How long after qualifying did you start working as a therapist?

[parisv]

Following on from something that was mentioned in one of the hot topics about distance learning. How long after qualifying as a massage therapist did you start working as a therapist either full or part time?

It took me about 5 years from my first ITEC massage qualification because I was in a very well paid office job. On a part time basis I was doing regular voluntary massages for a cancer charity and doing friends and family. My heart was no longer in my office job and I got a lot more satisfaction from working with my massage clients. I knew that initially I would be taking a drop in salary, I had no savings to cushion me but I just had to go for it. My first job was woring full time at a spa which was a real baptism of fire but I learnt a lot from it. During the first 3 months my best friend didn't think I going to last because of the amount of complaining I did. After leaving the spa before I became totallly burnt out I decided that self employment was my only option if I wanted to stay working as a massage therapist. Self employment can be very challenging but all I can do is dig in and get on with it.

 

[john m]

Hi Essence,

If you want a wider range of replies than just massage therapists, then a moderator can move this thread over to the Business and Marketing forum for you, just holler. If, however, you are looking specifically for answers from just massage therapists then you're in the right forum.

 

[Jack Martin]

Yes I was thinking more of just massage but thanks for the suggestion.

I know your not a massage therapist but I know from your previous posts that you started as soon as you finished your training.

 

[Fiona]

If I go for a massage at a large spa I always end up feeling sorry for the therapist because of the production line stream of clients that they must see. Hats off to them I don't think I could do it for long.

I had a very busy 'free' clinic when I was a student seeing on average 2 people a day 7 days a week (fitted around a day job and the therory part of the course) but right from the start I was hooked on doing treatments.

After I qualified I kept the show on the road with my now not free clinic so obvioulsy I saw less clients but kept this going alongside a job for a year. I got to the point where I could not keep my feet in both camps and found I was turning away clients as I did not have enough time to see them so gave up the day job to focus on the therapies and am loving it. Also I now have time to volunteer as a therapist, something I have been really looking forward to.

Lou xxx

 

[Zachary]

I was getting burnt out with my office job so with a small loan from my brother I went down to 2 days a week in that job whilst training as a massage therapist. I set up in business about a month before I qualified I did have insurance though, charged "student rates" making it clear I was not yet qualified.

Now I'm doing the office job 3 days a week and the massage 2 evenings and 1 afternoon, and 1 Saturday a month or so. I think it will probably have to be this way for a few more years to come.

 

[CatchpennyNinja]

Have you trawled through some of the threads in Business and Marketing forum? Something like this may start you off -
http://www.healthypages.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=51515

This has been a topic of conversation several times on HP. Personally, I went full time more than 3 years after qualifying, and even then, went back to temping whenever bills needed paying. Nowadays (30 years later) I have the luxury of being a full-time therapist.

 

[-.-"]

After finishing my course, I moved to a new city and set up self employed part time. Saw my first client 5 months after my course ended. Then went full time after 18 months.