Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/465652
F r e e m u s i c d o w n l o a d s f o r C e r t i f i e d m e m b e r s : w w w. a b m p . c o m / g o / c e r t i f i e d c e n t r a l 81 licensing requirements have a downside. Myers says, "Teaching to pass licensing tests is a very poor way to get across knowledge." The Great News with Education To me, the explosion of knowledge and teaching of more advanced therapeutic techniques is the most exciting and beneficial progress. In the '70s and '80s, most training was relaxation based, often for nonprofessionals. Myers is happy that there is much more diversity and clarity today, but still feels there is confusion between sensuality and sexuality that should be clarified. I would add that excellent therapeutic work for serious conditions need not conflict with a comforting, even sensuous, experience. One of the nicest compliments I've received was from a woman with serious low-back pain that I was working deeply on who commented, "You have such a kind touch." For someone in constant pain, a warm and nurturing touch can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system for serious therapy. It is so good that we, for the most part, have escaped from the sexual stereotypes of the past; but as many therapists emphasize the therapeutic and medicinal benefits, I feel there can be an overreaction to the sexual stereotyping, which removes the very crucial nurturing aspects of touch. Some therapists become so clinical that they appear to mimic the cold and dispassionate demeanor that is so often a criticism of doctors' or physical therapists' offices. I love that Walton teaches advanced clinical skills, but also emphasizes the personal warmth that distinguishes massage therapists from some of the stereotypes of strictly medical approaches. She adds, "I don't like the dichotomy, especially the denigration of relaxation work from lots of 'experts' doing 'serious' work." That said, the incredible gifts of therapeutic strategies from practitioners such as Ben Benjamin, Erik Dalton, Whitney Lowe, Til Luchau, Myers, Walton, and countless others were simply not in existence 40 years ago. There is no doubt that high-quality educational opportunities in many different modalities are exponentially more available in continuing education classes, videos, and webinars; and many more therapists today are more highly skilled than in the past, particularly in therapeutic bodywork. Thankfully, the misinformed small local policing of our profession that Walton and Garbowski have commented on has diminished, and we are moving toward state and national certification, often based on our own professional licensing groups. Still, a multitude of problems remain with competing accreditation groups, conflicting rules, spotty acceptance of continuing education classes, and online study, thus making it difficult for therapists to begin practice or relocate. Some states, instead of examining therapeutic specialization, simply continue to require more and more hours, both in initial trainings and continuing education. For example, in California, a therapist's rating is automatically upgraded from "practitioner" to "therapist" based on the number of educational hours, without consideration of what classes have been studied. Myers points out that more specific categories need to be delineated so consumers can choose appropriate treatment. Garbowski feels a tiered system would be helpful. There are pros and cons to a tiered system too complex to examine in detail in this article, but Walton feels that is not the answer. Certainly more study can imply greater skill, but not necessarily, and arbitrary boundaries that imply superior skill based solely on hours of study may be misleading. A problem with policing inside our profession is that some large schools, vying for more students and higher tuition fees, lobby certification groups to simply continue to require WHERE ARE WE NOW?