Massage Therapy for Companions & Personal Care Providers

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Ask questions, be sincere, and keep showing up with your whole self.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. If I were a customer, I wish I knew how many ailments massage can help to ease. Massage can make changes in the body down to the cellular level. I think more people should know and understand what a powerful healing tool massage is.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. You should know that massage is a therapeutic treatment, and that massage therapists are licensed health-care providers in the state of Maryland.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I am a Maryland-licensed and nationally certified therapist. I specialize in relaxation work, and my focus is on helping people let go of the pain that they hold between themselves and their joy.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I like helping people to feel freer both physically and emotionally, and facilitating a process that helps people to see more possibilities.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. People commonly ask what to remove during a massage, or wonder whether they have to be nude. I tell them that they should expect to disrobe to their point of comfort --some people remove all of their clothing, while others remove only one item--and that they will be fully covered at all times, with the exception of the area where I am working. In this way, their modesty will be fully preserved.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. Massage is for almost everyone--there are some health conditions that don't go well with massage, so not everyone should have it.

I particularly enjoy working with clients who are feeling out of touch with their bodies, whether that's due to issues of self-esteem, because their bodies are changing, or because they work in professions that require them to disconnect mind and body.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I had a neighbor who was a Reiki practitioner, and she used to give me treatments. One day, she suggested that I go for training. I did, and I found that the experience was intensely spiritual. I was hooked. From there, it was a short step to massage therapy.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. Yes! I have taken quite a bit of continuing education.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. My basic massage fee schedule is fairly straightforward. I do offer value packages, which offers a discount for a bundle of three or more services.

I offer intuitive consultation, starting at $25. The price increases $25 for every 15-minute span.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Think about the kind of experience you'd like to have, and then start interviewing massage schools. Ask them if you can talk to recent graduates, as well. That should give you a well-rounded picture of the institution.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. How often should people have massage?

Generally speaking: more massage is better! Barring certain medical conditions, massage is good to you and good for you. Have massage as often as it makes sense to do so, and you can afford it. Consider having a massage twice a month. You can always try it, and see how it impacts the way you think and feel.