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In the Spirit of Cooperation - Voice Your Opinions/Concerns
Since we are having a heated discussion on the voice of our profession...I thought it would be a great opportunity to have a thread where we can all list OUR thoughts and concerns regarding our profession.
SO...if YOU were the VOICE of our profession...what would you change or see implemented?
for me, number one, I'd like to see all states have the same requirements of education for a license. I believe one of our greatest issues is that there are too many differences in our education. This leads to many that are not properly equipped to go out there and be successful. It causes people to actually have bad experiences with massage that then affects all of us. If we all were working from the same playing field then our voice would be ONE. Though I believe in fair competition for business...i believe the core of our education should all be the same. Where we compete with each other on business, should be in how we market, and what CEUs we continue to take to benefit our personal target market.
a big number two for me would be to see the huge amounts of money that is needed to start up a practice, come down. I can remember being in school and not having a clue at how i was going to pay for my state test or my national license or the added CEUs. Could we not incorporate the testing costs into our schooling so that once we've paid our tuition, we pay to be able to walk out of school, having passed our test, ready to market ourselves to the world. I know so many MTs that have finished school, that end up never taking their test and pursuing their passion because they just don't have the funds (after dishing out so much for tuition) to take their tests.
and finally, a third issue for me is the difficulty I have in finding sound research materials to which I can offer up to my clients on any given issue. a library of things from how massage benefits various pathologies, to stretches, to mind, body, spirit wellness. There are so many writers out there that have good information, but it becomes such a chore to locate something specific for a client that i end up discarding the attempt.
Views: 210
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on
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All these issues that are going to be addressed by the Alliance.
If not them, then who? There is no group that addresses many of these and hundreds of other concerns. The Alliance will be a start towards the issues you have said need addressed. If therapists will band together, they will succeed. People know it is needed. These same things have been issues for years. Complaining doesn't change much. Action does.
Therapists don't mind doing things after it exist. But, they do not have the time, energy or money to create it. I will, but my way. I do not have deep association pockets to build from. I can tell you that it so that it will be a cheap as I can make it to the therapist and give them as much as I can. The Massage Therapy Alliance of America will make a huge difference and if therapists want to join in, the election is their way to make the difference.
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on
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How do traditional systems that are mostly taught by apprenticeship by traditional healers from all over the world fit in. Why is there a need to have uniformity at the expense of modalities that aren't made for the mold? It appears that massage therapy is moving into a marketing format that recognizes branded techniques taught on a nationwide scale. While standardization has benefits, particularly for those seeking a recognized level of therapy, it does imperil traditional methods and intuitional healing.
I worry that the scope of massage is being narrowed to fit marketing strategy. Traditional Healers do not usually market their skill. Hopefully the requirements for MTs in the future will not prevent a traditionalist from being licensed because of tests that are directed towards a medical model. We are not doctors we are Bodyworkers/Massage Therapists. I hope in the future the sense of touch as opposed to the name of a specific muscle and intuition rather than studied procedure will still have a place. We cover a large spectrum, let's keep room for all of it.
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Exactly, we should have choices, that's one reason, we entered massage. Because we could decide in which direction we wanted to go and have the ability to change that if we want. Our scope is broad and we should keep it that way.
Daniel Cohen said:How do traditional systems that are mostly taught by apprenticeship by traditional healers from all over the world fit in. Why is there a need to have uniformity at the expense of modalities that aren't made for the mold? It appears that massage therapy is moving into a marketing format that recognizes branded techniques taught on a nationwide scale. While standardization has benefits, particularly for those seeking a recognized level of therapy, it does imperil traditional methods and intuitional healing.
I worry that the scope of massage is being narrowed to fit marketing strategy. Traditional Healers do not usually market their skill. Hopefully the requirements for MTs in the future will not prevent a traditionalist from being licensed because of tests that are directed towards a medical model. We are not doctors we are Bodyworkers/Massage Therapists. I hope in the future the sense of touch as opposed to the name of a specific muscle and intuition rather than studied procedure will still have a place. We cover a large spectrum, let's keep room for all of it.
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I did not say "you" were complaining. I said
Complaining doesn't change much. Action does.
Samantha J. Bennett said:So by giving input to a discussion topic and voicing what I think would help our training as therapists/ our profession in my eyes, I'm quote "complaining" Mike?
Discussion: to talk between people: a talk between two or more people about a subject, usually to exchange ideas or reach a conclusion, or talk of this kind.
Nothing can ever be great without voices/discussion and reflection of such, IMHO. Now if the powers that be want something or think towards totalitarianism on this site, as well as others (which I don't associate myself with already), just say so... and I'll feel free to leave behind those views and the condescension that is coming off with replies from others views on the complaining (a.k.a. discussions/topics). But can't we all just have world peace?! :)
But you are right Mike- people don't mind doing things after it exists- that's why you have all the estbl.ed places already with the amta, and liability companies, and now yours. Money does make the world go 'round, no doubt 'bout that one.
Mike Hinkle said:
All these issues that are going to be addressed by the Alliance.
If not them, then who? There is no group that addresses many of these and hundreds of other concerns. The Alliance will be a start towards the issues you have said need addressed. If therapists will band together, they will succeed. People know it is needed. These same things have been issues for years. Complaining doesn't change much. Action does.
Therapists don't mind doing things after it exist. But, they do not have the time, energy or money to create it. I will, but my way. I do not have deep association pockets to build from. I can tell you that it so that it will be a cheap as I can make it to the therapist and give them as much as I can. The Massage Therapy Alliance of America will make a huge difference and if therapists want to join in, the election is their way to make the difference.
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Permalink Reply by Erica Olson on
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Traditional healers usually don't have to worry about things like insurance and litigation, for one thing. I can't pay my cell phone bill with a chicken, either, so some "traditional" means of payment are irrelevant as well.
Western medical practices cover a wide range (orthopedic surgery, family wellness, dentistry, OBGYN, etc.). Each modality has a different mold and a different certification; there is plenty of room for standards within a particular modality, no matter what it is.
Personally, I would like to see far more education required, as well as a minimum number of accredited hours nationwide. In Canada, IIRC, the minimum is 2200 hours or so--basically, a four-year degree. There is SO much more to learn, and even though I feel that my school gave me an excellent base, I'd've loved to have spent more time there. After graduating, there's a limit on the time and spare cash I've got; it'd be easier to get student loans for further education if it were already included in the base.
Daniel Cohen said:How do traditional systems that are mostly taught by apprenticeship by traditional healers from all over the world fit in. Why is there a need to have uniformity at the expense of modalities that aren't made for the mold?
Traditional Healers do not usually market their skill. . . I hope in the future the sense of touch as opposed to the name of a specific muscle and intuition rather than studied procedure will still have a place. We cover a large spectrum, let's keep room for all of it.
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Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on
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Research: The Massage Therapy Foundation's database and PubMed. PubMed's like to massage research abstracts is on the MTF website at www.massagetherapyfoundation.org and you can search by terms, such as a specific condition. It couldn't be easier.
I don't expect to see everyone have the same requirement in my lifetime, because New York, Nebraska and Peurto Rico aren't going to dumb it down and the other states would have to increase theirs, which many school owners balk at. I would love to see the standards raised, personally.Kudos to PR for starting out their new board with 1000 hours right out of the gate.
I do know of some schools that include the cost of the test in their tuition and they all could if the owners wanted to go to the trouble. It puts an additional paperwork burden on them and part of going out into the world is handling your own details. Their students will still have to pay the license fee to the state.
We don't really have it any worse than any other licensed profession. I think the people in any licensed profession are apt to get out of school facing a big student loan debt and they all have exam fees and licensing fees to pay, some way more expensive than ours.
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Permalink Reply by Alexei Levine on
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Good point Laura. As far as I know there is no profession that has consistent licensing requirements across the the USA. Even MD's and Attorney's face different requirements in different states. The reluctance I've witnessed in my own state's Massage Board to seek reciprocity agreements with other states is troubling to me though.
By the way, if students attend my school, TheMassageSchool.org , they will not be in debt when they graduate. We give generous scholarships so that the current cost to attend is $3,600 for an 800 hour program.
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There ya go! That's the way to beat the corporate take over.
Alexei Levine said:Good point Laura. As far as I know there is no profession that has consistent licensing requirements across the the USA. Even MD's and Attorney's face different requirements in different states. The reluctance I've witnessed in my own state's Massage Board to seek reciprocity agreements with other states is troubling to me though.
By the way, if students attend my school, TheMassageSchool.org , they will not be in debt when they graduate. We give generous scholarships so that the current cost to attend is $3,600 for an 800 hour program.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa on
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In as much as I agree with this, I think there is still room for standardization regarding hours when it comes to our root education. Anatomy, Kinesiology, Pathology, Business....these are areas where there should be a standard that we all have equally. The CEUs would separate us to fit our individual molds.
I see many therapists struggle to just come up with a way of marketing themselves. I've heard of therapists (from clients) who were too reserved to work the Gluts. things like this I envision being standardized so that anyone getting a massage would have some fundamental experiences versus the way it is now, where many are having bad experiences.
Daniel Cohen said:How do traditional systems that are mostly taught by apprenticeship by traditional healers from all over the world fit in. Why is there a need to have uniformity at the expense of modalities that aren't made for the mold? It appears that massage therapy is moving into a marketing format that recognizes branded techniques taught on a nationwide scale. While standardization has benefits, particularly for those seeking a recognized level of therapy, it does imperil traditional methods and intuitional healing.
I worry that the scope of massage is being narrowed to fit marketing strategy. Traditional Healers do not usually market their skill. Hopefully the requirements for MTs in the future will not prevent a traditionalist from being licensed because of tests that are directed towards a medical model. We are not doctors we are Bodyworkers/Massage Therapists. I hope in the future the sense of touch as opposed to the name of a specific muscle and intuition rather than studied procedure will still have a place. We cover a large spectrum, let's keep room for all of it.
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Permalink Reply by Julie Onofrio on
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I would like to see portability between states for licensing but I don't think it has the effect that you think it does (Lisa).
I said this over in the other thread - what we really need is to find out what the profession wants - do they want/need another organization? What issues do they really have that are not being addressed by the 2 other associations. We don't need another bad organization - just to rephrase a quote I heard once saying "we don't need any more bad massage therapists".
The costs of starting a business are just that - the cost of doing business. You can start really on a shoestring. I don't think that an association would be any help with your personal finances.
What I see are the current challenges is a way of defining what it is that we do. I am not sure how that could be cleared up. I don't like the results of the BOK so far. How do you define Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage and Medical Massage are some of the front runners.
How can we get more recognition as a health care provider and get more separation between massage therapists and those other types of happy ending massages? Is it more standards in education? or higher barriers to entry into massage school? Like get a business degree already!
How can we get more higher paying jobs out there for MT to go into right out of school? How about a franchise that pays MT a decent wage?
Thats some for starters.
Julie
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Julie, The only issue there that you said you didn't like was the handling of the BOK. Who did that?
And who can get you to the table to discuss it in the future? How is it going to be different if no one is there but the one voice that you created by merging the two Associations? The other issues, most of these are not Association dealt with issues. So who is there to address these things? No one yet!
For the hundreth time.... WE ARE NOT AN ASSOCIATION!!! We are different. We are the Alliance! And we want to address therapists concerns that are not being addressed. That's where we will be. Here to address those issues.
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Mike what do you think the difference is between an Association and an Alliance. Your saying they are different does not seem to jive with definitions or synonyms.
Are the dictionaries and thesaurus wrong. Please explain why what you propose is not another association. Being nonprofit is not a difference of one or the other that is just a tax category.
http://thesaurus.com/browse/alliance
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alliance
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/thesaurus/?s=alliance
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults...
http://www.yourdictionary.com/alliance
What you propose may be different than what is already available for membership. But calling it an alliance to avoid the word association is not in itself a difference other than etymology. Association comes from Latin and Alliance from French. What you describe is closer to the latin word associare.
But you can call the organization whatever you like but let's hear more about purpose than defending a name choice. If you have said it 100 times too much effort is being directed away from the purpose.
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