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Massage Therapy Articles
How to Choose a Massage Therapist
by Keira McMahon, NCTMB
You’ve decided to receive massage therapy. Maybe it will be your first time or perhaps you haven’t yet found a massage therapist that meets your expectations. If you live in Boulder, Colorado or a town similar to it, it may seem as if massage therapists are everywhere. What differentiates each therapist and how do you know who will be a good match for you? Choosing a massage therapist can seem to be a daunting task but if you follow these guidelines, you should find that it’s not that as hard as it initially appears.
Before you start calling and e-mailing different massage therapists, ask yourself what you are hoping to receive. What is driving you to receive massage therapy? This will help you decide what type of massage you want, which will begin the narrowing process. There are many types of massage, here are a few examples.
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Types of Massage
- Relaxation
- Relief from a specific problem such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Whiplash, Sciatica, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Low Back Pain, Fibromyalgia or simply chronic pain
- Injury Rehabilitation from accident – auto or other
- Energy work
- Recovery from sport related training and preparation for competition
- Support through your pregnancy
Once you have thought about what your goals are for massage, you can start looking for a massage therapist which specializes in your areas of concern. It is important to ask as many questions as possible to learn about the massage therapist, his/her training and approach to massage therapy.
Where to look
- Referral – Ask someone you trust. Referrals are a great source for information. Someone who has received the massage therapist’s work will have an understanding as to the style of the massage therapist and whether it might be a good fit for you.
- Find a Massage Therapist Locator –
- The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has a therapist locator which includes all of its Professional Active Members.
- The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) has a therapist locator which includes all massage therapists which have passed their exam and maintain their National Certification.
- The Boulder College of Massage Therapy (BCMT) has a therapist locator which lists all of its alumnae, and there are many of us across the United States!
Questions to Ask
- What type of massage therapy do you practice?
- What is your philosophy and approach to massage therapy?
- I’m experiencing “(insert your trouble here)” do you have experience with this?
- Are you currently licensed as a massage therapist in this state? (Currently only 33 states regulate massage therapy and Colorado is not one of them.)
- Are you a member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) or other professional association?
- Are you Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork?
- Where did you receive your massage therapy training? How many hours of training did you complete?
- Are you a graduate of a training program accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) or current AMTA school member?
- Do you have additional training in any specific massage techniques?
In addition to the technical aspects of a massage therapist’s training and professional status, it is important that you are comfortable with the massage therapist. Does she listen to your concerns? Do you feel comfortable asking her questions and satisfied with her responses? Is she enthusiastic and excited about the opportunity to work with you?
Trust your instincts. If the massage therapist you are interviewing fulfills the qualifications that are important to you, then schedule an appointment and see for yourself. Remember that it may take a session or two with a particular therapist to get to know her, and her work. It may also take a couple of sessions with different therapists before you are able to narrow down what you do and don’t like. Be patient and enjoy your healing process! |
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