How to Choose a Good Massage Therapist

Typically, when you decide to get a massage you have some idea as to why you're going. You may want to relieve stress, tension, pain, insomnia, depression or a variety of other problems. Deciding you need a massage therapist is the easy part, choosing one is often more difficult. The quest for a great massage therapist can be an expensive process if you don’t have a good plan. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Know What You Want
Get a clear picture of exactly what you’re looking for. Start with gender: do you prefer a male or female therapist? If you have strong feelings about the gender issue, be honest! Don’t make an appointment if you’ll be uncomfortable with a man/woman touching you, no matter how good the therapist’s qualifications are.

There are many, many types of massage techniques out there.  Do you want someone who does bone-scraping deep-tissue sculpting, or do you prefer someone more gentle with a passion for energy work? Do you like long, flowing, oily strokes or do you like being stretched out? Most commonly, a person is looking for either a relaxing massage, also known as a Swedish Massage, or they are looking for a therapeutic or Deep Tissue Massage.  What is the difference?  A Swedish massage will relax you and ease away stress, but typically doesn't focus on areas of chronic pain.  A Deep tissue massage on the other hand focuses on areas that are causes discomfort or pain for one reason or another.  Now that's not to say a deep tissue session can't be relaxing, but you will be less likely to get a nap in.  Most therapists can do both types of sessions, but some prefer or specialize in one or the other. 

.The therapist should be certified or licensed by the state in which they practice. Most states require licensing for practicing massage therapists. This ensures they have been professionally trained and can properly treat your needs. If certified, the therapist will have an abbreviated, professional designation that represents a basic level of training. Depending on the state, therapists will carry either a CMT (Certified Massage Therapist) or LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist) behind their name. Also look for a license or certificate in their office. Additional certifications might include: SMT (sports massage certified), NMT (neuromuscular certification), or NCMT (nationally certified massage therapist). When in doubt, ask the therapist what the letters mean. Check a license.

Is the therapist certified in any other modalities? Other modalities might include, reflexology, sports massage, infant massage, cranialsacral, lymphatic drainage or neuromuscular massage.  Another great resource for becoming more knowledgeable regarding massage therapy is on the Internet, at your local library, or one of the many massage schools around the country.

Ask for Referrals
If you’re not sure where to start on your quest, word of mouth is probably best when it comes to massage. Fancy advertising and sales-y receptionists aren’t going to give you the information you need to make an informed choice before you lay down your hard-earned bread. Ask your friends and your friends’ friends who their favorites are and enjoy the process. You may not hit the nail on the head with the first try, but hopefully you’ll at least get your money’s worth.

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