Mentors of Massage Therapy

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Comment by Travis Alligood on August 25, 2011 at 4:45am

Hi Christina, congrats on graduation from MT school. Just curious are you looking into practicing as an independant contractor, or working for someone ? When I committed to school , I really set my intentions on working for myself which is what I have done for almost 3 yrs now. Not saying I will not work for someone, but I want to stay on my own without having to hire someone and depending on them to BE THERE.

After graduating from school my advisor from school called me and ask me if I would be interested, in helping a high school student as a mentor to find out if this is really the direction they wanted to go. Why I felt honored to know that she thought enough of me to call on me to take this task. My suggestion is going back to school and ask your instructors if they know of any mentors in your area of NJ where you live. Maybe they would consider being a mentor.

My thoughts on working with my mentor would be better working away from where I work. Good Luck!! Congratulations again.

Comment by christina on August 24, 2011 at 10:53pm

Hello All! I am about to be a graduate from my school(3 weeks!!) and I have just recently started looking into where I want to work when I am done with school. Anyone have any suggestions as to how I can go about finding a mentor to work with? I would love to work for someone who would enjoy sharing their knowledge of technique as well as energy based work. What i do not know is how to approach this type of request during an interview.I want to be clear in my intentions while not sounding needy. I do have a good base for what I am about to embark on and i know the more that I apply the technique that I have learned and keep educating myself and furthering my skills with CEU's I will become a stronger therapist...Is trying to find a mentor in a work setting something that is heard of or should I be approaching this idea from another angle?..any advise that can be offered up would be most appreciated!

Comment by Travis Alligood on August 13, 2011 at 9:49pm

Thanks Dayna for being here, Any help from any therapist is always welcome especially our veteran MTs. I hope mentoring continues to grow so that future therapist will benefit.

Comment by Dayna Davis on August 1, 2011 at 4:35pm

Hi Travis! Good to know all is going well with you thanks for the insight on the radio station I might look into that. I just made a ton more flyers to put around but radio gets to so many more audiences...any more insight is greatly appreciated

Comment by Travis Alligood on July 31, 2011 at 8:03pm

Hi Dayna ! Well from my expierence and continuing to learn myself. I am a independent contractor at a YMCA and very happy there as well. For 2 1/2 years  I have found that the most important communication form for me is not only word of mouth ( which I have been blessed with) I have been doing radio advertising and it has worked for me though it is a small local AM station it has been great for me. I find that being a mentor for High School Students has been great as well, because of the extended contacts that I have made from parents of other students. Continue with handing out business cards, and brochures and good luck  ! I hope this helps. ( I continue to learn different things and test some options to find what works for me ) Also learn from different instructors who are very kind to share their thoughts on this site.

Comment by Dayna Davis on July 31, 2011 at 5:39pm

Hello I am a rather new therapist I been working outside of school for a little over a year. I am a student of massage and I am very excited to learn more. I am going through a bit of a challenge opening up my own practice in a local salon and getting new clients..I know I need a lot of patience and lots of flyers and business cards. The owner of the salon is trying to get me business but she opened her doors about 2 months ago herself. I been handing out business cards and flyers anyone give me some pointers?

Comment by Sally Chamness on July 28, 2011 at 12:53am

Being in the UK I've found it very difficult to locate a Mentor with experience in the Massage Industry on this side of the pond.
I learn from so many amazing people on a day to day basis, who are based in the US, but the culture here in the UK is definitely very different when it comes to Massage Therapy.  If anyone knows of a therapist offering mentoring services in the UK I'd love to know.
At this point I feel like i'm a lost cause, I can't even get into my local chamber of commerce Business Mentoring scheme :D

Comment by Heide Metzger on March 25, 2011 at 1:44pm

One of the things I love the most about mentoring and beikg mentored is what I like to call those "aha" moments. When you can tell a light bulb went off for someone or you can feel the enrgy shift in yourself.

When I mentor or teach different groups, I love to check in with the person about what they felt during the week and if and how they were able to actually utilize what they have learned.

I loved the last business coach I had because after being self employed for so many years, I loved having the accountability to someone besides myself.

In the Motivated Mondays weekly class I facilitate at our local library, I share with the group that the life changes they are working on for themselves is a wonderful form of self love and to give themselves permission to work toward the things they have set for themselves.

Many of my clients who find out someone's relative or friend is just starting out as a massage therapist always ask if the person can call and pick my brain. The door is always open!

 

Comment by Las Vegas Massage In Summerlin on March 14, 2011 at 1:49pm

Another tip from a 'mentoring' experience last week.  How to ask questions of your teacher/mentor.  What has worked best for me is to actively listen, do my best to understand, then propose an open ended or open minded question.  Basically, be open, honest and upbeat. 

 

What occured last week was this:  Via E-mail, I did my best to work with an almost-licensed therapist get past his focus on features (modalities) and pricing.  His reply, or questions, came back in a very rude fashion.  Not only rude, but personally insulting.  His comment back to me when I mentioned that I charge $90.00 per hour for an outcall massage:  "Wow, I'd really feel screwed if I had to pay that much!"  After that I just didn't have the heart to tell him that the target markets I work in are just fine with this rate or anything else. 

 

Perhaps if he would have questioned me further, such as, "Wow, I'd like to make $90.00 per hour, could you explain to me how you do this, or what target markets are willing to pay this?"  I would have provided any information he asked for.  Yet, between this comment and many others of how at the ripe old age of 22 he already knows everything, I sent him on his way.  Who wants to work with someone whose cup is already full? 

 

The point is, learn how to ask questions in person and how to ask questions while writing.  If something is bothering us, or we don't get the answers we seek, step away and think it over.  Even take a day or two and get some composure, then question away!  For me, there's a difference between being direct, even direct questioning, and using sarcasm or condescending tones or being flippant.

 

It could be that I'm just getting old and grouchy as well  ;)

 

Kris

 

Comment by Travis Alligood on March 12, 2011 at 6:52am

Im glad that is going on, Darcy. I wonder if any other Spas or companys do this type of program. Also I do know that AMTA has a volunteer mentor program intact that you can let people know that you are willing to offer to be a mentor.

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