Professional Massage Therapist

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Injuries such as motor vehicle accidents, on the job, sports and other personal injuries, repetitive strains disorders (people that task with a function they preform over and over).

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

A. Look for referrals, recommendations, education and experience. If you have a specific need or condition make sure you find a therapist who can treat you effectively.

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

A. Not all massage therapist have the same training,speciality or qualifications. Seek out a massage therapist whom meets the quality of care and specific conditions you wish to treat.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. Seek out someone with a good reputation, eirther by asking around (word of month) with someone who had a good experience or by looking up reviews on the internet. I would also ask for and "interview". Even if it is a doctor. Every person has the right to decide what kind of care or service they deserve.

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

A. Knowing and having a current and accurate diagnosis is helpful to get the most benefit from receiving care. A lot of dysfunctions and conditions can mask one another. You may have one problem brought on by another condition, as in the example of a secondary condition. Referred pain and compensation( whereas one region may be working harder or differently to compensate for the original injury) may be present.

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

A. I have advanced clinical experience and training since 1987. I work at a professional level in my field; full time. I have advanced certification in myofascial release therapy,a masters in metaphysics and am a certified life coach in addition to being a licensed massage practitioner. I come highly recommended and referred by the community and the health care industry. I am a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association. I work at a medical capacity in treating dyfunctions and conditions that others have failed to acheive results.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. The challenge of finding the "missing link". This link can be the resolving of a issue by knowing to ask the right questions as in a discovery. Most perople have the answers even though they may be buried.

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

A. How is my care different than others in my field?

I have achieved better lasting results in resolving medical conditions with advanced skill and knowledge. I work effectively treating the problems and not just the symptoms. The technique I use is not simply a technique but a way in which I sculpture the tissue with manual therapy and movement which engages a holistic model beyond the physical aspect of health.

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

A. Massage therapy is not just for relaxation and a "feel good" spa treatment, but has vast health and medical benefits which is a part of the balance in the restoration and prevention of health. Massage therapy is not just confined to treating the back and the neck, but to other regions of the body where there is dysfunction, pain and other conditions or injuries that may arise in the course of life,age and activity. Where there is movement their is the capacity of injury as well as change in working within this system; the muscular system.

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

A. To challenge myself and others. To allow the ability to have others to explore the possiblities outside of the confines of limeted thinking. I find most people allow themselves to be more open when faced with "challenges" in thier life. It is the ability to find greater meaning and depth in life. I create the openness and optimism to allow for this in my life and within the space around me.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I worked with a young boy, who shall be nameless, whom has autism. I came in with his mother who said he was having difficulty with pain in his neck. After an intake an assessment I worked with him, to discover he was able to exchange words with me and communicate. He said he trusted me and felt comfortable with me. On his second therapy visit I determined after question him more , that the source of his neck pain was anger and frustration, generally speaking. I asked him what did he do when he felt angry. He replied he squeezed his toy stuffed dog, calling him by name. I told him on the next visit to bring in the dog. He did and I taught him several techniques having him demonstrate with the dog where he understood the reasoning behind using the dog as a medium for his frustration was indeed a great tool, but that he didn't need to hold tension in his body by releasing it in the toy. The next step was to allow him to hold the toy dog without putting tension in the dog or his own body. After that third visit he had one follow up several weeks later and had not been back since. He found a new way of using self expression that no longer needed to be harmful to anyone or anything, as well as understanding his environment better. This was a very rewarding experience I had as a massage therapist in breaking through boundaries.

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

A. Continuing education is a requirement to have an "active" statis as a massage therapist in this state (Washington). Classes can vary from treating specific conditions, specific types of massage to personal health interests in the field. I also helps therapists to be more well rounded and keep up with the best and current standards.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. Personally I am always open to exploring ideas and paths of self discovery within myself, in which I feel also benefit my patients. Writing and teaching have been a passion of mine and I continue to evolve in these pursuits.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. Does insurance pay for your service?

Yes. It is not as simple as that though. Insurance companies vary on thier benefits. It is always adviced to check before starting care. A treatment plan and/or referral may be necessary from your health care provider before starting care to establish medical necessity. The provider also has to be contracted with that specific insurance. Although some provisions allow you to go outside of their contracted provider network for an additional fee.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. What creates "medical necessity" for massage therapy to be covered under insurance?

If their is a specific condition ,trauma, injury or disease process that has occured. It is defined as rehabilitative. Meaning there has to be a specific problem wrong that can be corrected my therapy that which was normally functioning prior to the result of the onset condition. Work injuries is covered under L&I, motor vehicle accident injuries are paid under PIP (the medical portion under your auto policy) and personal injuries which are paid out privately by the insured insurance company. Again, all benefits are subjected to provisions and benefits within the policy. It is best to varify these terms prior to starting massage therapy care.