Finally, you've managed to find a few licensed massage therapists who seem like they'll suit your needs, but who do you choose? It can be hard to tell, so I have some suggestions that can make your choice a little easier.


1) Even though you will probably speak to a receptionist, especially at a larger clinic, it is within your right to ask to speak with the therapist. I say this because a massage therapist should be more than happy to answer any questions you have about treatment. The willingness of a therapist to speak with you is a great indication of his or her receptiveness to you, and you can often tell from speaking with your therapist if you're going to have a good therapeutic relationship. If a therapist is not willing to speak to you before your first massage treatment, then you should look elsewhere for someone who is willing to address your concerns.

Mention that you haven't had a massage before, but (for example) you've been having back pain. A good therapist will recognize his or her limitations, and in keeping with their professional duty, should ask if you've seen your physician or if you've suffered an injury. They may suggest you see your physician or another health professional before booking an appointment. This is a great indication that a massage therapist is professional and is looking out for your best interest.

The therapist should also give you a brief rundown of what to expect during your first massage therapy treatment, as well as telling you how much the treatment costs, how long the appointment is and be willing to answer any other questions you might have.


2) You've booked the appointment, so that's perfect. Everything is moving along just fine, and you have shown up early to fill out your health history form (at the therapist's request). Now is a great time to see how professional the set up really is.

Do you have a feeling of comfort, are you greeted by a receptionist or other staff? While the quality of the massage therapy treatment you're about to receive is not correlated to the front office ambiance, I personally like to go in and see a friendly face, maybe have a sip of water, use the washroom and have a look around. At the very least, at a small clinic with no front office staff, there should be comfortable seating, access to a washroom, reading material, a sign indicating that the therapist will be with you shortly. I am also impressed by a clean front office, because in my mind, it indicates that the equipment will be clean and in good repair.  (I'm all about safety and good hygiene)


3) You meet your massage therapist. What is your initial impression? Even in very busy clinics your therapist should make eye contact with you, greet you with a smile (even if they can't remember your name right away, and this does happen, we're only human) and possibly a hand shake.

How does your therapist look? While wearing expensive clothing is not a wise idea when you're a massage therapist, your therapist should look neat, clean, and like he or she has had a shower that day. Clothing should be clean and conservative (read: no cleavage showing) and no jewelry on the arms and hands (this is for hygiene purposes).


4) In the massage treatment room there should be no 'stuff' on the floors - everything should be clean, neat and tidy. Look for a place to hang your coat, and have a seat, get ready for the health history intake.


5) Your therapist should ask you the reason for your visit, are you looking for a specific treatment, or do you just want relaxation? Your answer is going to determine the types of questions that follow, so just a general note - your massage therapist is going to need to know about any diagnoses that you have had, especially conditions that are currently affecting you (pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, stroke), as well as any history of accidents, slips, falls, allergies, surgeries, illnesses etc.


6) Based on your health history, your therapist may need to do some orthopedic assessment or testing before beginning your massage therapy treatment. The purpose of both the history and testing are to ensure that your therapist has an accurate idea of the source of your pain to formulate a clinical impression.

Please note: It is not within the massage therapy scope of practice to diagnose a condition. What we are permitted to do as therapists is to formulate an opinion, or clinical impression, on the cause of your condition, the contributing factors etc. Any massage therapist who provides you with a diagnosis is not working within his or her scope of practice and is overstepping professional qualifications.

Your therapist should advise you before your assessment, and later treatment, that you have the right to stop or alter the procedure at any time. He or she should also indicate that assessment and treatment may aggravate symptoms and risk causing discomfort during or after the visit.  You should be encouraged to provide feedback concerning your discomfort levels.  This is all covered in what is known as informed verbal consent.


7) Your therapist has told you how to get on the table, and has left the room so you can undress in privacy. Are the sheets clean? This is a huge deal, and as a massage therapist, I would not get on the table if the sheets were obviously dirty (however, with the use of gels and oils, some minor staining is not unheard of).

Keep in mind that not only is it unprofessional to use unclean linens, it is also unhygienic and can spread disease. Ick!  Also, just another reminder, it is ALWAYS within your right to stop or modify a treatment or the techniques being used at any point during the treatment. If anything is happening that makes you uncomfortable, you need to speak up. As a massage therapist, I would like to assure you that your therapist should be more than willing to accommodate your request, and a professional will not be offended if this is your decision.


Everything is just great, looks clean, so you get on the table. Your therapist should come back within 5 minutes to begin the treatment, knocking on the door before entering. The treatment begins ....

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