Find Your Ideal Massage Match: Tips for Selecting the Right Therapist
You’ve been thinking about booking a massage for a while now. Your friends and family have raved about the way it feels and the results they have gotten. But you’re still not sure you’d be comfortable receiving. Getting any sort of bodywork whether it be a massage or going to the doctor, is a vulnerable act that requires trust. Feeling safe and being able to trust the person who will be working with and touching your body is vital. Here are some things you can do to match with a professional that meets your needs.
Every licensed massage therapist has their own specialty or type of bodywork that they enjoy providing. Some thrive on relaxation, others love the energetics, some really enjoy working on a “problem.”
Asking questions of your therapist prior to booking an appointment will help you have a better session. The dialogue before your massage can help you begin to relax before you even get on the table.
I’m speaking from experience here. I’ve been a massage therapist for 11 years and nothing is more satisfying than matching my style of therapy to a new client’s needs.
I ask questions about what the person is looking for, the type of pressure they prefer, areas to concentrate on, or areas to avoid. My favorite question is asking, “What do you want to feel like when you get off the table?” Most folks start off with the standard reply of, “Relaxed,” but me being me, my Scoprio-ness wants more. So I’ll ask follow up questions like, “Do you want to feel like a cloud, or melted butter? Do you want to feel energized and loose or do you want to feel like taking a nap afterwards?” My favorite reply of all time from a client was, “I want to feel like a smooth white pebble.” That ment they wanted to feel clean, fresh, new and without life sticking to them like they felt when they walked in. At the end of the session she did feel like that smooth white pebble and it was a fun session for me to do.
Some sessions have been a mismatch for my style and strengths.One was the 90 minute hot stone massage that only wanted work on the back. Or the 90 minute relaxation massage with nothing else to focus on. Another challenge to accommodate are folks who want a full body massage but have a couple of areas they want attention to but they only booked 60 minutes. That would mean we’d have to skip some of the full body area in favor of the areas of focus. These are examples of why an intro conversation prior to booking would help you get the best session that fits your needs and my capacities.
My favorite types of bodywork to give are myofascial release, a session with a couple of focus areas, or a mix of focus and relaxation.
Another thing that makes my sessions enjoyable for me are folks that can communicate honestly. One time when I returned from washing my hands I was surprised to see the client fully clothed under the sheet. We had discussed that they had wanted a full body massage so I was confused. I asked them about it. Turns out they were not comfortable with skin contact. To accommodate this I did a more compression type massage and did glides over the clothing. If the client had been able to explain their needs more clearly to me during our chat it would have been a smoother experience.
I am a therapist that likes to work with my client. I am not a therapist that “knows” what the client needs just by doing a single touch. It helps us both if you are able to provide a starting point. That way we are working as partners. There have been times where clients have said, “Do what you want” and I’d want to say jokingly, “Ok, you take a nap on the table. I’ll go sit for an hour and wake you when your time is up.” This can be a valuable and safe place to practice asking for what you want, since it can be a challenge if you are not used to that. That’s what I’m here for!
Oh, and if you ever receive a gift certificate for bodywork and you didn’t actually want to get bodywork, don’t go to the appointment. Besides not being a good match for the type of bodywork a client wants to receive, there is nothing worse than providing a massage to someone who doesn't want one.
Great, that’s what I like but how does this help you with your therapist?
When you go to book your next appointment, ask some questions. If you can talk to the therapist directly, ask them what they specialize in and maybe even why they specialize in that technique or type of bodywork. Give them some information about what you are looking to accomplish in your session and ask if that is something they are able and willing to deliver.
If the therapist is vague about what they like, keep pressing. Sometimes therapists will work in ways they are not suited because we all need to eat. But if you aren’t liking what you are hearing, do yourself a favor and find a different therapist to work with.
Another thing, you, the client are in charge of the session. You have come to the therapist for a specific reason. If at any time you feel like your needs are not being met, or that the therapist is not listening to your feedback, you can tell them to stop. Some good phrases are “a little less please” if the pressure is too much or “ a little deeper there would be nice”. A good therapist will ask you along the way about pressure or just check in with you. If you are not enjoying what you are receiving it is your responsibility to speak up, trust me, we prefer if you tell us in the moment rather than being dissatisfied afterwards . When you ask for different pressure, you should have your request met. (Although I will say that if you are asking for a lot of pressure and you aren’t “feeling it” your tissues may not be allowing you to notice the therapists’ attempts. There have been several folks that I have worked on that asked for a lot of pressure and I’d give it all I had but their tissues were too resistant to feel my efforts.)
With any profession where you are trusting your physical well-being to another, pay attention to your intuition.
If you ever feel uncomfortable, for any reason, end the session.
Do not allow anyone to touch you in ways to which you did not consent. If something like that happens in your session, report it. Report it to law enforcement and the massage licensing board of your state. This also brings up that whatever therapist you visit, make sure they are licensed in your state to do the work they are providing.
Clear communication is a key to receiving excellent bodywork. Ask your therapist questions, be clear about what you want to receive and be willing to speak up for yourself during the session as well. Many folks don’t feel comfortable speaking up and think “well they are the professional, they must know what they are doing” and then leave dissatisfied. Clear communication makes our jobs as therapists and your outcome better too. Most of us enjoy our work and take pride in having clients who are delighted by our service. Ask your therapist what type of work they love doing, and ask for recommendations for other therapists if your needs and the therapist's talents don’t match up.
Now that you’ve discovered how to properly interview and communicate with a new- to- you massage therapist, ask for what you want in a session and collaborate with said therapist, you are ready to enjoy quality bodywork that fits your needs and has the best outcome for both parties. I encourage you to reach out to me directly or via Full Circle Wellness to have a conversation and see if we are a good fit to work together! Looking forward to meeting you.
