New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

[Pompal 09.]

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and I just joined the boards. I am a 22 year old male and just got my state certs in order. I live in Baltimore, MD.

MY school set me up with a job opportunity with a new clinic/store for Triatheletes. He offers full training services, products, whatever else. I would be working as an IC with a 70/30 split. When I found out I got the job a few days ago and that the clinic is opening on the 27th I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I anticipated my first job being an employee so the fact that I'm jumping right into IC is intimidating. He is going to advertise me on the website as well as in store and he said that it is up to me to do the rest. IT is a very good location for massage and he recommended I put flyers at the different health clubs and such around the area

My main concern is that I am a new therapist and I will be working on triatheletes. He is clear on the difference between Sports Massage and Swedish/Deep Tissue and he knows that I am fresh out of school. I am wondering if there is any information or advice you guys could give me in ANY area...the actual bodywork, marketing, ect.

Another issue is I am not sure if there is any prep work I should do before starting. Since i will be an IC I have no clue what I should be doing tax-wise or if I am supposed to get some kind of insurance...I really have no idea. I need this job desperately though and want to make it work and the guy seems like a great business man and very fair.

Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

 

[sophiesmummy]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

Ok, first off if you don't have it already, immediately get yourself liability insurance, I use AMTA, but ABMP is also a common one.
Then, get comfortable with sales. I know it sounds cheesy/corny, but you need to be a good salesperson to do this, so read up on tips, motivations, and marketing tools and rehearse what you would say to different people. It sounds like it wouldn't be "real" if you rehearse it, but the more you practice it, the more fluent and natural you will sound when talking to someone about your services.
Make sure you get all of your facts about your IC agreement. Are you setting your own rates? If not, how much are you getting paid? Do you have to buy your own supplies? What are your other responsibilities working there? You might be able to do your bookkeeping in a notebook, since your not completely on your own, but it would be helpful for taxes to use excel or OpenOffice, which you can download for free. More than likely, your going to have to pay taxes quarterly instead of annually, but check with the clinic and see how they have you set up in there system. Sometimes you are paid like an IC but classified as employee.
As far as working with triathletes, the more you do it the more comfortable you get. Are there any other therapists there? You could always ask someone to show you some of their favorite techniques, and of course there's the technique section on MassagePlanetL and you can ask more about that there too.
When I started out my coworkers and I would form groups and practice techniques on each other, so we were always learning more and sharing knowledge.
t001 Best of luck to you! t001

 

[kori p]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

It would be helpful for us to know how many hours you have under your belt and how confident you feel with the information you currently own in your mind/body/soul.

I can suggest some Tom Meyer's DVD's that I am selling in the For Sale or Trade section of the forums, but that seems a bit.... funky --- and I don't want you to think I am just trying to "sell you something". :shock:

Working in that environment is going to call for some specialized knowledge in bodywork, or you will be doing a dis-service to the clients asking for specific work. Since you are coming here for advice, my advice is to find some DVD's to give you a broader knowledge, attend course work appropriate to tri-athletes, bone up on your anatomy, and generally become knowledgeable about the three sports. In our Resources section, you can find threads on places to get some information on loan (libraries, Net-flix, professional bodywork chapters, etc.).

Lore of Running - by:Timothy Noakes is a good book regarding running (injuries, distance, etc.). Possibly you can find it on half.com less expensive. I've provided an Amazon link.

Here's the link to the business of a friend of mine (they serve the tri-athletes in town). Possibly there is something that will help you there, as well.

I'll think more on what else is a good resource for you.

 

[da princess]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

I'd also read the Business Issues & Marketing Discussion (the section this thread is in) of these forums front to back. Even the very old threads. We've had a lot of people come and go over the years, and there are a lot of discussions from way-back-when that are absolutely helpful with business ideas.

 

[lex]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

Well, now I'm worrying that I am not qualified. I am fresh out of school...ironically, it is the school that set me up with the job. I am stuck because I don't want to go forward if I am not confident, which I would say I am definitley not real confident working in a specialized field like that. I'm gonna feel like a jackass if I call out on it now, though.

 

[Tasha]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

My general opinion is that anyone who owns a store for triathletes and is offering massage for those athletes should know that the athletes will need specialized work from someone with a broader kowledge than "fresh out of school".

However, since the owner doesn't seem to think this is important and you mention you feel like you may not have all that knowledge (worried you are not qualified), you can use that to your advaneforum.xxxe if the owner decides he/she doesn't like it that you are new... let's say he/she gets funky about it or something.

I'd say you can possibly use the job to gain experience, but you need to know that you could be hitting a huge learning curve and should be ready for a lot of in depth study and preparation. If that has to continue while "in" the job, you may just have to run with it and see what happens.

I read your post about the Massage Envy job. It'll get you some much needed experience. Keep your head up. Take this triathlete job on and look it in the face without fear. Do what you have to do to prepare yourself. Do what you have to do to get better. I'd say it's pretty obvious the owner isn't worried about much more than getting an MT on board at this point, if he/she hasn't asked you to show specific experience. The most you can probably do with that is expect that if you don't take the job, he/she will just be looking for another "fresh out of school" therapist. So, you may wish to seize the chance to make the best of it and try to use it to your advaneforum.xxxe.

*roots for you*

 

[Pompal 09.]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

So, I've been thinking about your post all day. Here are some other things I would do (and, I actually just took about an hour to check on).

Look up "Baltimore sports massage" on google and see if there are any therapists who resonate with the type of work you hope to perform. I found at least one Rolfer who is also an MT, who seems to have a pretty diverse background and is of interest to me.

Look up "triathlete massage". I found less useful information, but it's worth it to scour into at least 20 pages of google lists before you quit.

Then, when you locate about 8 people who suit your goals, get on the phone, call each one, and see if you can find someone who may be interested in becoming your mentor. Next, take them out to dinner, to discuss the possibilities. Expect to have to do this multiple times before you find the right fit. Once you find that person... set up a real schedule of once every three or four weeks to meet with them for 1-2 hours. E-mail them a plan of the things you are interested in learning, and make it easy for them to help you.
ie: Do as much of the work as possible when it comes to making up a real schedule you will follow.

Let them know you will buy dinner each time and that you will bring sheets so that they don't have to do the wash for your session (don't say, "I can, if you like... buy/bring such and such"). Do the little things to make this a pleasant experience for your teacher/mentor. When possible add in a small bonus, like a $5.00 coffee shop gift card. It doesn't take much, but those little things will keep your mentor in a "happy zone" which will benefit you maximally. Most mentors will do this, just because they want to help. But, in doing the little things, it will be understood you are not taking advaneforum.xxxe. This is just my opinion, others may have differing ones.

An example of how your e-mail plans can look:

• March 2010 - legs. I would like to learn how to work with shin-splints if you have any techniques that you could teach me. I would also like to learn how to work the lateral borders of the tibia with ease of movement and enough pressure to release the restricted areas.
  
  
• April - legs and feet. I would like to learn how to work the great toe and the spring ligamanent - or at least find a way to work in these areas for at least 15 mins. of a massage. I would like to go over some techniques for the TFL.
  
  
• May - legs, feet and glutes. Could you show me some more techniques for the feet and anterior legs, including the sartorius? I was wondering if we could also go over some gluteal work and sacro-iliac work.

etc, etc, etc.

 

[May Contain Nuts]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

This website out of England may be useful for you to look over... they have some general concepts written in an easy to read format.



These DVD's by Art Riggs may also be useful. There is also a book for the DVD series that you can purchase separately.

I read the reviews on the book and DVD's and one states the DVD's are helpful for newer therapists. So, it may also be worth it to look into these. I have never seen the DVD's, so I can't say for sure.


02/25/10 - edited for a typo

 

[gottcha]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

Here's a little forum that may also be of help. There are multiple pages, so it may be useful to look through each page to see if anything can help you.

Massage and Bodywork Professionals... a community of practitioners
-->Groups
------>Sports Massage /Created by Earl Wenk

http://www.massageprofessionals.com/group/sportsmassage?groupUrl=sportsmassage&xg_source=activity&id=2887274%3AGroup%3A16587&page=1#comments

 

[Shirley]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

And, since I have never "done" an actual triathlon, and am not sure if you have or not, it looks like this may be a pretty decent book to give you an idea of how an ameteur would goes about training.

http://www.amazon.com/Triathlon-Training-Four-Hours-Week/dp/1579547486

BTW, I have a client who is a tri-athlete. I'll see if he can give me a heads up on any other books that would be helpful. I guess the main thing would be to let us know how much you know about triathelons. Maybe you are well versed in this and don't need any books. And, if you are well versed in them, and know good books, please add them to this thread, as it may help someone else out in the future.



02/25/10 - edited for a typo.

 

[wanttoknowbasis]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

pueppi, thanks a lot for the advice and resources. the mentor idea sounds great, too.

i know that triatheltes swim, run, and bike. thats about it!

 

[chzbrgr]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

pueppi, thanks a lot for the advice and resources. the mentor idea sounds great, too.

i know that triatheltes swim, run, and bike. thats about it!

So, I'll call a few people and see if there is a book that they recommend for "beginners". You will need to read up on the sport in order to understand better what is happening with your clients (and so you can talk shop with them too!). I'll try to get any recommendations by the end of next week.

 

[tosh2790]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

I just want to say thank you to pueppi for the replies to this thread. I'm not the original poster, but the info you put out here, the process you've shown to go about looking into something in more detail is, for me, inspiring and very helpful. You rock!

 

[Sybil]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

I just want to say thank you to pueppi for the replies to this thread. I'm not the original poster, but the info you put out here, the process you've shown to go about looking into something in more detail is, for me, inspiring and very helpful. You rock!

Thanks, eyesofblue! You're too kind!


I just came back here because I thought of something else that may be useful: My tri-athlete mainly has neck and upper back issues, believe it or not.

My runners usually have all over issues, with an emphasis on hams, glutes and low back work. Many times neck issue are there, but the clients don't "notice" them. Sometimes I find some moderate quad issues.

There is a nifty little tool that one of my runners uses for her calves on a regular basis. She calls it a "roller". I think it is wooden. I haven't seen it yet.

My swimmers usually have upper back and lat issues. Many times I have to get under the axilla to get in there better.

I don't have anyone who is a specific bicyclist.


I will tell you that these types of athletes have always been a real charm in my office. A funny story: one of my runners recently bit the dust with a faceplant on the road (asphalt) and had to somehow navigate back home a few miles. This is how dedicated she is to massage... (and I can tell you, I wouldn't have come to see me!) ... she made it in for her massage hours later and was still mildly bleeding! Small amounts of bleeding in her palms where the grit and gravel had sunk in, and she had a mangled area around one eye. But, dedicated she was! Looked like she'd been beaten, but had to have that massage. Boy did I feel special! t050

And, the other runners I've worked with have been the same. Very dedicated individuals. Love their bodywork! It's usually a great group of clients.

 

[all right giggity giggity]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

There is a nifty little tool that one of my runners uses for her calves on a regular basis. She calls it a "roller". I think it is wooden. I haven't seen it yet.

Perhaps it's a NolaRola?
http://www.nolarola.com/

 

[seahorse02]

New therapist starting first job - Seeking advice

Hey Anthony
I work in ontario, and i specialize in working with athletes/triathletes, over the last two years i took the 3 ART courses, volunteered at 2 ironman triathlons and even won a qualifying spot from Dr Leahy of ART to compete in the ironman world championships in kona hawaii, this was my 3rd of 4 ironmans.
When working with any athlete, knowing the sport and knowing the kinesiology of the sport/movement will be a huge help, sign up for a triathlon training camp or program to know more about the sport, read several books about triathlon, visit several sites including slowtwitch.com etc, volunteer to do free massages at several local fun runs(this way you will get to know the running sport), same with a local cycling club and swim club, not only will you know more about the individual sports but you will become "the goto guy", sign up for some specialized technique courses as money and time become available, invest in your futre, the art courses rock and triathletes know it.

i will send you my number, and will give you some help, check my site http://www.balancedlivingwellness.com

Brian