The Massage Pundit

I participate in a lot of massage discussion groups on the web, and one thing that constantly comes up is raising the standards for practicing massage in the US. As with any hot topic, some are for, and some are against.

Our Canadian friends across the border in British Columbia require 3000 hours of education, plus a written and a practical exam.  Here in the United States, 500 hours of education is still the standard in 26 states. In Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Alaska, there’s still no regulation at all, so anybody who wants to call themselves a massage therapist is allowed to do so, whether they have any training or not. New  York and Nebraska require 1000 hours of education, and the rest are in between, requiring anywhere from 570-750 hours.  A few states require a practical exam; most do not. A couple still have “apprenticeship” options.

Continuing education, both the requirements and the lack thereof, are also another source of contention. 8 of the regulated states have no continuing education requirements. Those that do require it have various cycles ranging from 6 per year to 32 every two years. Some therapists, like me, love continuing education. Others are as thrilled about it as they would be an audit from the IRS.

Should we just keep meeting the minimum, or raise the standards? Would raising the standards give us more credibility? Are we happy to just maintain the status quo? Raising standards would mean a lot of schools would either have to expand their programs, or pack it in. Costs would go up, and that would of course have to be passed along to the student.

I really think it all depends on where we want to see our profession go. For those of us who want to be a respected part of the health care team, there’s only one answer.  We need to reach higher. For those who are happy giving a relaxation massage in a salon and who don’t aspire to do anything other than that, it seems a little crazy to force them to do more.

The middle ground is to have tiered licensure. And then there’s there advanced certification that’s forthcoming from the NCBTMB, but we haven’t seen that yet, and don’t know just how advanced it will be. There are a few specialty exams in existence, but at the present time, they create a small ripple in a big pond.

The Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge project is a step in the right direction, but it’s not going to be any kind of instant fix for raising standards. Defining them, maybe, although that remains to be seen.

We’re at a crossroads here, and sooner or later we’re going to have to decide which way we’re going to go. I hope it’s up.

Peace & Prosperity,

Laura Allen

This is the final post in my series of interviews with the leaders of the organizations of the massage therapy profession. Paul Lindamood is the CEO of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. He recently answered my questions, and as with the others, his answers are offered here unedited.

LA: What is your background in the massage profession? Are you now or have you ever personally been a massage therapist?

PL: I am not a massage therapist, but I have been working both in and for the profession for over three years now. I quickly became captivated by the field and the people who represent it when NCBTMB partnered with the firm where I was previously employed, and had provided strategic services and solutions to health-related clients – including nonprofits – for nearly 30 years. From a personal perspective, however, I have been an ardent believer in the benefits of massage ever since I first utilized it myself as a stress reliever some 20 years ago.

When I assumed the CEO position, the NCBTMB board, staff, volunteers and all of our stakeholders generously shared their knowledge and experiences with me, so that I was able to gain an understanding of the many challenges and opportunities facing our profession. I have since dedicated my career to exploring these opportunities and overcoming these challenges.

An interesting sidebar: I will never forget the day – about 15 years ago – when a young business associate of mine unceremoniously quit what was a very promising business career … to become a massage therapist. I remember thinking that massage therapy must be an amazing profession to have attracted such a charismatic, talented and creative person away from us. And now, some 15 years later, I have to smile when I think back. Amazing indeed.

LA: How long have you been with the organization?

PL: Well, technically before working for NCBTMB, I worked with NCB. As I mentioned, my former company was asked to respond to an RFP by NCBTMB in 2006. Consequently, we were selected by the Board of Directors to assist in developing its strategic, business and communications initiatives. As the lead executive, I worked with NCB in that capacity for 2 years prior to accepting the position of Chief Executive Officer. So I worked as a vendor for the organization starting in November, 2006, and became CEO on December 15, 2008.

LA: Have you been in the same position with the organization since you started, or did you climb through the ranks?

PL: I was brought on as Chief Executive Officer in December of 2008, which is the only position I have held as an employee of NCBTMB. I came from a highly respected business solutions and marketing firm, with more than 20 year’s experience as a C-level executive. I have devoted my career to positioning, directing and promoting associations, professional firms, healthcare organizations, businesses and nonprofits, utilizing my background in operations, communications, promotion, recruitment, budgeting and finance, culture building and service excellence. In fact, it was in this capacity that I first began working with NCBTMB, directing the organization’s communications, public relations, media and re-branding strategies.

LA: What is the mission statement of your organization?

PL: NCBTMB’s mission is to define and advance the highest standards in the massage and bodywork profession.

LA: What do you think your organization is doing to honor the mission statement?

PL: We try to ensure that everything NCB does supports our mission. Not only do we work to define and advance the highest standards in the profession, we are deeply committed to defining and advancing the highest standards in our organization.

Upon accepting my position, I immediately began conferring with Chair Delaporta and, under the auspices of the Board, began taking steps to address critical management, operational and financial issues. Some of our fiscal actions included:

• Revising the budget based on realistic projections and a thorough cost analysis
• Eliminating extraneous and excessive costs associated with Board and committee meetings
• Streamlining operations, processes and procedures to reduce costs and provide better service
• Cutting marketing and legal expenditures
• Communicating with stakeholders and the profession openly and frequently.

These internal initiatives have made it possible for NCB to more effectively and efficiently pursue our mission.

We continue to define – and redefine – the profession through Job Task Analyses and industry input. This enables us to provide accredited exam programs that reflect the requirements for entry-level practice and serve as testing instruments for both National Certification and state licensure. In addition, NCB is now working with the profession to develop Advanced Certification, a credential the field has been calling for since 1997. Specialty certifications may follow.

In the past year, we have introduced resources that help schools prepare students for success on their tests and in their careers – an online practice exam, revised study guide and Spanish language exams.

NCB also offers financial and volunteer support of industry organizations such as the Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care, Massage Therapy Foundation, Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge project, and AMTA state chapters.

Most recently, NCB was the only national massage and bodywork organization to attend the Integrative Healthcare Symposium and promote our profession and its benefits to physicians, chiropractors, nurses, dieticians and other healthcare providers. We also provided evidence-based research supporting the efficacy of massage in treating specific medical conditions.

NCB remains committed to working with state massage therapy boards across the country to introduce and refine legislation designed to protect the health and safety of the public.

If your readers have suggestions as to how NCB can further advance our mission and serve their interests, I ask that they send them (and their contact information) to our Director of Communications at jwagley@ncbtmb.org.

LA: What do you feel has been your biggest achievement there?

PL: Though my tenure has been relatively brief, my energies have been focused on improving service to our certificants, increasing awareness of the benefits of certification and initiating Advanced Certification. Still, there is much to do to achieve our goals.

One of the things of which I am particularly proud is how NCB is coming together in a renewed spirit of leadership as a team – Board, volunteers and staff – to evaluate and reinvigorate the role of the organization. We are working hard to keep strong the credentialing foundation that was laid 17 years ago, but even harder to assess our shortcomings and rebuild processes and procedures that need to be recreated.

I have also come to appreciate the fact that the NCB of today truly stands on the shoulders of many of the great volunteers from its earliest days. I am amazed at how many of the profession’s best and brightest have passed through these portals – and played a major part in creating a national standard of quality. Every single day I am reminded that certification in this profession truly belongs to everyone who reaches for excellence and cares about massage’s future.

LA: What do you see as the most important initiative for moving your organization forward?

PL: I believe that the most important initiative for moving NCB forward is to do our part in continuing to move the profession forward.

Also, while our primary role is creating and administering the exam programs that denote a certified practitioner of massage or bodywork in the United States, I believe that we are much more than that. NCBTMB is an organization truly committed to this profession, determined advocates who are dedicated to:

• Advancing the profession – and practitioners – by developing new advanced credentials
• Reaching out to schools and helping them prepare students for success
• Supporting and identifying qualified continuing education providers
• Assisting state boards in the protection of citizens and promoting public health and safety
• Providing financial support whenever feasible to other organizations working in the name of our profession
• Promoting the benefits of massage to the healthcare community
• Increasing the visibility and credibility of massage to consumers
• Promoting outcome based research that proves the efficacy of massage in treating medical conditions

What I want people to understand is that, by becoming and staying Nationally Certified (and soon, holder of the Massage Advanced Certification), you earn much more than a credential. You gain knowledge that your certification dollars help support the exam programs, ethics and discipline processes, initiatives and broad-based communications efforts that the profession’s nonprofit certification organization is working toward. For all of us who believe in – and rely on – the national potential and transformative power… of massage.

LA: What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing your organization today?

PL: I would have to say the industry perception, and to a degree connections to our past.  While we recognize that NCBTMB has approached some situations in ways that were not well received by the profession, we have taken numerous, tangible steps to correct those issues. And further, have changed our approach not only on paper, but in our actions.

We know it will take some time for the industry to see and believe in those changes, but we are all working hard every day to re-establish our credibility and instill trust within all our constituencies. Because we all sense that the time is now – for a national health and wellness referendum that will embrace certified massage therapy as the standard of excellence – and moreover, acceptance – as a viable choice in the national healthcare model about to take shape. So yes, we take that challenge very, very seriously. We owe it to everyone in the profession.

LA: There are more organizations and associations for the massage profession now than ever before. What do you see as the ideal relationship between them?

PL: Ideally, I think that each organization and association would concentrate on its mission and operate within its best “sphere of influence” – that is, devote its resources to that which it does best.

• AMTA: serve its members while advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy
• ABMP: provide comprehensive liability insurance and practice support for massage/bodywork practitioners and students
• FSMTB: support member boards in their work to ensure the practice of massage therapy is provided to the public in a safe and effective manner
• MTF: advance the knowledge and practice of massage therapy by supporting scientific research, education and community service
• NCBTMB: define and advance the highest standards in the massage therapy and bodywork profession

In the future, I would like to see all these organizations and associations continue to collaborate on innovative initiatives such as the Body of Knowledge project. I believe that each of the participants brings something unique to the table, and that the profession is best served when we are all there, sharing in a spirit of community and collaboration.

LA: If you could only say one thing to your stakeholders, what would it be?

PL: Thank you for believing in us. And for those who are not so sure, please take another look. Because in the words of one Laura Allen, “There is something big happening at the National Certification Board: THEY ARE LISTENING!” And just as important, we are responding.

The profession needs certification – and Advanced Certification. We ask you to support us in our mission to help take massage to the next level and help our profession take its rightful place in the healthcare community. What you do is critical – it is powerful and transformational. It is, quite simply, amazing. I want to thank you for making the profession what it is today … and invite you to join us in taking massage where it can be tomorrow.

–thank you–

The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards was formed in 2005 with the intention of bringing state boards together in the spirit of collaboration to address the needs for consistent scopes of practice and entry level standards across the country, the need for a valid and reliable licensing exam that would be accepted in all jurisdictions, and the need for a common database with licensing and disciplinary information and the ability to store critical documents.

After a Job Task Analysis with over 7,000 participants was completed, the MBLEx (Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam) was born and made available to member states. 31 state boards, plus the District of Columbia and Peurto Rico are now members of the Federation. Debra Persinger was hired as the Executive Director in 2006. I recently had the opportunity to find out more about her and the Federation.

LA: What is your background in the massage profession? Are you now or have you ever personally been a massage therapist?

DP: I am not a massage therapist and probably never will be a massage therapist unless I could be exempt from having to touch people’s feet!  I have degrees in human nutrition, human development and human services – I guess you could say I like to study humans – oh, and a post graduate diploma in teaching.  I like to improve the human condition and I am also big on standards – a perfect match for my work with the Federation.  I was hired for my combined expertise in association management and credentialing but I have also taught at universities, conducted research, published books, counseled violent offenders, facilitated support groups, taught ethics workshops; and in my  parallel career path I am a working mom!

LA: How long have you been with the organization?

DP: I have been with the FSMTB since September 2006.

LA: Have you been in the same position with the organization since you started, or did you climb through the ranks?

DP: I was hired as executive director and I retain that title today. I have been a staff of one so that is not to say I was not the receptionist, file clerk, meeting planner, marketing director, candidate social worker, political correspondent, finance officer and myriad other titles.  This week I got an assistant so now I have climbed out of the ranks of receptionist and file clerk.

LA: What is the mission statement of your organization?

DP: The mission of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) is to support its member boards (the state licensing boards and agencies)  in their work to ensure that the practice of massage therapy is provided to the public in a safe and effective manner.

LA: What do you think your organization is doing to honor the mission statement?

DP: We continue to expand knowledge, understanding and accessibility to information by providing a forum for communal exchange of ideas among the regulatory community.  Our flagship exam program is also on point as an assessment tool to establish public protection by examining core competencies for licensing massage & bodywork professionals.

LA: What do you feel has been your biggest achievement there?

DP: Establishing the FSTMB as a trustworthy organization that values transparency, integrity, accountability and … People!

LA: What do you see as the most important initiative for moving your organization forward?

DP: Continuing to develop a solid infrastructure for providing top quality services to our stakeholders.  Like the song says… you’ve got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative and don’t mess with Mr Inbetween.

LA: What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing your organization today?

DP: Managing the growth – seriously, it’s a nice challenge to have but it’s still a challenge.

LA: There are more organizations and associations for the massage profession now than ever before. What do you see as the ideal relationship between them?

DP: We can all act as change agents.  We can choose to take action in improving and healing our environment and our society.  Our task is to paddle the boat with awareness and integrity; the flow of the river is outside our doing.

LA: If you could only say one thing to your stakeholders, what would it be?

DP: I like to operationalize things so if you tell me your dreams, I’ll do my best to make them come true – and I have a little ceramic heart above my desk that says … Kindness Matters!

This is the fourth in my series of interviews with the leaders of our profession’s organizations. I recently had the opportunity to ask 10 questions of Kate Henrioulle, the Executive Director of COMTA.

The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation was given approval by the US Department of Education to act as an accreditation body in 2002. In 2004, that approval was extended to include approval of associate degree programs. COMTA is an independent non-profit organization that is not affiliated with any professional massage therapy association.

LA: What is your background in the massage profession? Are you now or have you ever personally been a massage therapist?

KH: I have been a massage therapist since 2000. For several years I taught at the International Professional School of Bodywork (IPSB) in San Diego, CA. While teaching, I also worked on the administrative staff, eventually becoming the Dean of Education. Our school went through the COMTA accreditation process as well as Title IV approval while I was the Dean. Although I no longer practice professionally, I still enjoy giving massage to loved ones and would take classes in new modalities every month if I had the time.

LA: How long have you been with the organization?

KH: I started working with COMTA as the Executive Director in June 2009.

LA: Have you been in the same position with the organization since you started, or did you climb through the ranks?

KH: I have been in the same position since I started. But I consider my work on the administration at IPSB my starting point for learning about the COMTA policies and processes. So in that way, I started from the bottom as the “Assistant to the Dean”, back in 2003.

LA: What is the mission statement of your organization?

The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation, a non-profit independent body, seeks to improve the quality of education for students seeking education in the fields of massage therapy and bodywork through an accreditation process that reflects the current and emerging professional practice standards.

LA: What do you think your organization is doing to honor the mission statement?

KH: COMTA has an on-going process of evaluating and updating the standards to which member schools are compared. Input on these standards is gathered from various sources including the Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge project, information published by AMTA, ABMP and other member organizations, as well as direct surveys to member schools on the wording of standards.

In recognition of the increasing need for massage therapy to integrate with other alternative healthcare providers, COMTA has become a member of the Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care (ACCAHC). Our participation in ACCAHC informs us on what is current in the alternative healthcare field and the expectations for massage practitioners emerging from this collaboration.

LA: What do you feel has been your biggest achievement there?

Really, I have not been here long enough to claim responsibility for any accomplishments. I look forward to reporting on a future “biggest achievement”, perhaps in the area of improved service to our member schools and reducing our environmental impact by moving all communications to an online system. Accreditation requires A LOT of paperwork, but we are striving to reduce the use of actual paper. We hope this will ultimately translate into a savings for our schools and for the planet.

LA: What do you see as the most important initiative for moving your organization forward?

KH: In reference to our Mission “to improve the quality of education … in the fields of massage therapy and bodywork”, I think our most important initiative is to create development opportunities for school owners, administrators and instructors. Each school has strengths and weaknesses. As we review how schools meet the accreditation standards, we have seen trends emerge in where there are challenges common to many schools. We are in the process of creating an Annual Meeting which will include sessions to specifically address these areas of challenge. We are planning to launch this Annual Meeting in April 2011 with sessions for both COMTA accredited schools and others interested in improving education in our profession.

LA: What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing your organization today?

KH: We have had a bit of a bumpy transition moving our offices to Washington, D.C.

While we have already seen the value of being closer to the source for many accreditation related issues, moving is always a challenge. We appreciate the patience our member schools have exhibited in our period of change.

LA: There are more organizations and associations for the massage profession now than ever before. What do you see as the ideal relationship between them?

KH: I enjoy variety. And I enjoy freedom to choose the organizations which provide the services I specifically want, or that have a mission I want to support. I personally have been a member of multiple organizations and have represented a school in others. The relationships between the organizations would ideally be one of mutual respect and recognition that we can challenge each other to be our best without damaging each other.

LA: If you could only say one thing to your stakeholders, what would it be?

KH: I am honored to be in this position. You have my commitment to uphold the Mission of COMTA and our Values. I look forward to working together to continue improving the quality of massage education.

My morning mail arrived with a packet sent by an anonymous contributor…copies of emails and correspondence concerning the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). I must say it caused me to choke on my breakfast.

The CAMTC, according to their website, is currently conducting a search for a CEO. That’s not shocking news. What is shocking news is the insistence of former Board chair Ahmos Netanel, who is said to be gunning for the position, that the job is worth $348,000 a year, and that it should come with an executive assistant to the tune of another $144,000. Is there another Gold Rush in California that the rest of us haven’t heard about?

Let’s put that in perspective: The governor of California gets paid $206,500 a year. The President of the United States makes $400,000 a year.

An e-mail from Netanel states “…for the kind of skill set and record we are looking for, anything less than $29,000 per month would represent a major cut in pay for the kind of CEO we need.”

I personally think that’s over the top. I know hundreds of hard-working massage therapists who don’t make $29,000 a year. Can you say “non-profit?” It really looks like somebody is going to profit, and in a major way. I believe there are former CEOs all over the country with great skill sets, knowledge, and expertise who are out of work, who’d take the job for half of that and be glad to have it.

Is the head of a state massage association really worth more than the governor? I hope the Board members at the CAMTC will wake up and smell the coffee. It smells a little burnt from where I’m sitting.

Peace & Prosperity,

Laura Allen

This is the third in my series of interviews with the leaders of our professional organizations.

The Alliance for Massage Therapy Education is the newest of our associations, and is an independent organization founded for the purpose of serving the entire education sector of the massage profession, from entry-level to post-graduate studies. Their new national headquarters is located in McLean VA, a suburb of Washington DC. You can visit their new website at www.afmte.org

My fellow North Carolinian, Rick Rosen, is the first Executive Director of AFMTE. Rosen and his wife, Carey Smith, are both nationally-known educators and are the owners of Body Therapy Institute, a COMTA-Approved school in Siler City, NC.

LA: What is your background in the massage profession? Are you now or have you ever personally been a massage therapist? (please give a short synopsis of your career path).

RR: I’ve been active in the massage therapy field since 1978. I began my career as a therapist in Atlanta, Georgia, opened the first professional massage therapy center in North Carolina in 1982, and started the first massage therapy school there in 1983. Along the way, I have trained in and practiced a wide variety of approaches, including structural and energetic bodywork, and body-centered psychotherapy.

Over the 26 years I have directed the Body Therapy Institute, I have taught every course in the program at least once. These days, my focus in the school is in the areas of marketing, strategic planning and curriculum development.

Parallel with this work, I have served as an advocate for the massage therapy profession in a number of capacities. I am a Charter Member and Past President of the AMTA-NC Chapter, Founding Member and Past Chairman of the NC Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy, and four years ago, I was the first Executive Director for the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards,.

LA: How long have you been with the organization?

RR: The Alliance for Massage Therapy Education is a new entity, having been officially launched August 31, 2009. As Executive Director, I am part of a six-member Leadership Team of veteran educators that is guiding the startup process. I have been active in the arena of massage school organizations since 1986, when I attended my first Council of Schools meeting.

LA: Have you been in the same position with the organization since you started, or did you climb through the ranks

RR: As described above, the Alliance has as a very short history — and I’ve been there every step of the way. Several of the people who now serve on our Leadership Team have been in conversation for a number of years about the need for an independent and autonomous education organization. This happened to be the opportune time to bring the Alliance forth.

LA: What is the mission statement of your organization?

RR: The Alliance is the voice, advocate and resource for the community of massage schools and educators.

LA: What do you think your organization is doing to honor the mission statement?

RR: In the massage therapy field, it is rare to have the opportunity to design and build an organization from the ground up. The Alliance is being created BY educators — FOR educators. Who better to know what massage schools and educators need than those who teach in and operate those schools? One of the most important defining features of the Alliance is ADVOCACY. The Alliance will certainly be providing a great menu of services, products and networking opportunities to its members. Along with that, we are committed to actively representing the interests of our members in all domains. It’s time that massage education has a champion of its own!

LA: What do you feel has been your biggest achievement there?
RR: In just four months, we have put a lot of the infrastructure in place: The Alliance is incorporated; we have secured a date and location for our First Annual Conference; we have established a National Headquarters; we have conducted a successful Founding Member Campaign; and we are about to launch our General Membership Drive for the 2010 calendar year.

LA: What do you see as the most important initiative for moving your organization forward?

RR: Getting the word out. We will be publishing a booklet in the beginning of December that will provide comprehensive information on the Alliance, the benefits that members will receive, information about joining, and details about the inaugural meeting to be held June 3-5, 2010 in Park City, Utah. All of this info will also available on the Alliance’s website, at www.afmte.org.

LA: What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing your organization today?

RR: It is a bold act in today’s marketplace to launch a non-profit without startup grants or other organizational support. In place of that, The Alliance appealed directly to massage schools, teachers, continuing education providers and companies that serve the massage education sector — and have received a strong level of initial contributions. We now have to build on that to create a membership base in the first year that will set the stage for future growth.

LA: There are more organizations and associations for the massage profession now than ever before. What do you see as the ideal relationship between them?

RR: A full-fledged profession has a stable set of component organizations in place, with each one fulfilling a specific role and set of functions. Nearly all professions today have an independent association of the schools/colleges that provide the education needed to enter and remain in that field. With the advent of the Alliance, we now have that component to add to the overall structure of the massage field. This brings us one large step closer to becoming a profession. The Alliance seeks to work in a cooperative role with existing associations in the field.

LA: If you could only say one thing to your stakeholders, what would it be?

RR: Come and join the Alliance, and attend our inaugural conference! Your participation at this foundational stage will help build the kind of organization you want to see. There is far more that can be done for massage schools and educators than has been thought possible. The Alliance is dedicated to strengthening and improving massage therapy education for the benefit of all concerned.

I’m borrowing this title from an actual press release from the NCBTMB, dated August 21, 2007.  I don’t have the space here to print the whole thing, so please follow this link and read it. If you’re unfamiliar with the past history of the NCB in recent years, it will give you some insight.

The rumor mill seems to be working overtime these days when it comes to the NCBTMB. While I’m certainly opinionated (who, me?) and sometimes speculate, I don’t want to get caught up in printing things that I can’t confirm as truth, so some of the sleeping dogs are going to have to lie for the time being.

One rumor I have confirmed is that Christopher Laxton, former CEO, is suing the NCB and Donna Feeley for $230,000 in civil court. There’s no little irony here, since Laxton was one of the signers of the document linked to above; at the time, Feeley was the Board Chair.  The trial is scheduled for February.  I personally contacted Mr. Laxton, and he informed me that he has requested a jury trial, and that it was necessary for him to withhold public comment at this time. History does seem to be repeating itself, as he’s not the first CEO to sue the NCB in recent years.

There are a lot of other rumors swirling. A number of people have parted ways with the NCB in recent months. Whitney Lowe left the task force; Chris Alvarado and Angela Palmier left their job as industry relations specialists after only 5 months on the job;  Monica Reno resigned right after getting re-elected to serve another term, and four whole sentences were devoted to her departure; a long-standing outside vendor broke off the relationship last week; no confirmation on why that happened. The party line is usually well-wishes on both parts, when there’s any acknowledgment at all.  Do people believe it? No, I don’t think so. But when no one is willing to talk on the record, rumors fly.

Other tidbits that are floating around are that the NCB is in a state of crisis, financially and otherwise, and that one or more of the other professional associations should, could, or would intervene before that reaches a boiling point. If that’s the case, none of them are talking publicly about it.

Believe me, when there’s something viable to report, I’ll report it, but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I reported everything I hear without checking it out. When I hear something about one of the associations, I usually go right to the top for confirmation or denial. I’ve called on them all at one time or another, and the NCBTMB is no exception. They all usually give me a timely  answer; maybe they think I’ll just make up something if they don’t. Do they tell me what they want me to hear? Maybe. I don’t know. I’m just a massage therapist with a blog.

Peace & Prosperity,

Laura Allen

The NCBTMB has just released their Needs Assessment Survey Report, a 15-page document that can be accessed here.  The main purpose of this survey was to determine how massage therapists feel about the NCB’s plan to offer an advanced certification exam. In total, 6, 883 massage therapists responded to the survey, with 80% of those answering at least four questions. It would seem to me that which four questions were answered is of relevance, and assuming that it wasn’t the same four for everyone, that could significantly skew the results.

I clarified with Elizabeth Langston, the NCB’s Director of Exam Development, that AMTA and ABMP had helped spread the word about this survey (as did I; I posted it all over the Internet), with the result that 25% of the respondents are not now, nor have they ever been, certificants of the NCB.

Strangely, 19% of the respondents claim to have both the NCTM and the NCTMB certifications. Since TM is included in the TMB certification, it’s beyond me why anyone would pay the expense of having both. I fear that’s just an indication of how little new certificants (less than one 4-year period) actually know about certification. It’s been my experience that a lot of people just pay the money and take the test and really don’t know any details about what it means. Certainly there are thousands out there who don’t know the difference in certification and licensure, and I see the concrete evidence of that every single day.

70% of the respondents considered themselves to be advanced practitioners, and yet 45% of the participants have been in the profession less than two years.  Apparently it doesn’t take some people that long to start considering themselves to be advanced. And yet, nearly 12% of those who have been in practice 6-10 years, don’t classify themselves as advanced. There’s something a little wrong with that picture.

According to the survey, 52% would like to see advanced certification that is centered around the advanced knowledge of body sciences and skills that are outcome-based; 36% would like to see advanced certifications in a specific modality,  and 12% would like to see advanced certifications centered around type of practice setting (clinical, spa, etc.)

That adds up to 100%, and I have a serious problem with that. Why? When this project started, I threw it out there to all my social networks and discussion boards and asked for comments, which I made sure got forwarded to the NCBTMB. The overwhelming majority were negative in tone, with the biggest criticism by far being that it was just another way for the NCB to make money.

I’d also like to point out that all skills, whether they’re good or bad, effective or not, have an outcome. Determining the desired outcome is the crucial piece of the puzzle. Even more crucial, the MTBOK has not yet released the entry level minimums, so how can you determine what advanced outcomes are before you determine what the entry level outcomes are? And I want to point out, the NCBTMB is a participant in the MTBOK. I personally made a plea to them months ago not to jump the gun by throwing an exam out there before the MTBOK is released. So far, they haven’t, but I’m wondering if it’s waiting in the wings. That would be a big mistake.

Sorry, folks, but I don’t think there’s any remote chance that out of almost 7,000 people, some of them didn’t have negative things to say about the survey, or the need (or lack of) for advanced certification.  According to the introductory remarks by Mountain Measurement, Inc, the firm that prepared the report, “respondents that provided invalid or incomplete responses were not included in the calculations.” Apparently that includes the complainers and the naysayers.

This is actually the first analysis of a survey I’ve ever seen that did not include a copy of the actual survey itself. A survey that is deliberately constructed to focus on the good, and ignore the bad and the ugly, is worse than no survey at all. On the other hand, it could be that the people who are negative about advanced certification just chose not to answer at all.  Maybe only the shiny happy people answered it to start with.

The most telling thing to me in this whole thing: Respondents were asked to identify the top two criteria for pursuing advanced certification, and then are given three choices, one of which is current possession of certification. If certification is the benchmark for an advanced practitioner, it cannot be the vehicle for entry-level licensure at the same time.

My own opinion of this is that if you assume that if the responses were 100% accurate, and the data is 100% accurate, then the NCBTMB has just given the strongest argument so far for their getting out of the entry-level licensing business, and I’m relatively certain that was not their intent.

Peace & Prosperity,

Laura Allen

This is the second in my series of interviews with the leaders of our professional associations.

Les Sweeney is the fearless leader of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), a national membership association that provides comprehensive liability insurance and practice support for massage/bodywork practitioners and students. Founded in 1987, ABMP is now the largest massage therapy membership organization in the country with more than 70,000 members.

LA: What is your background in the massage profession? Are you now or have you ever personally been a massage therapist?

Les: I have been serving the massage profession since 1994, when I was hired by ABMP. Prior to ABMP, I worked for the Club Managers Association of America in Alexandria, VA for 4 ½ years. That is the entirety of my career path; I feel I have found my life’s work.

In 2004, I decided to attend massage school to gain a better appreciation and understanding of the field and our members. I graduated in 2006 (I wasn’t rushing through it) and became NCBTMB-certified at that time. I have a dedicated clientele, all with last name Sweeney. The pay isn’t that good, however.

LA: How long have you been with the organization?

Les: Since September 1994.

LA: Have you been in the same position with the organization since you started, or did you climb through the ranks (please give a short synopsis of your history with the organization).

Les: No. I have worn nearly every hat at the organization (even if just temporarily)—I started out in management but I have handled everything from processing memberships to managing the information systems function to unloading boxes and shoveling snow. I have been President since 2006.

LA: What is the mission statement of your organization?

Les: Expect more.

LA: What do you think your organization is doing to honor the mission statement?

Les: It is our DNA—our commitment to service, developing resources and supports for schools and the education community, producing outstanding resources in print and online, continuing to strive for even greater value for our members. Everything we do is guided by that principle.

LA: What do you feel has been your biggest achievement there?

Les: Making the staff bowling party an annual event.

LA: What do you see as the most important initiative for moving your organization forward?

Les: Continuing to serve as our members’ (and the profession’s) advocate. That takes on many forms—regulatory/legislative, support for practice development, sounding board, resource.

LA: What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing your organization today?

Les: We seem to have difficulty keeping track of spoons in the ABMP kitchen. Actually, we are grateful for the success we have achieved, but we know there is so much more opportunity. Our fundamental question is still “How can we help our members be more successful?” We still encounter people who have never heard of ABMP, even after 22 years in the field. We have built excellent relationships with a number of schools, but we can do a better job of making all schools aware of all we are doing.

LA: There are more organizations and associations for the massage profession now than ever before. What do you see as the ideal relationship between them?

Les: The massage field is fairly unique because of the number of organizations and the level of competition that exists. I am of the belief that competition can be healthy and fundamentally good for the consumer. The massage professional has a wealth of resources at her disposal; we like to think competition has helped raise the bar, and ultimately the therapist has benefited. I enjoy the interaction among the organizations, and I think we can help each other be better. I think the Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge has been a very good experience, and a good example of how we can work together. We’ll still compete, and I am fine with that, but we can also identify opportunities to collaborate.

LA: If you could only say one thing to your stakeholders, what would it be?

Les: Thank you. And the best is yet to come.

This is my first in a series of interviews with the folks at the top of our professional organizations.

Last week I was accused of “handing the microphone” to Paul Lindamood, CEO of the NCBTMB. This week, I’m handing it to Liz Lucas, CEO of AMTA, and in the weeks to come I’ll be handing it to a few others. You just can’t please all the people all the time!

Liz Lucas is the CEO of the American Massage Therapy Association, which represents over 56,000 members. AMTA had its beginnings in 1943, adopted the present name in 1958, and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1960. You can visit their website at www.amtamassage.org

LA: What is your background in the massage profession? Are you now or have you ever personally been a massage therapist?

LL: My background is in association management and business.  I was hired by the AMTA Board of Directors (all massage therapists) to direct and manage the business affairs of the association.  As a result of my work for AMTA over the past 14 years, I have learned a great deal about both massage therapy and the business challenges faced by massage therapists.  As someone who ran her own small business for five years, I am also particularly sensitive to what our members deal with in making their practices successful.

I think it is important to remind everyone of the relationship between our Board of Directors and the Executive Director.  It is our Board that sets the direction for the association, with input from our members and our staff.  I’m responsible for ensuring that direction is implemented in a way that successfully meets the mission and goals of AMTA, while managing the financial and business health of the association.

LA: How long have you been with the organization?

LL: 14 years

LA: Have you been in the same position with the organization since you started, or did you climb through the ranks?

LL: I was originally hired by AMTA as Director of Communications and Marketing.  I have been Executive Director for 8 years.

LA: What is the mission statement of your organization?

LL: The mission of the American Massage Therapy Association is to serve AMTA members, while advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy.

LA: What do you think your organization is doing to honor the mission statement?

LL: As you can see from our mission, AMTA is organized as a non-profit to both serve our members and advance the profession.  And, these really go hand-in-hand.  It best serves our members’ ability to make a living when we are advancing the profession.

We feel it is vital for us to help our members adapt to an ever-changing environment, in which massage therapy has gone in only a few years from an emerging profession to mainstream acceptance.

We are always listening to our members and working with them to deliver benefits that help them be successful practitioners, students, educators and schools.  Our chapters provide a crucial networking connection and direct involvement for our members.

We also develop a strategic plan each year that examines our progress in achieving our long-term vision and short-term goals.  So, our efforts for the profession are an expression of our mission.  Some examples of how we are doing this are:

• Our philanthropic commitment to the Massage Therapy Foundation for which we provide more than $500,000 a year to help them operate and promote both massage therapy research and research-informed practice;
• Our direct involvement and relationships with the healthcare community through the AMA, ACCAHC and HCPAC to work toward integration of massage into healthcare, supporting massage therapists who want this to happen;
• Our relationships with employers of massage therapists and organizations, such as ISPA, which work with those employers, so massage therapists and their employers have a positive and mutually-beneficial relationship; and
• Our contacts with national and state governments to achieve fair and reasonable treatment of massage therapy and massage therapists.

LA: What do you feel has been your biggest achievement there?

LL: I am most proud of bringing the stewards together for the Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge initiative.  This is something that will have a positive and lasting effect for the profession – massage therapists, massage schools, massage educators, massage regulators and the consumer.

LA: What do you see as the most important initiative for moving your organization forward?

LL: Moving AMTA forward is about moving massage therapy and our members forward.  I think helping ensure a consistent and safe massage experience for consumers may be the most important long-term initiative.  That’s because it is an indicator of everything else.  It means massage therapy practice can and does serve a larger population, with more consumers using massage.  Massage is an art and a science.  Replicating that consistently and safely with the mainstream consumer is important for AMTA members and likely for the profession.

LA: What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing your organization today?

LL: Helping our members adapt and remain relevant and successful in a changing environment and changing economy. We see so many changes in massage therapy employment, contraction of massage therapy education and schools, and movement for the profession into two directions – relaxation vs. therapeutic approaches and practices.

Of course linked to all of this is the growth of research to inform massage practice.  It is our challenge to help our members deal with these changes and be successful in a profession that is also a passionate expression of themselves.

LA: There are more organizations and associations for the massage profession now than ever before. What do you see as the ideal relationship between them?

LL: Despite the reality that the profession has chosen to have multiple organizations to represent it, we all need to cooperate to support the profession.  Ultimately, we all serve the same stakeholders.  So, I believe, it is to the profession’s advantage to have these organizations work together.

LA: If you could only say one thing to your stakeholders, what would it be?

LL: This is an interesting question, because AMTA has so many direct stakeholders.  Unlike a for-profit company, AMTA exists to give back to all its stakeholders.  We were created to serve our members and improve business conditions for all in massage therapy.

AMTA continues to provide the widest range of benefits for its members and the best value. Our members consistently rate the association very highly and our members know they are involved in the decisions their association makes for them.  They know that being part of AMTA says something about them as professionals, students and school owners/teachers.  With AMTA, our members are the ones who profit from their membership.