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Minimal requirements strawman
I think that it might make sense to look at the problem from a different approach. One useful technique is to step up a “strawman” as a concrete example to critique.
To do this I figured that we start with a common entry level position that is reasonable well defined and that is practiced without other modalities. I think something that fits this bill is chair massage. It is popular many people and many people do exclusively chair work. It also is practices without mixing other modalities.
For this exercise I am presuming that the person has a high school degree or equivalents so we are only interested in postsecondary education. For example, a graduate is presumed to have some math, science and language skills.
I am only listing skills that will affect the person’s ability to do the job. For example it might be nice to know the history of massage but not knowing it will not affect performance. Also while it might be nice to have a better science background, the high school science is adequate for this type of task.
The follow is a list of the skills needed and some of the skills only require partial mastery: 455, 478, 480 512, 513, 514, 528, 529, 532, 541, 551 564 583, 584, 586, 599, 605, 612, 620, 626, 630, 631, 664, 676, 700, 704 706, 711 714, 716, 718, 720, 712, 729, 731, 735, 737, 738, 741, 743, 746, 752, 761, 764, 766, 775, 777, 795, 796, 819, 820, 831, 839, 846, 849, 850, 852, 853, 879, 900, 906, 922, 924, 990, 1000, 1029, 1034, 1036, 1047, 1071
To do this I figured that we start with a common entry level position that is reasonable well defined and that is practiced without other modalities. I think something that fits this bill is chair massage. It is popular many people and many people do exclusively chair work. It also is practices without mixing other modalities.
For this exercise I am presuming that the person has a high school degree or equivalents so we are only interested in postsecondary education. For example, a graduate is presumed to have some math, science and language skills.
I am only listing skills that will affect the person’s ability to do the job. For example it might be nice to know the history of massage but not knowing it will not affect performance. Also while it might be nice to have a better science background, the high school science is adequate for this type of task.
The follow is a list of the skills needed and some of the skills only require partial mastery: 455, 478, 480 512, 513, 514, 528, 529, 532, 541, 551 564 583, 584, 586, 599, 605, 612, 620, 626, 630, 631, 664, 676, 700, 704 706, 711 714, 716, 718, 720, 712, 729, 731, 735, 737, 738, 741, 743, 746, 752, 761, 764, 766, 775, 777, 795, 796, 819, 820, 831, 839, 846, 849, 850, 852, 853, 879, 900, 906, 922, 924, 990, 1000, 1029, 1034, 1036, 1047, 1071
Views: 223
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Keith Eric Grant on
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Hmmm. I might suggest that we need first to agree on a job description with a break-down of tasks and subtasks.
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Permalink Reply by Carl W. Brown on
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Keith, I am thinking that we cannot expect a person to master all modalities before they get started and that modalities that need an absolute minimum of the KSAs such as Reiki are not considered by some people to be massage.
If we then look at one job description we will get a better idea of how to build a more realistic picture of massage in general.
I also think that this type of model makes it easier to set competencies for each KSA because it is a limited list. For example there are a limited number of muscle that one needs to know for 512 and 513. They need to know the major muscles of the back, neck shoulders arms and hands but since they don’t take notes or communicate with others do they need to know the names of the muscles? -
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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on
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No wonder CA is a mess guys, this is not scientific. I am thinking, I also think, do they need to know the muscles? States need to set rules and therapists need to meet them. I have never heard of a professions guidelines being organized in this manner.
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OK chair massage only is somewhat specialized but the let us compare it to basic Swedish. Is it too much to ask to add basic Swedish training to chair massage so that we can have a combined set of standards? Certainly training Swedish therapists on chair techniques is fairly simple so no problem there. I also do not see any KSAs needed for chair that are no also needed for Swedish.
We are no concerned with the whole body but still not in great detail. We have draping to consider and establishments should require some type of basic intake form however MTs are not expected to know how to treat issues that require multiple sessions , take notes or preplan session treatment strategies. This is also a point that the BOKs start to diverge wildly and if a person is going to treat a client that may use deep tissue, of reflexology, Reiki or what ever. They may also choose to work in fields like resort spas where they may not chose to do any curative work but instead add skills like body wraps hot stones, and hydrotherapy to their repertoire.
The other advantage of setting standards at this level is that there is disagreement whether a person should be taught advanced skills before they have worked in the field and learned the feel of working with people and bodies.
Basic Swedish will need the following added KSAs: all of 509, 516, 522, 560, all of 578, 624 652, 698, 702, 723, 740, 826, 844, 855, 856, 857 896, 898 974.
As we look at the competencies lets do so with an eye to see if we can combine the to BOKs into a single standard. Because having too many standards is in a sense a violation of the concept of standards it is allocable to set standards that may include training that I person in a specific position will not need as long as that training is not excessive. I think that until we actually step through the KSAs and set minimal competencies we can make a rational decision as to whether they can be combined into a single standard. -
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Permalink Reply by Darcy Neibaur on
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I want to address line 721* Demonstrate active and reflective listening with minimal disruption to the flow and client/patient's experience of the massage.
One of the biggest complaints I have heard from clients is "I want a massage therapist who does not talk during the massage". I cannot stand it myself when I receive a massage and the therapist lets me know all her/his problems. I have assured my clients I will only check with them about the pressure at different points. If they don't initiate a conversation I don't speak. I concentrate on the massage and what areas they want worked. I am not a talker givng or receiving a massage and I give that same respect to my clients. I also want that same respect from those that massage me. I don't always get it though so I know what the clients are talking about when they get a massage therapist who cannot be quiet. I do not go back to a therapist who cannot listen. To me the listening part is much more important than the talking part. -
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Darcy, In my sessions it is not about what people feel during that sessions but what they don’t feel afterwards namely the pain and discomfort. So the tone is different, there is not music and I my talk more but only as part of the session. Even if the session is therapeutic in nature the time is the client’s and all aspects of what you do should be directed to the benefit of the client.
Just like you ask if the pressure is right I need to know if the client is experiencing the same thing I am. If I feel that a point is painful to the client I need to know if they also feel pain at that point. Some times I will explain what I am doing or ask them if they want me to do certain things.
I think that ultimately we need to learn to converse as much as possible with touch not words. I orchestrate my session to build trust in my touch. I need to choose the words I use work with the session, but beyond that they are at best distracting but as you say often irritating. You also need to pay attention that when they initiate a conversation you need to be polite but allow it at the first opportunity to die.
I also think that when confronted with people needing psychiatric help that they know how to deal with the situation. They need to understand that they are not properly trained, need to convince the person to get proper help and refrain from directing the conversation towards some goal they might deem is appropriate.
Darcy Neibaur BS LMT NCTMB said:I want to address line 721* Demonstrate active and reflective listening with minimal disruption to the flow and client/patient's experience of the massage.
One of the biggest complaints I have heard from clients is "I want a massage therapist who does not talk during the massage". I cannot stand it myself when I receive a massage and the therapist lets me know all her/his problems. I have assured my clients I will only check with them about the pressure at different points. If they don't initiate a conversation I don't speak. I concentrate on the massage and what areas they want worked. I am not a talker givng or receiving a massage and I give that same respect to my clients. I also want that same respect from those that massage me. I don't always get it though so I know what the clients are talking about when they get a massage therapist who cannot be quiet. I do not go back to a therapist who cannot listen. To me the listening part is much more important than the talking part. -
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Permalink Reply by The Rev on
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Mike Hinkle said:No wonder CA is a mess guys, this is not scientific. I am thinking, I also think, do they need to know the muscles? States need to set rules and therapists need to meet them. I have never heard of a professions guidelines being organized in this manner.
I am beginning to think we may not have much in common... Did you ever work in an environment with no state licensing? Most no longer can have that experience. -
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Rev, I understand. You were able to go years with minimal standards and those were glorious days, I'm sure . But those standards today are not enough to protect the public and the states. But because of state rights and responsibilities, they have to organize. As my Dad tells me everyday, "Mike, nothing stays the same forever. Don't fear the future, embrace it!"
The Rev said:Mike Hinkle said:No wonder CA is a mess guys, this is not scientific. I am thinking, I also think, do they need to know the muscles? States need to set rules and therapists need to meet them. I have never heard of a professions guidelines being organized in this manner.
I am beginning to think we may not have much in common... Did you ever work in an environment with no state licensing? Most no longer can have that experience. -
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Change is inevitable and always progress for the greatest number. It has been proven to me time and time again that Change is always for the best for everyone involved. We might as well accept it as it is going to happen whether we like it or not. Mike you are right to follow your Dad's advice.
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If you can say you started a practice with 100 hours of training and have experienced fully the gamut of work from the days of non imposition of requirements to receiving work in the present you cannot understand. Just for your info, standards, for me, is not the problem. Argue for high standards, but (it's too late) keep the state and other governing agencies off my back. You and yours left the table and went to the government a long time ago.
Now THAT is scary... There is the ol' harm to the public argument. I thought that fell by the wayside, but apparently not.
Now there is something we have in common. The only constant is change. The change in the field appears good to you. To me it is bad.
Let me ask again.. Have you ever worked in an unlicensed environment? Do you have a practice or are you just in it for the marketing of educational workshops/conferences, etc? (hat is not a bad thing). -
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Mike, according to the ABMP I pay $67 of my dues for professional liability for $2,000,00 of coverage with just 100 hours of training. This tells me the experts know this to be a safe profession and they are willing to bet money on it.
When I was a computer programmer I could not afford the professional liability insurance and the general liability (slip & fall) insurance cost me $500 for $500,000.
If someone will build a standard based on proven harm I will buy into it. But I don’t see that the BOK addresses the issue of harm at all. 99% of the KSAs have nothing to do with harm and the rest have no standards. How much education is need to make sure that you wash your hands and disinfect your stones?
Mike Hinkle said:Rev, I understand. You were able to go years with minimal standards and those were glorious days, I'm sure . But those standards today are not enough to protect the public and the states. But because of state rights and responsibilities, they have to organize. As my Dad tells me everyday, "Mike, nothing stays the same forever. Don't fear the future, embrace it!"
The Rev said:Mike Hinkle said:No wonder CA is a mess guys, this is not scientific. I am thinking, I also think, do they need to know the muscles? States need to set rules and therapists need to meet them. I have never heard of a professions guidelines being organized in this manner.
I am beginning to think we may not have much in common... Did you ever work in an environment with no state licensing? Most no longer can have that experience. -
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How do you figure it is always progress for the greatest number? Do all the added on requirements really benefit the uneducated masses? How can the masses tell a difference when there is none. Homogenizing the field via licensing benefits the educators of those looking to do the work, not the uneducated that will need to deal with the mediocrity.
Darcy Neibaur BS LMT NCTMB said:Change is inevitable and always progress for the greatest number. It has been proven to me time and time again that Change is always for the best for everyone involved. We might as well accept it as it is going to happen whether we like it or not. Mike you are right to follow your Dad's advice. -
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