Archive for October, 2007
New Licensing Examination Through FSMTB
15 October 2007The Federation of States for Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) with its 21 state Boards as current members, issued a new Massage Examination available for Massage Licensure. Formed in 2005 for the support of the mission of public protection, they found it necessary to provide a “unified set of nationally-verified, entry-level standards for safe and competent practice of Massage and Bodywork”.
The MBLEx or Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination will be available to take through Pearson VUE, which is the electronic certification and licensure testing business of over 200 centers nationwide. It provides testing services for technology, government/corporate clients, academic and regulatory certification and licensing boards.
What does this mean for future graduates of Massage establishments? I am not sure if the MBLEx will be the only acceptable exam in those 21 states or you have a choice to take the National NCETMB. I will find out and let you know.
14 States Left
13 October 2007Out of the 50 states there are only 14 who have not yet set up a regulatory board for Massage Therapy. Most without a statewide licensing board, are working with legislatures to pass Acts that will put laws and rules for Massage Therapists to practice under a statewide licensing board. Right now cities or counties are in charge and gets confusing for any therapist who would like to move and keep their career as a MT. On average most states require a minimum of 500 hours in an approved curriculum by the licensing board. They also require each prospective massage therapist to take and pass the national exam given by National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).
We are getting ever closer for Massage to become regulated by most state health or licensing departments. Encouraging considering the fact that many people are still unaware of the benefits that are possible from a preventive or therapeutic massage.
Animal Massage
12 October 2007I have not had much interest in animal massage in the past. I have been preoccupied with finding more useful ways to massage the human body. I have changed my mind and I now feel that massage is very beneficial for humans and animals.
My choice of pet would have to be a horse, I grew up with them and loved taking care of them. However I live in the city in an apartment and can?t afford to board a horse. So the only animals in my life at this point are my daughters two cats. We adopted them in May, I never would have imagined I could fall for something so small that couldn?t even take me anywhere, but oh man they are cute. I have found to my surprise, they love a good warm bath and nice massage. I never would have guessed it.
Client Christmas Cards
11 October 2007It is time to order Christmas cards for my clients. Sending out wishes and thanks for a wonderful year and tidings of Joy in the year to come. I have been seized with the care that some of the clients I Massage may not be Christian. I suppose I will just have to settle for Happy Holidays. Religious beliefs can be so touchy sometimes. I have a very simple wish, everyone everywhere could just accept differences in beliefs and get along, and not be so quick to be offended. But alas, Happy Holidays it is.
The Key Discussion
10 October 2007I rent a room two days a week in an Acupuncture office in my city. I love it, the environment and location is most excellent. I will have rented there for a year in November and was just told that I will not be receiving a key to the building for fear of fire or damage while the lease owner is out of the building. So I am curious, on my liability insurance does it not cover these said incidences? On the certificate I have copied and given states on there Fire Damage..$100,000. So now I have the impression I am not trustworthy. Jumping to this conclusion makes me a little offended. So how do I bring this conversation up without causing contention and malice?
Yes I pay rent, and no there has not been a real problem with scheduling, but this Friday the Key Holder will be out of the office and I will be there all alone without a key. He will have to stop what ever he is doing to come lock up for me. OK if that?s what you must do. I can handle it I guess. What can I do or say for him to see eye to eye?
Liability Insurance
9 October 2007Just like any other insurance, you must pay yearly for protection and ease of mind. I hopefully will never have to use it, but just like I step up to give the best customer service, I would hope that any establishment that I pay yearly for something I would hope have the same desire for excellent customer care. For instance a faxed copy of my updated insurance information to one or more of the Companies I am a preferred provider for. No, I found out today if I would like a copy faxed I would have to pay $15 each fax. Oh now, that is what I call standing for something, yah its called ?how can we make more money? stand.
Well now that I know my Insurance coverage is something paid for and never heard of or seen from unless fiscally, I no longer have expectations.
Intake Interview
8 October 2007The beloved question, “What would you like to get out of this session” is always in my intake interview. Even if the client is a regular, it is good to know if they are in need of a new treatment plan. I try never to assume I know what there needs are just because I know them. Taking the time to hear what your clients have to say is all part of customer service.
Sense Of Touch
3 October 2007I don’t know if you all have tried this, if not you must at least give it a go. Closing your eyes and feeling Just with the sense of touch has to offer and not being bogged down by all the other senses. Bring all your focus to the sensations that your most honored tools provide. You may have even had an exercise in school with blindfolds I know I did. But I didn’t get out of it at the time the full clarity of focusing on one sense and how it can bring heightened awareness to your Massage.
Every now and then, I will just close my eyes and work the strokes, feeling more then just adhesions and hypertension. I can actually feel the tension on muscle strands and follow it to a major trigger point or ligaments and tendons that need to be addressed. Try it out for your self even for a minute in your next massage and see what you can feel with your touch.
THRIVE
2 October 2007Massage Therapy is fast being perceived as a preventative measure to conditions instead of just therapeutic. Keiser Permanente is now employing a Massage Therapist on their staff for 1/3-hour massages in response to prescriptions given by physicians. It is a big step but still not efficient. You must be put on the schedule, sometimes waiting two months or more.
My sister-in-law is a Massage Therapist employed under a state hospital in charge of massaging patients who are disabled and in need of healthy soothing touch. The contract that she signed with the hospital was open for many years prier to her approval and she was the only Therapist who applied. She has held the contract for 4 years now and each year has to renew but is thriving with 2 to 4 therapist employed by her to take all the massages she can’t do herself. She said the only thing she can complain about is her paperwork, and that got easier down the line. Now her goal is to retire from massaging next year and continue to hire and schedule appointments for her employees.
Just two more opportunities you may not have heard about to look into.
Postcards For Marketing
1 October 2007Once you have had an initial Massage with your client, how can you be sure they come back? I thought it was just a matter of them remembering my name whenever they had tight or sore muscles. Ya, I know a bit unrealistic. So I have been thinking more realistically lately of putting together postcards to send out to my clients. Not a discount but reminders.
OvernightPrints.Com is where I get my business cards printed, they have great quality prints and are fair priced. You have the ability to design your own and download it to their site. Or use their site to design with templates and step-by-step help. This way you can design it with what you want, not getting stuck with preprints that may be free and used widely by many massage therapists.
Thank you cards is another idea that has been given to me by a great friend who hand writes to her new clients what a pleasure it was to have them come in and hope to see them soon. I am also thinking of Christmas cards, just a little something from a new business owner. I may also give small tokens for appreciation for my regular clients. I will keep you updated on the benefits if any. Some therapists I have talked to, swear by the postcards.