Are you drawn to the healing arts? Have you always wanted to work in the healthcare field? Would you like to provide your clients with a natural path towards healing? If so, there are many opportunities available in the healthcare industry after you graduate from massage therapy school.
Clinics, Hospices, & Hospitals
Many clinics, hospices, and hospitals today employ massage therapists. Most opportunities in these types of facilities fall under one of three categories: pain management, oncology, or pregnancy. Such opportunities may be in a rehabilitative capacity, such as in the hospital’s physical therapy department; or providing treatment to cancer patients; or helping new mothers deal with postpartum aches and pains.
Chiropractic Offices & Physical Therapy Offices
Although chiropractic offices and physical therapy offices aren’t the same, they do have a few things in common aside from providing increasing opportunities for massage therapists. As a massage therapist employed at a chiropractic or physical therapy office, you may be treating clients who suffer from either injury-related or chronic pain, while other clients come in for routine maintenance. Also, in both environments, you will usually carry out a treatment program prescribed by a chiropractor or physician.
Massage therapy is becoming more and more recognized as an effective alternative therapy and there are even more opportunities out there, including positions at nursing homes and medi spas, as well as working directly with surgeons to provide surgical aftercare in a freelance capacity.
Also, you can specialize in some kind of medical massage, such as pregnancy or oncology massage, with CE (Continuing Education) after graduation. It all depends on where your passion lies.
Learn more about the career opportunities available to massage therapists throughout this series.
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Confirm the types of massage therapy you’re allowed to practice in your area as regulations vary from state to state. This information can usually be found on your state’s occupational licensing or health department website.