What Does Massage Therapy Help With?
Massage therapy has been shown to be effective in treating pain, reducing muscle tension, aiding digestion, lowering stress levels, improving blood and lymph circulation, increasing ability to focus on tasks, and decreasing anxiety and depression. Quite a number of research studies have been done on the effects of massage therapy (see Research section for more detailed information).
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
The number of sessions needed depends on the severity of the condition. Long-standing conditions often require a number of sessions, while an acute injury, if not severe, may resolve quickly. A treatment plan will be discussed with you at your first visit.
I Have Some Health Issues. Can I Still Receive Massage/Bodywork?
Massage/bodywork can be provided for most health conditions, although it may need to be modified in terms of location, pressure, and style of massage/ bodywork. Please inform me of any health conditions you have. If you have any questions, ask your medical provider. I may request permission to contact your provider or ask for a referral for massage.
Do I Need a Referral In Order to See You?
A referral may be required if the session will be billed to an insurance company or Labor and Industries. Otherwise, it is only required for certain health concerns. This will be determined when you call for your appointment. Please mention any health concerns when you call to see whether a referral is needed from your medical provider prior to your appointment.
Will Insurance Cover Massage Therapy?
A number of health insurance plans in Washington State cover massage therapy. Labor and Industries also pays for massage therapy. Currently, Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for massage therapy.
Check with your insurance company to clarify coverage. There may be co-pays and/or deductibles, and limits on the number of sessions per year. A referral from a medical practitioner may be required. Some insurance companies require the massage/bodywork practitioner to be approved as a provider. Others will partially pay for sessions provided by non-providers. Check with the therapist to see whether they are a provider, and with the insurance company to determine whether they will pay for a non-provider.
There are two options for billing of your insurance company: I can bill, or you can pay upfront and bill the insurance company for reimbursement.
What Kind of Training Does a Massage Therapist Receive?
Massage therapists in Washington State are required to receive a minimum 500 hours of training at an approved massage school, including training in massage/bodywork styles, hydrotherapy, kinesiology, pathology, anatomy and physiology, HIV/AIDS, First Aid/CPR, ethics and professionalism, and business practices. Many schools offer training that well exceeds this number of hours. Upon completion of school, passage of a state/national exam is required, and then licensure is granted. Licensed practitioners must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years, to include four hours of ethics. I graduated from a 1,000-hour program at Boulder College of Massage Therapy in 1993, and have received extensive continuing education training since that time.