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STEREOTYPES
Public perception of massage therapy is still often confused and clouded with stereotypes.
- Helga the Russian massage therapist who cracks her patients bones.
- On "Friends", Phoebe is a ditzy flower child who bites her patients on the butt.
- On "Six Feet Under", a massage therapist performs sexual acts on a patient, and is then paid extra.
Western culture sees touch as a prelude to sexual activity. Most people avoid any kind of casual touch, such as a hug, because they see it as immoral. Many other cultures are more open about platonic and casual touch.
Health care professionals such as Psychiatrists, Doctors, and Nurses have always struggled with similar issues. Many people confuse working closely in a therapeutic environment with intimacy and sexual contact.
Massage is the oldest type of physical treatment. It has been used from the dawn of humanity to treat many sources of discomfort in the body and mind.
From infancy, mothers instinctively massage babies. Massaging premature infants helps boost their immune systems and they gain weight much quicker. We use touch to comfort and support each other.
Non-sexual touch is a vital and necessary part of our lives. People who are starved for touch, such as the elderly, suffer more physical and mental stress than those who are touched regularly.
Withholding touch is damaging to the human body and mind. What is the worst punishment we can suffer short of the death penalty? Solitary confinement.
We are touch starved in our society. Unfortunately, many people who would benefit from and enjoy massage don't receive it. Many people are unable to separate healthy touch from sexual activity.
Male therapists have many potential patients who assume that they are predators. Many patients would never work with a male therapist under any circumstances.
Patients are often told by their partners that they are not allowed to work with a therapist of the opposite sex.
- Imagine getting fired from your job because you're female
- How about refusing to get your car repaired because the mechanic is male
- What if your partner said that you couldn't shop at a store where anyone of the opposite sex worked
Healthy boundaries are how we interact with others in our personal and professional lives. We try not to be overly sensitive, at the same time we don't want people to walk all over us.
Clear goals are important for any professional relationship. We should never hand our car over to a mechanic, or our body over to a doctor without a clear statement of what we expect from them.
LMT's are trained to work with safe, healthy boundaries, and to deal with issues of intimacy. We must find a balance between being caring and being clinical.
Massage can greatly help someone who's dealing with an uncomfortable body image. Almost everyone's body image is negative in some way, and unfortunately this can alienate them from their own body.
An important lesson in massage school is the therapists personal experience dealing with their own body image and intimacy issues.
Your therapist will understand any misgivings or concerns you have, because they've probably had the same experience.
Trust is earned, and patients and therapists work together to make the therapy comfortable and safe. A first time patient may choose not to undress, but work in shorts and a T-shirt.
Patient's can choose if there are some areas of the body that they don't want worked on. Some patients are uncomfortable with abdominal work, with others it's the shoulders or glutes.
The comfort of the patient is the first priority, and your therapist should always communicate with you before and during the session.
Working too deeply, and leaving the session feeling sore and uncomfortable is a common concern. Your therapist will keep checking in about the pressure and if any areas are tender.
Each patient's experience with massage is different. Some have received massage for years, and swear by it. Some had a disappointing experience, and would like to try again with a different therapist.
We need your feedback to let us better serve our patients in the future. Do you feel that the treatment was effective? Did the therapist listen to your concerns? Could your massage have been improved with something as simple as an extra pillow, or having the room a little warmer?
Talk about your experience with massage with your therapist, friends, family, and co-workers. It's the only way we will break through the stereotypes, and have people realize the value of massage as a medical treatment.