What does a Massage Therapy appointment look like?
Your first appointment with a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) will cover:
- Intake and health history discussion
- Brief assessment to determine the underlying reason for your concern or complaint
- The actual treatment
- Demonstration of appropriate remedial exercises for you to continue at home
- Summary and payment
Follow-up appointments are a continuation of the initial assessment/treatment and generally do not include a full assessment, however I do tend to re-evaluate outcomes at each visit to ensure we are making appropriate progress for the condition or complaint you are presenting with.
What should I wear to my massage appointment?
Before the treatment begins, we discuss what areas you would like to have worked on and how to get positioned on the table.
Most people wear typical casual clothing, but you are welcome to wear or leave on whatever feels comfortable. Generally, work is done directly on the body using lotion or gel.
If you are needing treatment for a specific condition, I welcome people to wear their athletic clothing during the entire treatment.
Payment
Generally, it is expected that payment be made in full before leaving the clinic. We do offer direct billing, which can help cover the up-front cost of your treatment; just remember to bring your extended health plan card with you. You may also want to verify with your plan provider whether or not your plan requires a medical prescription or doctor referral in order for reimbursement.
Should I get a treatment from a male or female therapist?
This is entirely up to you. I recognize that some people feel more comfortable with one versus the other. In the long run however, it should not matter, as all Registered Massage Therapists are bound by the Standards of Practice and Code of Conduct set out by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, and are governed by the Health Professions Act, 1991 and the Massage Therapy Act, 1991.
No pain, no gain, right?
No, this is not the philosophy of a Registered Massage Therapist. Although it is true that sometimes "deep" pressure is necessary, for example, in cases of scar tissue or tight fascial adhesions, the overwhelming majority of people do not require intense pressure to receive an effective, beneficial treatment.
It's like mom always said, "work smart, not hard." Though, I do have many clients that prefer deeper pressure, and this is totally acceptable, just let me know at the time of your appointment. My only condition is: do let me know if the pressure is too much!
Do you have a question about massage therapy?
Please feel free to get in touch with me by email or on my cell (text/call).
