HOW TO CHOOSE A THERAPIST

There are so many massage therapists out there. How do you find a good therapist to suit your needs? Here are some tricks and facts that you should know before making an appointment with a therapist.

UK Legislation

There is no regulation of massage treatment by law in the UK. Anyone can call themselves a massage therapist without a qualification and make money from massage.

Professional Body Membership

In the UK, massage therapists are not required to belong to a professional body acknowledged by the government, unlike Physiotherapists or Osteopaths, who have to complete a bachelor degree course and belong to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy or the General Osteopathic Council respectively.

Major professional associations of massage treatment usually require minimum level 3 diploma in any types of massage for membership registration.

The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) is a government funded regulatory body providing a voluntary register of complementary therapists with the aim of protecting the public. It is the holder of an Accredited Register by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care, accountable to the UK Parliament. Many professional massage therapists, however, have chosen not to register with CNHC since the registration is just voluntary, not mandatory, and CNHC has no better merit for the therapists than other professional bodies in private sectors, through which therapists usually can take out insurance on special deals.

Premises Licence / Special Treatment Licence

Some local authorities regulate that if you run an establishment for massage, you are required to obtain a premises licence from the local authority, called a Special Treatment Licence. Under these regulations, it is illegal to practice massage without the licence, and you have to obtain one if you offer massage for gain or reward event at your home. All the London councils issue Special Treatment Licence under the London Local Authorities Act 1991. Annual fees should be paid for the licence to the local authority. The fees differ depending on the Authorities.

Licence Exemption Members of some professional associations and certain health practitioners are exempted from the Special Treatment Licence under the London Local Authorities Act 1991/2000. Check the List of Bodies of Health Practitioners Granted Exemption by the London Special Treatment Group. For example, members of Federation of Holistic Therapists don’t need to obtain a Special Treatment Licence from their local council or pay the annual licence fee to run a massage business at their home.

Some local authorities such as Milton Keynes don’t regulate Special Treatment Licences for massage treatment. This means that anyone without a proper qualification can open a massage salon or provide massage service at their home or anywhere in the city without authorization by any government bodies or professional associations.

Just for your reference, this Special Treatment Licence is only applicable to premises and not to mobile or home-visit massage services. This allows anyone without qualification or licence to legally give massage at your home on outcall or at an outdoor sport event in this country.

Insurance

It is not mandatory by law for massage therapists to take out public liability / indemnity insurance. But it would be safe for you to go under the hands of insured therapists in case something were to happen.

Insurance companies usually require minimum level 3 diploma in any types of massage from a practitioner in order for them to get insured. Being insured thus means the therapist has completed proper training and possesses knowledge on anatomy and physiology necessary for treating human bodies.

Qualifications

“Diploma in Massage” doesn’t mean that the therapist is trained in Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Cancer Massage or any other types of massage. Generally the term ‘massage’ in any massage qualification refers to Swedish Massage. It is important to make sure the therapist has a proper qualification in the type of massage you are needing.

It is safe to see a therapist with minimum level 3 qualification in any types of massage, which is required by most of the professional associations and insurance companies. Some massage schools provide their own unique courses without QFC equivalent, but they usually have a special arrangement with a professional associaition and an insurance company so that their graduates can become a member of the professional body and get insured.

Not all the massage therapists with the same level of qualification have the same level of quality, in the same way as not all hairdressers have the same quality or taste. Those with higher levels of qualifications should possess better knowledge and techniques, but their quality is also affected by their sense of touch and their way of approach. It is not necessarily true that those with a longer career are always better than novices, although having a long career suggests that the therapist has a certain level of skills which have helped them earn trust and money from their clients steadily for a long period.

To Summarise:

“I have stiff shoulders, but don’t know which massage I should get – Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Thai Massage or Shiatsu.”

This is not an uncommon question. Check out their difference in our Types of Massage section. Some may not feel like taking off their clothes or being covered with oil, while others may feel it more relaxing to have their body gently stroked by hands with a hint of oil. You may find the extra aroma more effective to your mental relaxation. Asian massages usually consider spirit and body as a whole, so if you are more of a spiritual person, these oriental massages may suit you more.

“I like spicy food. Which cuisine do you recommend? Indian, Thai, Korean or Sichuan food?” “I don’t like spicy food, so can’t tell. One of my friend likes Thai….. You should try them all to find your preference by yourself!”

You should ensure you are clear of the level of expertise of the therapist before booking an appointment. These include their

• Membership with a recognised professional body
• Insurance cover
• Qualifications