trigger point question

[God answers all questions]

Do I need to take a certification class (CEU) to advertise that I perform trigger point therapy?

 

[ELF]

In general, it isn't prudent to advertise that we are offering something we have never been formally trained and certified in. If someone were to be injured during a session with you and have interest in suing, they would have a great case against you, being that you never were certified in that modality.

 

[chrissygirl]

it isn't prudent to advertise that we are offering something we have never been formally trained and certified in.

It seems everybody and their dog offers "certification" for something. You can be "certified" in fibromyalgia by taking a two hour home study course. There currently is no regulation, at least in the US, on what substantiates certification. There are organizations who are trying to change that and require some type of uniform certification standards. In the meantime, if you are properly licensed and insured to practice massage therapy, and you feel you have been properly trained to practice certain techniques that fall within your scope of practice, such as trigger point therapy, I don't see how that would be a problem. If that were the case, then there are many national trainers who would be in a heap of trouble because they haven't been "certified".

I listened to a speech once by Randolph Stone who joked about how he was never certified in Polarity. (He was the developer of Polarity Therapy)

 

[CourtStar94]

I do see where you are coming from, Samantha but you'll note that I did specify 'formally trained in'.

In California, the schools I have gone to it has always been stressed that it is illegal to advertise services that you were not properly trained in and don't currently hold a certification for.

That's all I know

 

[Twinklestar]

you feel you have been properly trained to practice certain techniques

I think this is the key. Have you been properly trained? For example, I have been taught several postitional release techniques by a co-worker who is certified. I understand the underlying theories behind the work and feel competent in the techniques she taught me. However, I would never advertise that I do postional release. I use these techniques on my clients and if they ask what I'm doing I say "positional release" but I wouldn't specifically promote myself as someone who does that particular modality.

If you're performing neuromuscular, then I'm assuming you've been taught how to do it. Perhaps this was taught to you in school but they didn't "certify" (meaning give you a piece of paper) you in it. In that case you could still prove that you're compentent and have received proper instruction by pointing to the schools curriculum.

Hope this helps,
Angie

 

[Patrick D]

Moogie303, you've expressed my sentiments exactly

 

[CoNvErSe aDdIcT]

I ttok the entire continuing ed course for NMT at my old school.
The last day and the final exam, I was becomming a GRANDMA....missed it and never returned.
Do I know NMT, yes, Do I use it, all the time.
Yes, it's written on any ads I write.

Robyn

PS
Never went the next "term" to " make up" the work/exam.
I was working fulltime and doing massage AND loving a nerw granddaughter AND helping mhy mother after a total knee replacement...nope, not a priority for me.
Now, if it was for licensure, then I would have to sit for the exam again....but it's not, so I didn't.

 

[Iko C]

I ttok the entire continuing ed course for NMT at my old school.

You may not have the piece of paper that says you're "certified" but you did take the training. If necessary you can prove that you were trained. That's the important part.

Angie

 

[rabbit lover]

In California, the schools I have gone to it has always been stressed that it is illegal to advertise services that you were not properly trained in and don't currently hold a certification for

IntuitiveHealers, I applaud your cautious view. If we were to be mistaken, to err on the side of caution is the better place to be. If I were looking to hire a therapist, I'd hire you before I'd hire someone who thinks they know everything.

Actually, I think your instructors were mistaken about the "certification" issue for your state, especially with California having fewer regulations regarding the practice of massage therapy than most states. I'd be very interested in seeing any such regulation in California that doesn't permit advertising services provided by a massage therapist if the MT doesn't have a piece of paper saying that they are "certified" in that particular technique, as long as they are properly licensed, are operating within their scope of practice as defined by the governing agency where they live, and can demonstrate, if required, that they do know what they are advertising to know.

Case in point: Some of the many continuing education courses I have taken are Upledger's CranioSacral seminars. After taking CranioSacral level 1 (24 CE hours), they provided us with a sample press release to send to the newspapers. Our instructor discussed various marketing techniques. So, across the US, therapists are permitted after a level one workshop, to begin to advertise their CST services. However, you cannot advertise you are certified. I am working towards Upledger certification in CST. According to my estimates, by the time I achieve advanced certification (Diplomate Certification), I will have logged approximately 1000 hours between in-class training, practice, study groups, essay exams, writtin exams and pratical exams.

I can advertise that I do CranioSacral work. I just can't advertise that I'm certified, until I actually am certified. Of course, there are some people who offer a weekend cranial sacral certification course (or worse yet, a homestudy course); which emphasizes why having a certificate may or may not mean a thing. There is no currently no acceptable standard in our country for what constitutes adequate levels of certification.

Also, I've been involved in the accreditation process and being affiliated with administrators of massage schools across the country. Believe me, there are many teachers that have no certification in some of the modalities they teach. The accredication agencies don't necessarily require that teachers have certifications in the modalities they teach. It helps to have certification. But they also ask what other evidence of training a teacher may have, which includes self-study (they do value the study and learning you do on your own). Most of all, they want to know if teachers can demonstrate their knowledge of the subject matter (if required).

 

[ladystang]

You may not have the piece of paper that says you're "certified" but you did take the training. If necessary you can prove that you were trained. That's the important part.

I second that, Moogie.

-Samantha

 

[Black orchid]

The school issue is one bug grey area, IMO. I have actually been offered jobs at schols where they asked me to teach modalities I was not trained (or certified) in and I refused. Now, if they had asked me to do something I was not 'certified' in but had professional training and experience, that would have been different.

I have been explicitly told at 4 different massage schools, that if it's not on your transcript (showing you have been trained and/or 'certified' in that modality and could therefore safely perform it) you can't legally advertise it because if a client were to be injured it would be considered an 'experimental' technique or outside your training and scope of practice.

I'm not caught up in that little piece of paper myself...I am very aware of how easy it is to be 'certified' in any number of things. Heck, I could print up a lovely 'certification' for anyone I wanted to and say that they were now 'certified' in anything I chose to name!

I relate to the Upledger issue...I have recieved certificates in Matrix Energetics but am not up to the 'certified' level so can I call myself a Matrix Energetics practitioner? I am...but can I say I am in advertisements?

I do think that to advertise (in essence, represent themselves as an ambassador for that modality or technique) a person should have some formal, professional training and a great deal of experience and tht is the most important thing.

I guess when it comes down to it, most of us agree on the basics- don't advertise or offer services you aren't able to safely and professionally perform, based on training, experience and ability.

 

[Jay B]

Heck, I could print up a lovely 'certification' for anyone I wanted to and say that they were now 'certified' in anything I chose to name!

How right you are, IntuitiveHealers. If someone claimed to be certified in a particular modality, I would want to know either who certified them and what the qualifications were to become certified. Makes a huge difference.

I relate to the Upledger issue...I have recieved certificates in Matrix Energetics but am not up to the 'certified' level so can I call myself a Matrix Energetics practitioner? I am...but can I say I am in advertisements?

I agree with you here, too. I have received a lot of training in CranioSacral Therapy, Lymph Drainage, Sports massage, Shiatsu, etc. I can advertise that I offer those services, and I do. At the end of each seminar, the instructor provided us with marketing suggestions. I do not, however, call myself a CranioSacral Practitioner. I suppose I could. But that might also imply that I am certified. Which I am not, yet, even after several hundred hours of training, practice, etc.

I guess when it comes down to it, most of us agree on the basics- don't advertise or offer services you aren't able to safely and professionally perform, based on training, experience and ability.

Nice way to sum up the answer to the original question posted on this thread.

 

[The_Living_End]

trigger point

wow, seems as though I struck a nerve. I agree with everyone's point. While in school I was too told that I couldnt advertise that I was certified in something unless I took a certification course. So when graduated I was certified in Swedish, DT, and joint movement.. I learned a little about C.S, lymph drainage, NMT, PNF you name it but the certification sentence stcuk in my head..
I want to take a medical massage course, because that is how I prefer to work. So again, I have to spend more money to say I am "Certified" but I do that work now and cant say that I am CERTIFIED... racket if you ask me.

 

[colts lover]

How often to massage therapists get sued in the US?

 

[AsUwish]

How often to massage therapists get sued in the US?

Not often. But I think the more important issue (and one which other posters have stated in different ways) is not about getting sued, but about the ethics of stating our qualifications, and performing modalities that we are trained in (certification or not).

Yes, you can get "certified" in practically anything with a weekend course or two, but that does not necessarily equate to proficiency.

BTW, IntuitiveHealers, could you print me up a couple of certs- I could stand to add some fuel to my ads.