How to Find a Good Massage Therapist

 How to Find a Good Massage Therapist

You need to be able to trust the individual who will be touching you. You should be able to trust and feel at ease with your massage therapist.

Start by looking at credentials. As far as state regulation goes, 33 states and the District of Columbia presently oversee massage therapists. If you live in one of these states, you should check to see if your potential massage therapist is licensed. In some states, this is called state certification or registration. Some local governments may also have some kind of rules.

The Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB) is the main national certificate. Professional certification is different from government regulation because it is not required and is not done by the government. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) gives out the NCTMB title. It is a non-profit organization. People who are nationally certified choose the Board.

To take the NCTMB exam, people must meet certain qualifications, which usually include having a particular amount of education and experience. They will be nationally certified for four years if they pass.

Then, every four years, they have to meet specific conditions to get their certification back. The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), which is based in Washington, D.C., has given its stamp of approval to the national certification program. This is very important for the consumer. This signifies that an outside group has looked at the national certification program extremely carefully and found it to meet very high requirements. AMTA is happy to have played a big part in making the national certification program happen.

Education is another requirement. AMTA says that the minimum number of hours of training you should search for is 500. This is the guideline that most states that regulate massage therapists follow, but in certain locations the number of hours required is going up. AMTA says you should look for someone who graduated from a training program that has been approved by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) or another group with similar requirements. Why? For a training program to get COMTA accreditation, it has to have a curriculum that satisfies particular standards, go through a thorough self-evaluation, have its location inspected by a team of specialists, and be judged by an independent accrediting board. This signifies that a COMTA-accredited training program has trained teachers, the right equipment and classrooms, the right subjects to teach, and other things that are necessary to properly train students in massage therapy. If your potential massage therapist graduated from a recognized training school, you may be sure that they have the training they need.

Another thing to think about is whether the massage therapist you're thinking about joining a reputable professional group, like AMTA. We like AMTA, of course, because this is AMTA's website. And there are solid reasons for consumers and the public as well. A massage therapist can only join AMTA if they have passed the national certification exam, graduated from a training program that COMTA has recognized or certified, or have a current AMTA-accepted state, provincial, or city license. AMTA offers practice standards that help the profession reach the best standards. AMTA members must also observe a stringent Code of Ethics, and AMTA members are responsible for following it. If you break the rules, you can file a complaint. AMTA is a non-profit group whose members elect its leaders, therefore it is still committed to high standards and improving the profession.

Next, you might want to ask your potential massage therapist how they do their job. Some massage therapists may only utilize one or two styles of massage, but most use a mix of several techniques in their work. You need to find out if the massage therapist's services are right for you. The glossary of definitions can help you learn more about the many kinds of massage. If you have very specific needs, the massage therapist's method and talents may be more crucial. You could also ask how long the massage therapist has been doing this. Some massage therapists with a lot of experience may have started out when there weren't as many training programs and the standards for the trade weren't as strict. If you choose, you can think about their experience when you look at their qualifications.

Finally, you might find the "right" massage therapist the first time you try. You might also need to see a few different massage therapists to discover the "right fit" for you. This is because there is a personal side to massage in addition to credentials. It's also crucial that you get along with the other person and trust them. You should feel safe and at ease with your massage therapist. Massage treatment relies heavily on communication. Don't be scared to talk about any worries or fears you have.

AMTA's discover A Massage Therapist® national directory service can help you discover a massage therapist more easily. You can get the names of various qualified massage therapists near you by using this service. If you or someone you know needs to find a massage therapist, this website has the AMTA's Find A Massage Therapist® national locator service to help you.

Things to Think About When Choosing a Massage Therapist

- Do you have a license to work as a massage therapist in this state right now? - If you live in one of the 33 states or the District of Columbia that regulates massage therapy, you must be a graduate of a training program that is accredited or approved by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), or you must be certified by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.
- Where did you go to school to learn how to do massage therapy? How many hours of training did you finish?
- Have you had extensive training in any specific types of massage?
- Are you a member of the AMTA?

Location:

Share :