Massage Therapy Career Focus Workbook

[Ree]

I met a massage therapist and we exchanged web boards! ;-) He had not heard of MassagePlanet and I had not heard of the forums at massageresource.com (but that's another topic!)

So MR has this Massage Therapy Career Focus Workbook... it helps you identify what kind of massage you do/want to do... it's not too long, very clear, and very clarifying! I highly suggest checking it out:

http://www.massageresource.com/book/massage-therapy-career-focus-workbook-01.htm

Here's what I got out of it:

I currently do mostly lifestyle biomechanical work and some lifestyle/corrective psychosocial work (which I want to do more of) with a whole client approach. I don't have a well defined care mode, and have used both active and passive modes. My touch depth varies, but deep touch is used sparingly and specifically. My documentation is basic and my treatment setting (private office) wasn't really covered but probably falls under their massage/wellness clinic category.

This info is used in two main ways: one is to filter business issues such as which CEUs to take, which jobs and settings to work in, etc... the other is to communicate more effectively with clients and colleagues.

It says that it's hard to work in more than one wellness area without being torn between the two, and I think they're right. I find the biomechanical work utterly fascinating (not to mention easier to sell). But it's very different from the psychosocial work, which is what I've wanted to do from the very beginning.

Anyway, check it out and tell me what you think. If you go through the workbook, tell us what kind of work you do!

 

[Nicole]

Thanks for this link, Joshua! I am reading the workbook now, and so far have identified my dh's preferred style as mainly corrective biomechanical (with a bleed-over into corrective psycosocial), deep-to-medium touch (yet it is amazing how gentle and light his touch can be when called for!). He hates paperwork, so his documentation style is "basic". His goals are active care with a whole-client approach.

I am also learning that my preferences, at this point at least, are leaning towards a corrective biochemical approach, light-to-medium touch, active care, whole-client, with basic documentation (although I can tolerate a fair amount more paperwork than dh). I am imagining that my work will also bleed over into corrective psycosocial as well, indicating that between the two of us, once I get into practice, we will be able to cover a pretty good amount of territory in the "corrective" area, while still maintaining that "corrective" focus.

Did I do that right? I haven't finished the book yet. I am, however, going to save it onto my hard drive, and send a link to our marketing person so she can better understand how to help us communicate to prospective clients. This is perfect timing for us! Thanks!

 

[Medori]

Massage Therapy Career Focus Workbook

I met a massage therapist and we exchanged web boards! ;-) He had not heard of MassagePlanet and I had not heard of the forums at massageresource.com (but that's another topic!)

Josh,
While I didn't know that the workbook was available online and don't have the time to read it right now... I'll try to get at it after work today....
But I originally came to MassagePlanetL via MR.com. Holley and Razor (Rob) were also well known posters @ MR.com back in the day. :

MR.com has an archive of their old forum, and Doug has started a new forum there which I check out every once in awhile. MassagePlanetL does take most of my time and attention these days however. t102

 

[Dancer101]

Thanks so much EgoMagickian!

I am currently in school, so reading this workbook has come at a fantastic time for me! I'm repeatedly asked by everyone I meet (from family to doctors) what kind of work I'm going to do. I've had a general idea of where I'd like to go, but no concrete terms and no way to really focus myself to be more sure of my direction. This is great!

So, for the results!!

My interest is in the corrective and lifestyle outcomes in the psychosocial wellness area. Like you, I also enjoy the biomechanical, and if I went that route, I would definitely be geared toward the lifestyle biomechanical approach. So far I am least interested in the corrective biochemical or mechanical. If this makes sense, I am in line with both an active and passive care mode. For corrective services I would, I think obviously, like to help clients shift from corrective psychosocial to the lifestyle psychosocial category, and from there incorporate a somewhat passive plan. I think that's because I just see a fundamental value to massage in the psychosocial area. My touch depth is currently shallow to medium, and I'd like to work in private practice and/or alternative health clinic. Oh yeah, and I see a whole client approach, with toleration for comprehensive documentation. (However, I would prefer to avoid dealing with insurance.)

Also, I would like to work with older populations in nursing/residential homes, and I am currently in the process of volunteering with hospice.

Hope this isn't too much info to share here! It should be interesting to see if I this focus stays true for me throughout the rest of school and as I begin my career. There's really no surprises (as far as my interest area) to what I found in reading through this workbook, but it definitely helps to confirm and focus my intent and communication. Awesome!


Thanks so much for sharing this great workbook and tool!

 

[hah]

That was a cool find, thanks for sharing it! It was a wonderful map to use to see the big picture.

I found my interests were:

lifestyle and corrective therapeutic outcomes in the biochemical and biomechanical wellness areas
w/ a basic level of docs. suitable for clients and other health care providers
using shallow to medium touch depth (deep used very sparingly)
an active care mode
a whole client approach to wellness

My preferred settings to provide this type of care are:

fitness club, pt clinic, on-site, out call, or clinic

 

[Lady Bug]

Nice, folks Great responses so far.

Thinking more about this, I see some issues with their map.

For example, where do seemingly biomechanical problems that are actually caused (in part or in whole) by emotional issues fit?

Also, what about the spiritual/transpersonal aspect? Does that fit into psychosocial or is it actually its own wellness area (I am guessing the latter).

And what of energy work and subtle modalities? They don't seem to fit as neatly into the categories, and may make it easier to work in more than one wellness area.

Thoughts?

I'm also curious to hear more details from all of you folks interested in psychosocial work. What does that mean to you? What kinds of issues do you help people with and how?

For me that work is more about EFT than other modalities... I'm not currently trained in using any other modalities to address this areas better, although an argument could be made for various kinds of energy work. I am looking into Visionary Craniosacral, Barnes MFR, and others to continue in this direction.

 

[Moe]

Yeah I agree with the issues you have found with their map too. I think it might be one of the "cons" about being categorical and making lists. But also, like is said in the portion after the divisions was that one wellness area will inevitably effect/reach the others in some way, but maybe not be the primary focus. I think categories, while very helpful and needed sometimes, are inherently limited.

The issue you raise with the presenting biomechanical problem that is actually caused by emotional issues is tricky, I think. Where it ultimately fits might have a lot to do with the awareness of the client. Some people might not be ready or able to face an issue from a psychosocial angle, so instead seek out a therapist who works from a biomechanical approach. But through treatment may either realize there is more going on for the psychosocially, or on the flip-side the biomechanical work may do enough to help iron out the psychosocial issue in the process? I don't know. Maybe that's an area that we as therapists just have to be open to, regardless of our chosen wellness area? I am wondering too, if we sense someone is coming to us for biomechanical issues and not improving with our work, we could refer out and include in our list someone with a psychosocial approach? I'm brainstorming here since I really don't know! I like these questions you bring up.

The spiritual/transpersonal aspect is interesting too. I'm wondering if the numbers of clients who are coming to massage to fulfill spiritual/transpersonal needs was thought to not be enough to equate a category to it within the scope of the workbook? So some of the details got left out in streamlining things for us?

I'm wondering too about the energy work modalities. To me this is kind of universal to any wellness area and intent driven? Also, if working with energy, would the energy go where needed regardless of the categorical approach of the therapist? I guess too, a lot would depend on if a client wanted any energy work done. That leads me to thinking that maybe it would be useful to have a separate "energy work" category, but maybe instead of being it's own category it could be an adjunct to any of them...or both?

Since reading this workbook I've really tried to think about what psychosocial means for me too.

In terms of modalities I'm thinking about Craniosacral, MFR, Hellerwork, Hakomi, and I'm sure there are other modalities I'll find interest in...but aside from Craniosacral I need more personal experience with these modalities to know if it's something I want to pursue working with. I think even Swedish massage can be psychosocial. To me a lot is about intent, presence, being open and aware with the client on an emotional level (but not doing psychotherapy, obviously.) Also, I'm thinking along the lines of being accepting and capable of encountering an emotional release. While I think we're all basically trained to realize this can happen during massage on any level, some therapists are more comfortable with it than others.

Also, for me, working in hospice is very psychosocial, as well as with older populations and nursing homes. Again, being there, being an open presence and not afraid to touch and connect with these people.

I'm actually also interested in obtaining further education to work closely together with psychotherapists or other therapists. Before making a sharp turn into massage school I was accepted into a social work program, so a lot of my interest still lies there.

Thanks for starting this dialogue!