Professional Massage Therapy

Professional Massage Therapy

Professional Massage Therapy

Do you know what the difference is between the terms Masseuse (or Masseur) and Massage Therapist is? Well those of you who live in the Denver metro area and are familiar with Colfax Avenue (the seedy part of Denver) and what it is famous for ("street walkers") will know what the term "Masseuse" is. "I" am a "Registered Massage Therapist", registered by the State of Colorado, Division of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), the same Agency who registers other professions (from Accountants to Social Workers) in Colorado. You can see if a Massage Therapist is registered to practice in Colorado by going to the DORA site (http://www.dora.state.co.us/registrations/Professions.htm). In states which regulate massage therapy, therapists are required to prove possession of liability insurance, through one of the main associations (e.g., ABMP and AMTA).

I take great pride and diligence in having a high standard of ethics and professionalism in my profession. Standards of practice cover how the massage therapist must act during a session and with regard to any information the client may provide. Ethics and Standards of Practice are established by the two main associations, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). Potential clients who choose to ignore these ethics will be encouraged to seek "massage" somewhere else.

This mistake in nomenclature is something that many massage therapists have had to deal with. I often have to explain this very thing to many people who are new to the world of therapeutic, professional massage therapy. While it no longer offends me (much)I choose to have fun with explaining the difference by using the description above. It is often a source of enjoyment for me when I ask the question "do you know what Colfax is famous for?" Then watching when the light bulb of realization hits them. "That, "I say "is a masseuse. I am a massage therapist. Sorry I do not offer "happy endings"."

Those who have had a professional massage therapy session can readily explain the difference in touch. While safety (for both the client and the therapist) and the comfort of the client are of the utmost importance to me, there is no mistaking professional massage as anything other than that. Professional massage therapists are required to follow guidelines during the massage (such as proper draping) and keep confidential complete history of all clients. This history helps the massage therapist ensure that the massage will not make a client's condition worse or aggravate a condition. If the massage therapist accepts insurance, this history is also required by the insurance company to ensure that services provided are necessary.

Massage therapy is no longer just a luxury; research has shown massage can alleviate pain and reduce symptoms of disease. Massage therapy can help reduce the pain from recent surgery, disease or injury. It can also help alleviate stress. Stress has been shown to affect many diseases, from hypertension to arthritis. So stop putting off the body work that you know you need. Your body, mind and spirit will thank you.

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