Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68009
TACKLING TOUGH TIMES How are you weathering the financial downturn? Has the challenge gotten your practice-building creative juices flowing or do you find your professional self-respect dwindling with your client numbers? Is all this gloomy talk getting you down? Here's a note from a recent massage school graduate: Help! I just graduated from massage therapy school and now I'm wondering if all the training was worth it. I'm trying to start a small, private practice and I'm also working in a spa where all the massage therapists complain constantly about the economy. I love doing massage, but I have several concerns. First, are things really that bad by comparison with a few years ago? Will I be able to earn a living or should I give up and train for some other profession? Second, do I need to lower my standards to be able to have enough clients? I was taught to have high professional standards and to honor professional boundaries. But some of the massage therapists at the spa tell clients they are expert in techniques when they aren't. The clients don't seem to know the difference. And third, should I be more aggressive in winning and keeping clients? There is a very competitive vibe at the spa among the massage therapists, a dog-eat-dog atmosphere. It makes me uncomfortable. I could use some advice and encouragement. L.S., Houston, Texas Thanks for writing. I'm sure you speak for many graduates, as well as experienced practitioners, who may be feeling discouraged in the current economy. What follows is some advice that I hope will be helpful in keeping both your professional pride intact and your confidence high. I conclude with what I think is the key to any massage therapist's success. visit massageandbodywork.com to access your digital magazine 105