{"id":456,"date":"2018-01-03T09:00:49","date_gmt":"2018-01-02T22:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/?p=456"},"modified":"2018-01-03T10:13:37","modified_gmt":"2018-01-02T23:13:37","slug":"11-tips-for-new-and-not-so-new-massage-therapists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/index.php\/2018\/01\/03\/11-tips-for-new-and-not-so-new-massage-therapists\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Tips for New (and Not-So-New) Massage Therapists"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sharon Livingstone<\/h4>\n

I conducted a survey of 100 massage therapists, and asked for their top tip for newly graduated massage therapists. Typically, they offered three or four tips \u2013 massage therapists are a generous bunch. In no specific order (it\u2019s in reverse order, I can\u2019t help it, blame it on chronic OCD), here are their top 11 answers:<\/p>\n

11. Learn from others<\/strong><\/h6>\n

You\u2019ve spent your college year(s) learning from books, Google and a fixed curriculum. It\u2019s time to listen to real people who are out there in darkened rooms with oil on their hands or in stinky, sweaty dressing rooms with oil on their hands.<\/p>\n

Work in someone else\u2019s clinic. Learn how they operate: what do they do well, what areas could they improve on? Let someone else take the risks while you\u2019re improving your technical skills and getting \u201chands on\u201d experience.<\/p>\n

10. Listen to what the client tells you.<\/strong><\/h6>\n

OK, it\u2019s pretty easy to assume we know how to treat a client based solely on their presenting issue. See sore shoulder, treat sore shoulder<\/em>. It\u2019s frustrating to discover that jigsaw puzzles don\u2019t always come with the pieces numbered. Much like our clients don\u2019t arrive toting their personal instruction manual or even an Ikea inspired diagram with complex arrows and an allen key.<\/p>\n

Throw out the assumptions and pay attention to what the client says, what their desired outcomes are and understand their lifestyle before creating a treatment plan.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

9. Listen to what the body tells you.<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Take everything the client has told you and discard it.<\/p>\n

JOKING!<\/p>\n

However, the conscious mind of the client can sometimes be masking an underlying issue. \u201cTreat what you feel\u201d was the advice my mentor gave me as a fresh graduate, only a month out of the massage school oven. Sometimes it can be what you observe as the client arrives for their treatment or the pattern of breathing as they\u2019re on the treatment table. Be observant to what the body says and does, as well as what the client says.<\/p>\n

8. Be Ethical<\/strong><\/h6>\n

We all love a bit of a gossip but perhaps don\u2019t discuss your clients with others without permission. Be honest with clients and refrain from denigrating other healthcare professionals. Making false claims about what your treatments can do (like \u201ccuring\u201d or \u201cfixing\u201d) doesn\u2019t fit within ethical practice.<\/p>\n

Under this umbrella also comes putting your client before profits: insisting a client return for multiple treatments without a clinical reason is not cool.<\/p>\n

And follow the AMT Code of Ethics<\/a> \u2013 that is <\/em>cool.<\/p>\n

7. Work on your Business<\/strong><\/h6>\n

This is the most shocking thing to discover: We are not JUST a massage therapist.<\/p>\n

\"\"You\u2019ll see massage therapists quiver at the thought of a spreadsheet or working on their marketing \u2013 \u201cI just want to massage<\/em>\u201d they cry. Well, tough luck. Giving a great treatment is only one part of being a successful massage therapist. We\u2019re business owners, we have a brand to create\/protect, we have profits to make and clients to attract and keep.<\/p>\n

Take a course on business management, learn about marketing, understand how best to advertise, utilise software for diary management and accounting, employ an accountant. Ignorance aint bliss. Being capable as a business owner is how you\u2019ll earn a living wage. Or part of it.<\/p>\n

6. Set and Maintain Boundaries<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Let\u2019s get serious here. In the therapeutic relationship, the massage therapist has a position of power. Massage therapists are responsible for ensuring that the power imbalance is not exploited. AMT\u2019s Code of Practice specifically discusses Professional Boundaries<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other things to consider are setting strict clinic\/business hours, and not responding to text messages or emails, answer calls etc. out of these hours.<\/p>\n

5. Maintain Your Passion For Your Job<\/strong><\/h6>\n

This one seems straightforward. If you\u2019re not loving your job, how are you going to provide best possible care to your clients? Perhaps it\u2019s time to read Number 2 below.<\/p>\n

4. Be Mindful In Each Treatment<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Mindfulness has more buzz than our declining bee population. I still haven\u2019t got a clue what mindfulness actually is. And I asked Google. I think it involves meditation or navel gazing. If you can let me know in 10 words or less what mindfulness is, it\u2019d be greatly appreciated. Or ignored.<\/p>\n

3. Find Your Niche<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Massage school kinda churns out clones. Individuality isn\u2019t encouraged because the curriculum has to be followed. But once you\u2019re set loose from classes, discover your unique selling point(s). Don\u2019t be like everyone else. A larger tool box does not mean a better therapist. Find your area of expertise and focus on that.<\/p>\n

2. Self Care<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Personally, this is my number one tip. Unless you take care of yourself, you can\u2019t be an effective therapist. There\u2019s plenty you can do to make sure you don\u2019t burn out or lose your passion for your job (point 5). These are some suggestions from massage therapists \u2013 add your own:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Get a massage<\/li>\n
  • Exercise regularly<\/li>\n
  • Eat well<\/li>\n
  • Hang out with people who make you happy<\/li>\n
  • Have hobbies that don\u2019t involve bodywork<\/li>\n
  • Take holidays<\/li>\n
  • Limit the number of clients\/day and days\/week<\/li>\n
  • Set aside time without your phone\/computer<\/li>\n
  • Sleep<\/li>\n
  • Limit alcohol intake<\/li>\n
  • Get into nature \u2013 touch a tree or a rock<\/li>\n
  • Spend time alone<\/li>\n
  • Use a mindfulness app (if you\u2019ve figure out what mindfulness is, of course).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    1. Keep Learning<\/strong><\/h6>\n

    \"\"This is obvious, especially as a member of a professional association where it\u2019s a requirement of membership. But it\u2019s good to keep up with all areas of the industry from policy to research findings. Read what AMT sends to you via email. Read the AMT blog. Stay informed.<\/p>\n

    Also, information changes, research is constantly being undertaken and treatment protocols are regularly updated. Think critically and always be curious.<\/p>\n

    Other suggestions for new therapists were:<\/h6>\n
      \n
    • Trust your intuition<\/li>\n
    • Avoid complacency<\/li>\n
    • Keep it simple<\/li>\n
    • Be a good example to your clients (practice what you preach)<\/li>\n
    • Learn to refer<\/li>\n
    • Be honest.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      What would your top tip(s) be for a new graduate?<\/p>\n

      About the Author<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \"\"Sharon Livingstone is a massage therapist in Sydney, NSW. A love of sport drew her to the industry but discovering job satisfaction came from helping people live with less pain keeps her in it. Sharon is a writer, keen bushwalker and frustrated traveller, who daydreams of walking across France again.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      (All images except author photo are courtesy of Pixabay.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      What advice would a seasoned massage therapist give to a newly graduated therapist? Here’s the Top 11 tips for new therapists from a collection of international massage therapists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":459,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,30],"tags":[120,127,123,124,121,126,122,125,62],"class_list":["post-456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-amt","category-massage","tag-advice","tag-business","tag-learn","tag-listen","tag-massage-therapists","tag-mindfulness","tag-new-graduate","tag-self-care","tag-sharon-livingstone"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.amt.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/sparrows-2759978_1920.jpg?fit=1920%2C641&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1169,"url":"https:\/\/blog.amt.org.au\/index.php\/2018\/10\/18\/finding-your-village\/","url_meta":{"origin":456,"position":0},"title":"Finding Your Village","author":"admin","date":"18\/10\/2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Massage Therapists work alone but there's no reason why Massage Therapists should feel lonely. 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