What are you doing? My therapist friend said that phrase in a tone of voice that implied I was sculpting a stone wheel from a boulder. I’m writing holiday cards to my clients, I replied. Ohh, no, no, no you will get carpal! she said. Let me show you my toys. Out whipped the tablet. … Continue reading Care and Greeting of Clients
Most job hunts for massage therapists starts with the cover letter email and attached resume. It’s the first introduction to a potential employer.Grab this opportunity to make a great impression!I have come up with some tips based on my experience interviewing and hiring therapists. These may seem elemental, but many people will be surprised how … Continue reading Jump Out of the Recycle Bin: Work-Finding Tips for Massage Therapists…
Recently a prospective client quizzed me on the phone about my massage therapy services. This is the type of call I used to be frustrated with – some people only ask about price and hang up. I’ve never found a great way to turn the price-callers into appointments – I try to get a … Continue reading Finding the Right Touch…
At a recent continuing education class, our instructor went around and asked us to introduce ourselves and talk about how we are doing with our massage therapy practices. Our first participant said she is doing a few house calls and working for a chiropractor two days a week. Her practice is slow. Renting … Continue reading Class Struggles
Massage therapists are not all alike when it comes to their understanding of how to build a practice. I have heard lots of explanations as to why bookings stay low, very few explanations of why they are full. How to develop a practice is an art just as much as massage. It requires some … Continue reading Practice Punts
Independent massage therapists (like myself) have a few extra duties to perform during the course of their careers. One of the least fun is leasing space. My first office was a pretty simple deal. I rented two days in another therapist’s office and we had a handshake deal. I paid once a month and kept … Continue reading Boundaries and the Fine Print
My client, a teacher-in-training, was astonished when her fellow students ignored her first practice teaching class. Her collegial group huddled over their laptops, tracking a package on UPS, reading e-mails, even one was applying to a competing college’s credential program. Her carefully crafted first lesson was treated like a slow fly on a hot day. … Continue reading Seven Secrets THEY Don’t Want You to Know
This is my edition of the B&M (B— & Moan) Club and it comes after interviewing therapists for employee jobs providing massage, and reading a recent findtouch blog about how not-fun it is to be interviewed for massage positions at chiropractic offices. True, I have sometimes felt disrespected during interviews when I was looking for … Continue reading Five Things I Wish Job Applicants Wouldn’t Do
I just do insurance massages, I don’t bill for them (thank the Gods). My wonderful boss is the one who walks the labyrinth on that one. So I was perplexed last week when a regular client came in feeling a touch irritated and betrayed about being billed for entire insurance sessions at the chiropractor’s office. … Continue reading Insurance Massage: What Makes a Session a Session?
Living life by a clock is not always easy. In fact, it can be quite difficult when you are a sensitive and caring massage therapist often dealing with clients suffering from stress and pain. But like all good things, a massage session must come to an end … preferably when the schedule says it should. … Continue reading Life By the Clock: Why Keeping Within Time Limits is Not Always a Bad Thing