Profile of a Massage Therapist
I am working on creating an accurate profile and job description for massage therapists…
Personal Profile
- comes to the profession looking for more meaningful work
- can be found saying that they are not in this for the money
- can often be found giving more to others thinking that it will help more
- often no financial backing to start a business
- usually needs to work another job at least to start
- works for low wages or under prices their massage sessions for the sake of trying to get another client
- very little business experience or marketing knowledge
Job Description
- work with clients who are injured, stressed out, or faced with serious illness.
- has a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology
- works with the client to create and implement a treatment plan including stretches, home care, stress reducing techniques and lifestyle changes
- business manager : taking care of account receivable and accounts payable, taxes, budgets
- marketing manager: creates and implements marketing plans to build business
- deals with client retention
- understands high quality customer service
- record keeping: write chart notes, progress reports, narrative reports and appear in court if necessary
- obtains medical history from a thorough intake process
- Able to maintain clear boundaries
- able to actively listen to a clients needs without imposing advice or the therapists own needs into the session
- educates clients on how the musculo-skeletal system works and reacts to stress and trauma
- maintains client confidentiality at all times
- explains procedures and policies so that the client can make an informed decision about their massage
- engages the client in the process of healing.
- must be able to handle the physical demand of the job
- be knowledgeable of medical conditions and the implications of massage (contraindications and indications)
October 30th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
Julie:
I see that you comment qute a bit on your blog about “underpricing”. I am not sure what you consider “underpricing” I have been a massage therapist going on a year. Pricing has been one of my struggles. I struggle because I read things like you say then my gut tells me another.
I am a big believer of going with your gut( intuition) then your brain(ego). Here is why I will go with my gut on the pricing. In this day and age of managed care, the in and out mentality of medical care. The mentality that you have to wait to see a Dr. 3x longer in the waiting room then you will actually see the Dr.
I, as a therapist, see our profession as the anti managed care that should be affordable to the masses. We offer a client/patient a full hour of one on one care. A successful therapist is compassionate, confident and well intended. Why should we then price these life altering services way out of reach. We go around saying that massage is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Yet we continue to price it as a luxury.
I have had conversations with other therapist about do not undersell yourself. I always thought that was kind of funny. I always responded “yes you charge your high prices and continue sitting around doing nothing” Why not make it affordable so a person can book a couple times a month instead of once every few months.
I live on the east coast, I see some places charging upwards of $85 per hour for swedish and $15 per hour more for deep muscle. I really do believe that not many therapists last because they have these grand illusions of making so much an hour and when they can’t they get frustrated and leave.
I believe we should get a little more uniform with our pricing and make it affordable for the people who need it most. Not only will people book more, we as therapists will be doing society a good thing and will be much busier.
I do not think making massage affordable is a sign of low self-esteem or lack of respect for the industry. I think it is getting a much needed therapy to anyone who wants it. Having confidence and the passion to serve the public.
October 31st, 2006 at 7:05 am
One thing that the personal profile section doesn’t really address is that many people come to the industry because they of the lure of the promise of making good money. Many schools right now are advertising the golden $60 per hour as income (not potential), for only a little schooling and possibly passing an exam. Many schools don’t even give adequate business training or an introduction to business, and often teach to a particular exam.
Also, for many this is a second or third career choice, and many do have business and marketing experience which they can draw on, as well as having a lukewarm if not warm market to start building in.
November 4th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
There are some assumptions here which do not reflect the massage community as a whole.
Many MTs have forgotten all they learned, or memorized, of anatomy because it is not relevant to their style of massage.
Not all MTs work in a clinical environment where this knowledge is necessary. Many work as relaxation therapists.