Question for the LMTs and students out there

[Nancy U]

I'm going to be finished with school in about a month. I'm halfway through my clinicals.  I've been doing a lot of soul searching and thinking about the whole field of bodywork.  I suppose that is normal.  Everyone keeps asking me about where I'm going to work. Truth is, I don't know and I'm pretty certain I don't care to work in a spa setting.  I've talked with another therapist in the clinic and she said she knew what she would be doing from a very early age. I worry that I don't have the proper amount of empathy.  I worry that I'm not raring to go, that I don't know where I'm going with this.  It makes me wonder if I would want to do this if people weren't willing to pay $60/hour for the service.  Of course, would any of us be willing to do it for free.   How necessary is it to be thrilled to get up in the morning and go work on people?   But then I could just be contemplating my bellybutton too much.

 

[formerly_bob]

Question for the LMTs and students out there

Belly buttons should be contemplated and all lint removed.For a while now, you've been put through a lot of stress, long hours of study, and have placed demands on your body it wasn't used to. Your sense of floating could be associated with a toning down time. It could also mean that you're not to make a decision right now. Rest assured, however, that one or more paths will be presented to you; be receptive and open.As for bouncing up out of bed all ready to lay your healing hands on someone, I can only hope that that is how I will continue to feel about massage. Massage is not only a talent, but it is also a gift. Let your heart be open and allow what is to happen happen.

 

[Zane]

Thanks Gaspen.  Right now I can't really think beyond just getting my state boards out of the way and taking the summer off to be with my kids.  I'll probably try and get one or two clients a week just to keep my hands limbered up.  As you know, school can be intense, both emotionally and physically.  I'm just ready for some down time.  Time to sit and read my name (thanks India Arie). Process where I've been and where I'm going.  I want to sit in the sun and not think about anything.  I want to play with my boys without having to be anywhere or do anything.  This is my last summer with my 5 yr old before he starts school and I don't want to start a career until he starts school.   I'm just feeling selfish with my time and energy I guess.

 

[komets.geo]

FlyingHands,  I have a few clients and have been out of school for 6 months and 1 day, as of now.  By a few I mean a handful (not a multitude, but what I can handle for now), and I am checking into Chiropractors, have a spa in town in mind and have one Chiropractor that really wants me...After I am Licensed.  There is a Hospital that has a Pool of Therapists and it is near my wife's work and so I have SOOO many directions I could go too, as Gaspen has told you would happen.  Lord Willing, I may have a job with another Chiropractor that will take me on under their insurance before licensure.  As Gaspen has encouraged.....when the time is right it will be then that the opportunities will present themselves.....And then the task of what to choose, but that will, in its time, come into place.  I understand, as Gaspen has encouraged, You have been under many hours of study...you are a parent... as well you will have the right opportunity when the time is right!!! Keep Plodding Along, don't allow discouragement try to grip You and know that it will occur in the right timing.Sincerely,CaringHandsMss

 

[Trey]

Question for the LMTs and students out there

Dear flying hands,I graduated at the end of January, and while I have never thought that I knew everything, I was pretty confident that I didn't want to do a whole lot of treatment massage. I felt completely and totally not ready to do that. I was okay with that. I also looked forward to taking a bit of time off.I had one week. By the end of that week I found myself in a full time job working for an occupational therapist (not as an LMP, but as an OTA, working under her license.)I've been there since then, doing nothing but treatment work. It's manual bodywork. The same stuff I didn't feel ready to do. Today I saw eight clients. Tomorrow I have seven. Each one is there for pain management.I have learned SO MUCH! And probably the greatest lesson I learn everyday is that I have SO MUCH left to learn. Almost every day I think I need to have things planned out better in regards to my continuing education and my "plans for the future." I worry about whether I have enough training, enough empathy, enough desire, enough skill . . . but I keep showing up, and I love it. I love the very work that I dreaded in school.It's really scary to leave school and have the whole world out there with all of those options. But the truth is, graduating is just the beginning.Take your time off, take some deep breaths, get the licensing stuff out of the way and trust that the universe will provide what you need, just be open and available for it. There's a reason you are where you are right now. By the way, I didn't know where I was going to be either . . . and EVERYONE else in my class did. Interestingly, I am the FIRST one in my class to be working on bodies.Also, I had a talk with one of my instructors before graduating who told me she thought she would only do treatment work, she didn't like relaxation massage in school. One year out, she discovered that she really did like it and she actually prefers doing relaxation now.I guess what I am trying to say is that it is totally normal to be thinking about things, but truthfully, everything is so new, you still need to be open for things to change. Oh, and a coworker recently told me, when I thought I was "losing my empathy", she said, "then you will just have to find another way to relate to the person on the table." I found that reminder very helpful.Good luck to you! Enjoy your last few weeks in school.

 

[Stagnant Wishes]

"Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved."  I don't know who said that.  I read it on my aunt's wall when I was 14 and it has stayed with me ever since.  Live the mystery!  You don't have to know exactly what you want.  Sort things out and ask what you don't think you want to do and go for something other than that.  It's a good place to start.  Life will lay down an interesting road in front of you and if you are open to following a path, you will find something wonderful on the journey.I knew that I did not want to work in a spa and probably not with too many elderly or terminally ill.  I also knew I didn't want my own office.  Well, here I am with my own office!  I still don't want a practice devoted to the elderly.  I will work on them of course, but don't want a concentration.  I don't have what it takes to work on the terminally ill.  There are some very special therapists out there for them and I am not one of them.  I still would not work in a spa, but I do on call work for a hotel and conference center that offers body treatments and from time to time I will say yes to one of those. Who knows, somewhere up the line I may only want to work in a spa.  Or I may be particularly drawn to the elderly at some time in the future.  I'm open to it. Enjoy the journey!

 

[Niko]

Ah, flying hands, thanks for asking this question.  I also have these unsettling feelings.  I will graduate in August so I have a little more time.  Just knowing there is someone out there with the same struggles makes me feel better.  All my co-students seem to know what they want to do.  Me?  I am so scattered right now.  I just want to get through the course and take the exam...then we shall see.  I also appreciate KeadedMassages quote...Life is a mystery to be lived.  Very good thought.  Thanks...

 

[DierWriftex]

Love the quote too!  I just had to share also.  I knew exactly what I wanted to do in school and how I would go about it.  Well, it never happened.  I love doing treatment work and thought that the only way I could gain more experience would be to work for a chiro.  I did...for about an hour and half!  The pay was horrible.  I was misled to believe something else.  Plus I was only allowed to perform "relaxation" massage on clients.  I didn't understand this.  So, I decided right then and there that I am going to do my own thing.  I have 4 boys and they are my number one priority.  My youngest is 4 and he went through a difficult time while I was in school last year.  I have worked very hard to get my kids back on track and there is nothing that can replace a mother's love and commitment.  However, my massage practice is just "falling into place". I am available whenever I want, wherever I want.  I gave up on the idea of doing EXACTLY what I want and just letting things happen.  It's working.  I'm going to be sharing space with a hairstylist and setting my own hours and days at a time that won't disrupt my children's routine.  Once my youngest is in school, then I will pursue it more.  By then I will have a few more modalities to add to my practice through continuing ed. and have some faithful clients.  So just go with the flow.  However, try to get the licensing out of the way.  Don't wait on that and once you have that done, you will take on a whole knew attitude as well.  Best wishes and hang in there!JoJo

 

[Alexia]

Flying Hands,Thanks so much for posting your thoughts...I too am near the end of school and am set up to go into practice with some other therapists. We are doing our final push and are working on LOTS of people every day and I come home energized, but also exhausted.  For the first time, I am being pushed more physically and my hands sometimes hurt.Last night I told my husband I just want to take off the whole summer and let a lot of things go...and then start up in the fall when everyone is back in school.Until I read your post I thought I was crazy.  It was encouraging to hear your and other's thoughts.Thanks for sharing and let us know how things go.LaLoba

 

[Saraccureflef]

I have decided that since this is the last summer before my littlest starts school I am taking the summer off. I will do a couple of call-outs a week to keep in practice and my hands in shape but they will be at my convenience.  I will think about the whole career aspect once school starts.  I might however take some CEUs over the summer just to add to my practice. I shared this with the husband and he agrees that it sounds like a plan.  Maybe come fall I can open a shop or rent some space somewhere.  But I'll think about that later.  I'll just put the dreams out into the universe and if it happens then it's supposed to happen.

 

[Becky]

Just go with the flow...it will all come to you.  Your family is most important.  They have a short amount of time to be with you before they are off and doing their own thing.  But don't let go of goals and dreams either.  This is one industry that has so many awards and one that you can set at your own pace.  You are in control.  I never imagined that I would be my own boss.  And when school ended and my testing was finished, I knew that I wanted to work for someone.  Now everything has shifted because I did have time to reflect and a chance to see how I could be fooled by those that want to control you as a therapist.  My family, my son's, as much as they can make me crazy, are my life and they are where I need to be.  That's why I am only scheduling for 3 hours a day, 2 times a week.  When school resumes in the fall, then we'll see how things are.  Don't close any doors and leave all possibilites to chance.  Be careful, and be cautious, and take your time.  You'll know what to do when that time comes.  Good luck!JoJo