so, by whom?

Then, there are those people who somehow keep getting confused with a prostitute. Well, if you ask me, that’s a marketing or personality issue. If you do not know how to communicate or present yourself in a way that people do not confuse you with a prostitute, I suggest you need to learn a little more about who you are and how to present, explain and market it. Using licensing to overcome a personal growth issue, or a business/marketing issue, is against the original principles of American government.

Of course, the medical profession, in the 1800’s, discovered they could circumvent and pervert the original principles of American law and use licensing as a way to secure their quest for monopolistic power, privilege and profit. They masqueraded under the ruse of Protecting The Public, and the gullible public bought the lie. Massage therapists have, probably unknowingly, followed in the footsteps of perverting and circumventing American Law. Of course, their leadership will never inform them of such, if they have even bothered to dig into philosophical, historical and legal principles at all. Expediency, privilege, power over others, and artificial profit is the name of the game.

People should read Transformation of American Medicine by Paul Starr. This might show them that protecting the public is the LAST legitimate thing on the list of priorities for those seeking to get licensed. And you are exactly right. If massage was so dangerous to so many people, it would be reflected in insurance rates. But the insurance actuarial knows far more about how these things work than most. Otherwise, their company goes broke and they are out of a job.

Contrary to popular opinion, licensing does an excellent job of insulating so-called professionals from the results of their mis-deeds. The court cases in the early 20th Century illustrate the deceit of the licensed medical profession all to well. … But who will take the time to study and learn the lessons of history and philosophy? … My experience is no one really cares about First Principles and the long-term good of society. All they care about is their own narrow, relatively short-term interests.

Many massage therapists, like the medical profession, whether they realize it or not, are using licensing to cover for their inadequacies in marketing and education of the public and in sound business practices.

But the REAL issue, if you ask me, is do you believe in violence, or peaceful interaction? … If you advocate state licensing, then you BY DEFINITION advocate violence. Because it is the threat of violence (arrest, jail, fines, or worse if you resist arrest) that The State uses to enforce its licensing laws. This is, of course, an unpopular view. But even George Washington stated that government is not reason or eloquence, but force, and a fearful master. ANY legal encyclopedia will tell you that the foundation of ALL state laws, regulation and licensing is based on the state’s monopoly on the Police Power — force and violence. In fact, to further reinforce Paul Starr’s writings, medical licensing is a “quo warranto” action. That is a legal principle that protects an office of the King’s Court. And that is one of Paul Starr’s point: the medical doctors in America in the 1800’s were jealous of the prestige and position of the physicians of the royal court of the kings and queens of Europe. They wanted a way to artificially inflate their status and wealth.

So like it or not, believe it or not, those who pursue professional licensing are really using the law to achieve an elitist status that takes us backward in time to a social system — feudalism anyone? — that works AGAINST The People, and to the benefit of The State and those Special Interests who cannot make it on their own skills, knowledge and value without protection from The King.

If a person cannot do business, cannot market themselves, without using the violence-based power of The State, I suggest they are in the wrong business, and probably are not good enough at it to make it in their chosen profession. Yet I have had many massages from people who had NO training that I would gladly pay for their time if they were in the business.

If you really believe that more training is the answer — and it certainly is for certain kinds of therapy, and even I offer advanced trainings for those who are interested — then get that training, and PROMOTE and EDUCATE the public why what you have learned and what you are doing is superior to others with peaceful, non-violent means. If your message is clear, and you market it well, you will find those people who need and want your services. Except, of course, you will be competing against people who are using The State — The King’s Court — to give them an unfair, artificially inflated advantage. So it’s much easier to become like them, to get the blessings of The King or The State, than to stand on principle and one’s own two feet.

Sorry for the Diatribe.
David Scott Lynn

Some want a massage license to demonstrate the ability to solve certain problems (i.e. a tight QL) but this is not the legal purpose of licensing. (Personally, I’d like my therapist to know there is NO scientific evidence demostrating toxins are released from muscles after a massage, nor is there any that you should drink plenty of water after a massage, but old massage myths are hard to break).

Overall, massage is safe to the medically stable public, with little chance of harm if basic contraindication education is combined with common sense. We are all legally bound by a state scope of practice, but additionally, all states incorporate general “personal scope of practice” statutes which basically say that even if your state scope of practice allows you to do such and such, you can not perform such and such, unless you have been trained in such and such and know you are competent.

Where I differ is to the degree of entry level knowledge required to prevent harm to the medically unstable or complex, something few of us see in a day to day massage operation. As a general rule, you could say that anyone driving to your office and walking through your front door independently probably does not fit into this category.

Different populations with multiple co-morbidities could present oppourtuities for harm. Those with low cognitive states stuck in bed may not be able to provide the feedback to a massage, but they are definitely in need of our services. Teaching “coma” massage is not an any syllabus as far as I know, but should be.

Additionally, post surgical therapy is an entirely untapped field of massage, but probably justifibly so because of the fragile nature of tissues after surgery, however, this is another field waiting for our hands–just if we knew what we were doing so as to not undo a micro-sutured tendon repair.

Two level massage licenses? I don’t know if it’s an answer. Most MT’s have already been awarded the title of Therapist and are unlikely to give it up for ‘Massage Provider’.

Separating ourselves from sex workers won’t be solved with licensing. It has more to do with having more research to support our profession. Licensing just says that someone studied enough test questions to know how to pass a test. I probably couldn’t pass a test today but I am a very successful massage therapist. Most of what I also learned later in my career in structural integration is also contraindicated by massage school standards so I would probably fail there too.

Julie

I won’t say that 1,000 hours is necessary (though Canadians have a 2,000 hour requirement), but 500-600 is a good beginning. I also think having more than one instructor is essential, because no MT has the market cornered on education. In addition, I live in a state (Michigan) that has no licensing requirements. It has been amazingly difficult to separate the opinion of my work as an educated professional from those who give sexual services because of the sheer history we have yet to overcome. To me a well-rounded education and at minimum national certification is essential in constructing and maintaining this barrier, flawed or politicized as the current national certification system may be. I want all MTs and bodyworkers in the U.S. to be more than, “rub, rub, rub,” as my teacher Irene Gauthier (co-founder of myomassology) is fond of saying. We are striving for acceptance from the medical community (including insurance carriers), other allied health professionals, and more importantly, the community. I want my MT to know how and why they are affecting my body. It shows committment, dedication, and more passion for the profession rather than making the quick buck. It’s time for a change.

If you are renting space and getting your own clients and doing all of the work etc just find out what the ave. rent is for office space in the area.

If they are providing everything and telling you when you should be showing up you probably should be an employee on an hourly wage.

The question is more - what do you want/need to make an hour to meet your needs for living and having a good life - vacations, retirement, savings, etc.

Julie