How do I find the right massage therapist?

A reader asked how to find a good massage therapist. Thanks for asking!

When you're looking for a good therapist, there are several questions to ask yourself first:

• Why are you looking? Muscle aches and pains? Trouble sleeping? Swelling?
• Where? Do you want to go somewhere, or would you rather have someone come to you?
• Who? Do you prefer a male or female therapist?
• How much pressure? Light, medium, or deeper work?

Different therapists have different skill sets and different ability levels. Even someone with a great deal of experience isn't necessarily the right therapist for you.

As for how to find one: Google reviews and Yelp help, but one of the best ways is to ask your friends. We all know word of mouth is the best advertising.

When you find a therapist, make sure they're licensed and that their license is current. My Tennessee license number is 874. You can look up any therapist by name or license number on the Tennessee Department of Health's license verification website.

Another thing to consider is how much you want to spend. If you go to a spa or clinic, you could spend as little as $60 or as much as $150 or more for an hour. If you have someone come to you, prices vary, but expect to pay a bit more, since the therapist is bringing everything to you. And as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. (Shameless self-promotion, as promised.)

Ask before you book. Before you schedule, ask up front:

• What does it cost? And are there add-on services, and what do they cost?
• How long is the session? Is that time on the table, or does it include talking and getting settled?
• What should I expect during the session, and what should I not expect?

And know your rights as a client. You have the right to say no to anything, and to stop the session at any time, for any reason. A good therapist will respect that, no questions asked.

One more tip: when you search online, the more specific you are, the better your results. Use your city name and the type of massage you want: deep tissue, Swedish, sports massage, and so on.

Ask questions, and speak up. Be sure to ask questions, even during the session. Tell your therapist everything: you like it there, it feels good, it's helping. Or, "When you touch there, I feel it somewhere else." Most importantly, pressure. If you feel like you need or want more, or less, say something! We aren't mind readers, and anything you tell us helps us help you.

If you have a therapist who doesn't listen, or who seems to have their own agenda, that may be a flag to find a different one. But understand that sometimes we may offer suggestions meant to help you in the long run. If you don't understand, ask. There are no dumb questions, except the ones you don't ask out loud.

Questions? Text me at (615) 609-4394 or email finertouchmassage@gmail.com, and I'll be happy to help.

— Bill