Frequently Asked Questions
What type of massage therapy do you offer?
I offer holistic, therapeutic, non-sexual massage sessions. My emphasis is on deep tissue and sports therapy. I work on those that have chronic or acute injuries due to working out, mental or physical stress or trauma, repetitive motion injury, etc. The clinic caters to those need instant pain relief or those that need to come in for regular visits to reduce pain, retrain muscles or break up scar tissue or knots. It does not matter if you are an athlete or someone that does not work out, the techniques that I provide can assist anyone in their pain management regiment.
My clinic is a private practice that caters to clients that seek the long term benefits of massage therapy. I mostly accept new clients by chiropractic, doctor, or clientele referral. New clients are prescreened before they are booked to determine if my services are what they need.
What form of payment do you take?
Payment can be made by cash or by Visa or MasterCard. You can also pay for services via Paypal or Google. Due to increased non sufficient funds and identity fraud, I will no longer accept personal checks. Cashiers checks and money orders will be rejected for payment as well.
If for some reason your credit card is declined you will be responsible for full payment in cash before you leave the office. Payment will be made before session can take place.
Do you take insurance?
At this time I do not take insurance. Other methods of payment is by cash, Visa or Master Card , Google, or Pay Pal. By request, I will give you a receipt for your insurance company. The receipt will state what type of massage therapies were performed and should be compliant with your insurance company.
Are you licensed ? Are you insured?
Yes, I am licensed and registered with the state of Texas.
My number is MT104431 and will expire 1-26-2011. Verify
Yes, I am a member in good standing and insured through International Massage Association.
My insurance number is 206398 and will expire on 11-04-2009. Verify
What if I am late for my massage appointment?
Life happens and sometimes it cannot be avoided. Just relax, take a deep breath and call your therapist to let them know you will be late or if you need to reschedule. Your therapist doesn't want to you to become involved in auto accident or receive a traffic ticket for rushing to your allotted appointment.
You may have to reschedule if you are more than 30-minutes late. I schedule 30 to 60-minutes between session in cases such as these. If I have another appointment after yours, I may have to cut your session time short ( you will be charged full price of session) or you will have the choice of rescheduling.
Clients that are frequently late will have those minutes docked from their visit and be charged the full price.
Out of respect for all my clients I make sure that each massage is started at the a allotted time requested.
What is your policy on canceling?
The policy on canceling is that you must reschedule your appointment within a reasonable amount of time. If you do not you will be placed on a "Do Not Massage List". Chronic persons that cancel will be required to prepay for current session and previous session missed by credit card before they will be seen.
Those that are considered a "NO SHOW" for their schedule appointment will not be seen and will be placed on a "Do Not Massage List".
Do I have to fill out a client intake form?
Yes, as in any medical situation, you do have to fill out a form. It is state law for medical professionals to keep client information on file. You will need to fill out your name, phone number, birth date, medical information and sign and date the disclaimer. This protects you and the therapist. If you do not fill out the form, a massage will not take place.
Some clients fear that I will contact them outside of the office setting and they do not want to fill out the form. No worries, I am not a telemarketer. You know when you need a massage. I will not contact you unless you advise me to.
As a client, you are HIPPA protected. For more information on HIPPA protection and what HIPPA means to you please click here.
Does your office offer prostrate massage?
No, I do not offer prostrate massage. It is illegal for any massage therapist to treat a client for that condition. The state of Texas clearly states that any licensed massage therapist caught performing a sex act or massaging that area will loose their licensure. Exceptions may apply if the therapist is working under a medical doctor's supervision.
If you come across anyone claiming to provide such services I would advise asking for their credentials. More than likely the person does not have a license with the state and is a prostitute.
What parts of the body do you massage?
Areas of the body that will be massaged are face, head, scalp, neck, back, arms, hands, abdomen, gluts, thighs, calves, and feet. The breast work can be performed if only if female clients signs and dates a release form. If client request, I perform lymphatic drainage on the breast area for men and women. I also work on the groin muscles with stretching and trigger point therapy for both sexes. The client must sign and the the release before I can work on these areas.
I do not massage the genitalia on male or female clients. Persons that request this will not be booked or will be asked to leave. If necessary, a police report will be filed. By law I am required to report sexual solicitation to the sex crimes unit of the police department.
Am I supposed to tip my massage therapist?
Tipping is always optional and it is not a requirement. If you go to a spa or hotel; call a therapist for out call massage, the standard tip is 15% to 20% of the service fee. In a medical setting it not usually the acceptable to tip. If you're unsure, don't be afraid to ask if tipping is customary. If tipping isn't the acceptable, you can always show your appreciation by referring friends, family and co-workers to the massage therapist.
In my practice it is appreciated but not necessary.
Do you provide draping? Is Draping optional?
Updated mandate required by the state says that I must provide this disclaimer: "draping will be used during the session, unless otherwise agreed to by both the client and the licensee." When filling out your form you must sign and date the release if you require non-draping.
Am I supposed to take off my underwear when I get a massage?
Some people prefer to keep their undergarments on during a massage session, while others prefer to be nude. It's entirely up to you.
Remember draping is to your comfort level and draping will always be provided to you. If you have problems areas in your lower back, hips, buttocks, or groin, underwear can become obstructive and can gets in the way of applying proper strokes. To get to those areas, you might want to remove your undergarments before your massage. If you feel uncomfortable removing your undergarments, the therapist will understand and will use other techniques to get to those areas in question.
Should I talk to the massage therapist during the massage?
Although some people prefer to talk throughout the massage, it's optional. Feel free to close your eyes and relax. You can also take a nice nap as well. Deep tissue massage and sports massage are just some of the types of massage that require a more little more feedback. The massage therapist often works on deeper layers of muscle and will ask from time to time if the pressure is comfortable.
SPEAK UP IF...
- The room is too hot or too cold.
- You experience severe pain.
- You have any questions related to the massage.
- There is anything you forgot to mention during the consultation.
Communication is essential in receiving a massage. if you have any questions, comments, or concerns please inform the therapist.
What if I get an erection during the massage?
Some men worry about getting a erection when they receive a massage. Your therapist should understand and should not have a problem with it. It's a normal response for men to get an erection during a non-sexual, therapeutic massage. Gentle touch administered to the body can sometimes activate the parasympathetic nervous system and cause a partial or full erection. If you are concerned, you may wish to wear restrictive or supportive undergarments during the session. You may also consult with your therapist about your concerns.
How do I know if it's a legitimate massage establishment?
When calling a new spa or clinic ask:
- Do you offer therapeutic massage?
- Is the massage therapist licensed?
- Do you require a client to fill out a client intake form or sign a release?
- Do you have a table for out call massage?
- Do you adhere to the hygiene practices implemented by the state?
Legitimate massage establishments will display a massage establishment license and licensure's of each massage therapist working there. Independent massage therapist will have a their massage license openly displayed.
The pressure isn't deep enough, but I don't want to insult the massage therapist's technique. What should I do?
Communicate with the massage therapist. The therapist will never take offense if you want more pressure. As stated the therapist will adjust the pressure and technique to your liking.
Does a massage have to hurt to be effective?
It's a common myth that massage therapy has to hurt to be effective. Some of the most effective types of massage therapy are gentle and do not involve deep pressure or pain. For example lymphatic drainage focuses on the the lymphatic system. Gentle, slow and concise strokes are used to drain the lymphatic channels. In fact, too much pressure can cause stress's to muscles and they can become tense. Again communication is essential to a massage. The therapist should also be paying attention to breathing patterns, slight movement, etc. and occasionally ask if pressure is fine.
If it is not a good kind of pain, tell the therapist. Just remember this quick hint-On a scale of one to 10 (where 1 is no pain and 10 is extremely painful) the pressure should always be less than seven.
You know your own body. No one else can tell you. If something hurts, tell the therapist. He or she can work out the trigger point, knot, etc or if requested they can leave it alone.
I'm self-conscious about a certain part of my body but don't want the massage therapist to see me. What can I do?
People are self-conscious for various reasons. Some of the more common concerns are:
- I have excessive hair growth on my body.
- I have acne on my face or back.
Being self-conscious should never keep you from seeking health care, whether it's visiting your doctor or seeing a massage therapist.
If you're self-conscious about a certain part of your body, you can ask the massage therapist to avoid that area.
You can opt for a therapy that is done through clothing, such as shiatsu or Thai massage. Because no massage oil or lotion is used, you remain fully clothed during the session.
Just remember to provide complete and accurate information on your client intake form so that the therapist is aware of any precautions or contraindications you may have. It is your responsibility for your own health and well-being.
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