Private Practice Massage Therapist Job

A private practice massage therapist job could be in the therapist's home office or a rented office space. The office space might be in a massage clinic, doctor's office, health club, or a hospital.

Therapists may choose to open a private practice office and be self-employed after several years of working in a spa and/or working for someone else.

If you choose to see a massage therapist in a private practice, these are a few things to expect:

• A more relaxed atmosphere - sometimes a spa can feel a little "uppity" and may make you feel very uncomfortable, especially if you are hesitant anyway

• An experienced therapist - often the therapist has already worked for someone else for a few years

• A warm greeting by the therapist and talking in-depth before the session - sometimes spa therapists are too busy to talk about your health issues and why you are seeking massage services

• A very quiet environment - sometimes a spa or salon can be loud, especially on a busy Saturday

Private practice can be a little intimidating. Walking into someone's home that you have never met before, or going into a office for the first time can feel strange, as most people hate going to the doctor anyway.

You may have questions like:

• This is my first massage, what will it be like?

• What types of massage should I ask about?

• How do I find a massage therapist that is licensed/certified in private practice and what questions should I ask?

• Will the therapist push me to by products to use at home? (This does not usually happen in a private practice.)

• Are massage tips expected in private practice?

Although the therapist often makes more money in a private practice massage therapist job, you the client, should not expect to pay anymore than you would at a spa, in fact, it may be much less. Spas are not only charging for the cost of the therapist, but for the environment and spa atmosphere.

Health clubs usually have special massage therapy/spa prices for members, and then a higher price for non-members. Often services are limited at health clubs, as most clubs cater to members who often need deep tissue or sports massage.

This book, The Business of Massage Therapy: Building a Successful Career teaches the therapist about how to choose a massage job, but also how to choose a job based on what career path in massage therapy is most appealing to you.

Private practice massage therapist jobs are appealing to many because they offer the freedom to be your own boss, but you also must learn how to prepare for a life-long career in massage, and how to deal with the busy and slow times.

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