Those of us who are massage therapists get something we need out of our work . . . human connection and touch. But we can’t do our best at helping others when we’re not taking care of ourselves.
Massage therapists can fit perfectly into the emerging paradigm—community-based, collaborative care. This is the future of health care, even if massage therapists do nothing.
Therapists sincerely want to help their clients feel better, whether the treatment is geared toward relaxation or a specific injury or pain. Unfortunately, there are many cases of well-meaning therapists who have injured their clients. Here's how to prevent that.
When we consider our communication, it’s easy to see that we don’t think much about how our assumptions and our culture influence the stories that take shape in our minds or how we hear things shared with us.
Boundaries—defining them, communicating them, and guarding them—can be tricky. All humans have a right to choose their boundaries. Sometimes this is easier said than done.
I have always said that in this profession I learn something new every day. Whether that's how to have a tough conversation with clients, how to be compassionate, or how to refrain from giving them advice.
Many times, mistakes on our part, such as sloppy draping, are made due to carelessness, without any conscious intent to do something unprofessional. Clients who don’t know us well may not know the difference between carelessness and intention.
As a mobile massage therapist, you need to make thoughtful decisions about which clients you’ll accept. Watching for red flags and following your gut can help keep you from entering a dangerous situation.
