Comments for Massage Therapist Practice http://massagetherapistpractice.com Commentary, Community and Curriculum for Massage Therapists Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:24:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Threats to RMT Practice Viability by KimRMT http://massagetherapistpractice.com/?p=82#comment-10 KimRMT Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:24:14 +0000 http://massagetherapistpractice.com/?p=82#comment-10 One of the things I have noticed, is our tendency to work as sole proprietors. One person, alone in an office, with the goal of expanding and bringing in a junior person, who then builds their client base and leaves to go work on their own after a year or two, brings in someone else who's new, and so on. To me, this is extremely inefficient and wasteful! I think we could do a lot better by "joining forces" and pool our resources in a massage therapy co-op. This could accommodate both full-time and part-time therapists, and would reduce office costs. Funds could be pooled together for advertising and equipment, and it would also help in building up a sense of community, too. You would also have the same visibility of a large clinic, but still be able to point your career in the direction you desire. It wouldn't be for everybody, but I do believe (with proper contracts in place!) it is a viable option. Also, with reduced expenses, come some interesting possibilities. A therapist could simply enjoy their increased profit, or they could choose to reduce their rates to accommodate for increased taxes, reduced insurance availability, provide assistance to lower-income clients, etc. I still remember when you came to speak at my school (ACTM), Don, and you broke down the income expectations for someone with an equivalent level of education. I think it worked out to between $15 and $18 per hour. I'm wondering if we haven't set ourselves up in a paradigm that just can't work. We need to charge high rates in order to pay our overhead, but is it really appropriate for what we offer, and for what people can afford to pay? One of the things I have noticed, is our tendency to work as sole proprietors. One person, alone in an office, with the goal of expanding and bringing in a junior person, who then builds their client base and leaves to go work on their own after a year or two, brings in someone else who’s new, and so on. To me, this is extremely inefficient and wasteful! I think we could do a lot better by “joining forces” and pool our resources in a massage therapy co-op. This could accommodate both full-time and part-time therapists, and would reduce office costs. Funds could be pooled together for advertising and equipment, and it would also help in building up a sense of community, too. You would also have the same visibility of a large clinic, but still be able to point your career in the direction you desire. It wouldn’t be for everybody, but I do believe (with proper contracts in place!) it is a viable option. Also, with reduced expenses, come some interesting possibilities. A therapist could simply enjoy their increased profit, or they could choose to reduce their rates to accommodate for increased taxes, reduced insurance availability, provide assistance to lower-income clients, etc.

I still remember when you came to speak at my school (ACTM), Don, and you broke down the income expectations for someone with an equivalent level of education. I think it worked out to between $15 and $18 per hour. I’m wondering if we haven’t set ourselves up in a paradigm that just can’t work. We need to charge high rates in order to pay our overhead, but is it really appropriate for what we offer, and for what people can afford to pay?

]]> Comment on RMT Mythology: What Myths Are We Collectively Entertaining? by tbennett3 http://massagetherapistpractice.com/?p=40#comment-9 tbennett3 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:11:52 +0000 http://massagetherapistpractice.com/?p=40#comment-9 I believe the recognition that our profession as a whole deserves is warranted not because of any individual knowing more than any other profession but when you look at a lot of the manual therapy techniques out there they are all a form of fascial release. Whether it be ART, Functional Range Release, Soft tissue Release these are all techniques Chiropractors and Physiotherapists are dabbling in to improve their treatment to the client and they all work. I guess the point is that these Manual Body Practitioners who are recognized by the insurance companies are stepping into our realm and no longer are they just the back crackers or body mobilizers they use to be. If their techniques are part of our foundation learning the only thing that separates them from us is how much money they paid for their education and the years spent learning their trade. Knowledge will always come down to an individual and their love for their job. As for assessment that begins upon meeting the client watching them walk to the room, how they take their shoes off, how they sit themselves down. All of this is part of assessment and is more functional than the standard non-functional ortopaedic assessments. You see the muscles in action with weight bearing and their natural state with the client not even realizing it. Separating Spa from clinic is very difficult - I work in a clinic setting and a more relaxed setting and my treatments are very clinical but I have found myself asking more clients at the relaxed setting place what type of massage they are here for, only because they don't know the difference themselves in most cases. Most people will go to where they feel welcomed and treated properly whether the person is licensed or not. Unfortunately not everyone in our society has benefits to cover Massage Therapy, this is why the student clinics are so popular you can get supervised treatment at a low cost and reality is that sometimes we as Massage Therapists get uninterested in improving ourselves once we are established due to the cost of CEU's and resort to minimal learning. I would love to see Massage Therapy grow into what Physio's, Chiro's, Family Physicians have all attained so whatever change has to be made to get there I think should be embraced. The public requires still more education on what Massage Therapy can do for them and I don't just mean commercials. I have found through volunteering my services in several areas (not just to boost clientel) but to show, demonstrate and answer questions about Massage Therapy and the role it can play in recovery, repair and maintenance has had a tremendous effect on peoples views, especially in the sports industry. I have recently worked with some amateur mixed martial artists who had no idea the benefits of what Massage Therapy can do for them. As for working for yourself or someone else thats a personal preference. Just don't get caught up in the money making thing so much much that it effects your treatment of clients. Yes everyone has to survive, but survive by treating your clients for the right reason. Explaining the benefits beforehand of what you want to do and how it will benefit the client is crucial. Even after the 55 minute treatment is over, take the time to explain what you would like to see happen for them and keep the focus all about them, especially if they really need what you are offering. I have found this method to work that way when they come in for the next appointment. Will everyone be responsive to this method? Maybe not, but get to know your client and what they are looking for and you will see the change. These are just my thoughts on the above issues I look forward to anyone elses responses or enquiries. I believe the recognition that our profession as a whole deserves is warranted not because of any individual knowing more than any other profession but when you look at a lot of the manual therapy techniques out there they are all a form of fascial release. Whether it be ART, Functional Range Release, Soft tissue Release these are all techniques Chiropractors and Physiotherapists are dabbling in to improve their treatment to the client and they all work.

I guess the point is that these Manual Body Practitioners who are recognized by the insurance companies are stepping into our realm and no longer are they just the back crackers or body mobilizers they use to be. If their techniques are part of our foundation learning the only thing that separates them from us is how much money they paid for their education and the years spent learning their trade. Knowledge will always come down to an individual and their love for their job.

As for assessment that begins upon meeting the client watching them walk to the room, how they take their shoes off, how they sit themselves down. All of this is part of assessment and is more functional than the standard non-functional ortopaedic assessments. You see the muscles in action with weight bearing and their natural state with the client not even realizing it. Separating Spa from clinic is very difficult – I work in a clinic setting and a more relaxed setting and my treatments are very clinical but I have found myself asking more clients at the relaxed setting place what type of massage they are here for, only because they don’t know the difference themselves in most cases.

Most people will go to where they feel welcomed and treated properly whether the person is licensed or not. Unfortunately not everyone in our society has benefits to cover Massage Therapy, this is why the student clinics are so popular you can get supervised treatment at a low cost and reality is that sometimes we as Massage Therapists get uninterested in improving ourselves once we are established due to the cost of CEU’s and resort to minimal learning. I would love to see Massage Therapy grow into what Physio’s, Chiro’s, Family Physicians have all attained so whatever change has to be made to get there I think should be embraced.

The public requires still more education on what Massage Therapy can do for them and I don’t just mean commercials. I have found through volunteering my services in several areas (not just to boost clientel) but to show, demonstrate and answer questions about Massage Therapy and the role it can play in recovery, repair and maintenance has had a tremendous effect on peoples views, especially in the sports industry. I have recently worked with some amateur mixed martial artists who had no idea the benefits of what Massage Therapy can do for them.

As for working for yourself or someone else thats a personal preference. Just don’t get caught up in the money making thing so much much that it effects your treatment of clients. Yes everyone has to survive, but survive by treating your clients for the right reason. Explaining the benefits beforehand of what you want to do and how it will benefit the client is crucial. Even after the 55 minute treatment is over, take the time to explain what you would like to see happen for them and keep the focus all about them, especially if they really need what you are offering.

I have found this method to work that way when they come in for the next appointment. Will everyone be responsive to this method? Maybe not, but get to know your client and what they are looking for and you will see the change. These are just my thoughts on the above issues I look forward to anyone elses responses or enquiries.

]]> Comment on RMTs: How Credible is the Profession in Ontario? by mindZplay Solutions http://massagetherapistpractice.com/?p=35#comment-8 mindZplay Solutions Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:12:05 +0000 http://massagetherapistpractice.com/?p=35#comment-8 Don, thanks for the "are RMT's credible” information breakdown. I am not surprised at the takeaways from the credibility survey. Among other data you provided I found it interesting that sixteen percent of health care professionals did not know an RMT to recommend patient service to. That means RMT's have work to do in personal visitation and/or discussion with healthcare peers to present their services. To support that task they may wish to consider having a professional web site with meaningful and relevant content about their services, so that peers and potential clients can realistically review the RMT’s credentials, experience and specialties/training early on in in the referral process. We always look forward to your concise analysis of matters of interest to the massage therapy and CAM markets. Best regards MindZplay Solutions Inc. Don, thanks for the “are RMT’s credible” information breakdown. I am not surprised at the takeaways from the credibility survey.
Among other data you provided I found it interesting that sixteen percent of health care professionals did not know an RMT to recommend patient service to.

That means RMT’s have work to do in personal visitation and/or discussion with healthcare peers to present their services. To support that task they may wish to consider having a professional web site with meaningful and relevant content about their services, so that peers and potential clients can realistically review the RMT’s credentials, experience and specialties/training early on in in the referral process.

We always look forward to your concise analysis of matters of interest to the massage therapy and CAM markets.

Best regards
MindZplay Solutions Inc.

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