Rehab and Massage Therapy Jobs

Freelance Jobs in Rehab and Massage Therapy

Among the many types of medical therapy, including physical, occupational, recreational, and speech therapies, most are practiced within the confines of a hospital or other medical facility. Massage therapy, on the other hand, offers a bit more freedom in that it allows for more self-employment and freelance opportunities.

Despite what you may think, massage therapy is a legitimate and recognized field of therapeutic medicine. All fifty states require licensee to practice massage therapy, and physical therapists and medical doctors will often refer a patient to massage therapy for specific treatment. Some of the variants within the family of massage therapy jobs include Acupressure, Amma, Connective Tissue Massage, Neuromuscular Massage, Reflexology, and Shiatsu. License requirements vary from state to state, but a certain level of education will always be required.

The freelance and self-employment aspect of massage therapy jobs make this field especially attractive to those who don’t like to be confined to a single medical facility. Using the state of New York as an example, the massage therapist has a bit more professional freedom than the physical therapist. A physical therapist is not allowed by state law to work with a patient unless that person has been referred by a medical doctor. An exception is made after the PT has completed a certain number of work hours. But even with the exception, he is limited in the amount of treatment he can provide without a referral.

A massage therapist, on the other hand, is not required to work from referrals. He is free to set up his own office in a self-employment scenario, or contract his services in a freelance facility-to-facility situation. He is also free work in the homes or offices of individual clients.

One of the downsides to massage therapy employment is the stigma attached to the profession as a result of the immoral activity of some. Before licensing was required for massage therapy, the activity was often used as a front for prostitution. Even though regulation has since helped to reduce such instances, they have not been completely eliminated and still cause many people to be suspicious of massage therapists.

With that in mind, many states have developed very clear guidelines to define licensed massage therapy. What a therapist is qualified to do, what he is allowed to do, and what he is prohibited from doing are all included in state regulations. As an example, massage therapists are prohibited in most states from conducting personal relationships with clients for as long as they remain clients. They are required to respect the client’s boundaries and comfort levels at all times, and are prohibited from attempting to manipulate or force patients beyond their comfort level.

Massage therapy is a rewarding career with a lot of flexibility in employment choices. Whether you’re more of the institutional worker or the freelancer, massage therapy jobs are waiting to be filled. Check with your state education department for information on obtaining your license to practice massage therapy.