Massage industry statistics

[Das Boot]

Hi there,

Does anyone know where I can access statistics about the massage/complementary therapy industry in the UK? Things like number of therapists, home-based vs clinic-based, full time vs part time etc?

x

Henry

 

[Old Gregg]

Hi Henry

If you could, I would suspect that it would not be very reliable information as most of us do not pay the subscription fees of the trade associations

 

[zkefiuioiixidyejt]

Paul, I think you've hit the nail on the head... unfortunately
Thanks for the quick response
H

 

[Coolyash]

I’m afraid that I can’t answer Henry’s initial query. But I am surprised by Paul’s claim that “most of us do not pay the subscription fees of the trade associations”. My impression (based mainly on conversations on CPD courses) is that most therapists are members of a professional association. And personally I would definitely recommend all therapists to join one of the associations. My principal reason for recommending this is that (as we have discussed at length on this forum) there are a lot of women who advertise “massage” but who are actually offering sexual services. For example, ‘Daisychain’ commented on the thread How to advertise Swedish or holistic?




Similarly, I commented on one of the ‘male client’ threads:



As a rule of thumb (for advising prospective clients), I would think that any therapist whose website or advertising mentions that they are a member of a professional association is likely to be a legitimate therapist. If a website or advertisement doesn’t mention professional qualifications or membership of a professional association, callers may well assume that the advert is a ‘front’ for sexual services.

Regards

Alan

 

[? p??c? is lov? ?]

Hi Alan

I think a lot of therapist might take exception to your post, there are literally thousands of genuinely qualified therapists in this country that choose not to part with their hard earned cash by being members of trade associations.

If you employ a builder who is a member of the master builders association, does their membership fee guarantee that the work will be professional or acceptable?

 

[smooth j]

Embody did a survey a while ago but I know I didnt bother responding
I can give you a few facts and figures from it if you are interested but obviously it was on Embody members that were surveyed - it might just give you a snapshot

 

[?Crazaaay Kitty ?]

I think that Paul and I are going to have to 'agree to differ' on this one (just as I know that we differ about the value of CPD). Personally I still agree with what Leon Chaitow (a very experienced lecturer and writer) wrote on
http://www.positivehealth.com/permit/Articles/Regular/chaito36.htm



Personally I would prefer to hire a builder who was a member of the appropriate association. And while I would certainly agree that membership of a professional association does not automatically mean that a therapist is of good quality, I think it is a pretty good indication that they are a genuine therapist (and not someone who misuses the word 'massage' as a front for sexual services).

Regards

Alan

 

[Pat M]

Hi Alan

No I don't have a problem with cpds, I have done two courses this year myself, obviously someone like Leon Chaitow who earns there living out of teaching is definitely going to promote education in the classroom, after all it keep them in a lucrative job ;-)

I feel that therapist should update there skills as they feel they are ready to integrate new techniques, or to take on new disciplines to enhance the range of treatments they offer, regardless of if they pay an annual subscription to a trade organisation or not.

Saying that IMO the skills need to be appropriate to what we are doing, not just something where we choose the nearest and possibly the cheapest cpd training, just so we fulfil the trade organisations requirements that we do so many days a year cpd, regardless of the content.

 

[MorNicaiae]

hi guys,
getting back to the original question, and not wanting to join the organisational and cpd debate, (well i do but im not going to), i was recently given figures by the gcmt, but only for numbers of massage therapists, and not where they worked etc, and it seems there are approximately 20,000 'registered' massage therapists.

 

[Essential Therapies]

Speaking from the "coal face" - I can attest to the fact that even though I list my qualifications in detail and belong to the No Hands Massage Association and Embody and my ads are worded in such a way that you'd have to be a moron to think I offer anything other than bona fide massage I still get calls from witheld numbers and texts from men who are indeed morons.

I simply let all my calls go through to voicemail - as genuine callers will leave a message, as they assume you are busy with clients - and thereby avoid speaking to unwanted callers altogether. My business is taking off I'm pleased to say. I used free online advertising only. Gumtree is doing a great job in trying to clean up their ads. You have to state your qualifications and that you are not offering a sexual service but of course anyone can state any qualification they like and you still get the sex trade advertising but to a lesser, less overt extent. They've banned fotos altogether - thank god - as some of the sights were incredible/very amusing.

P.S I agree with Paul regarding CPD.

 

[Tracy D]

an interesting article in The Times newspaper today, regarding the regulation of the complementary therapy industry, which im happy to say im involved in. The government is in favour of regulation, and part of the criteria is being a member of a professional body.

Unfortunately, yes, you have to pay membership fees, however, if we want to be treated as professionals, then we have to pay the price.....

 

[wwatcttt]

Just searched and read that Times article online. Very interesting stuff and I believe the publicity and regulation will elevate our therapies into a different league. I also believe it is a fine alternative to the old question of HPC regulation.
Plus Happyfingers will have an answer to his question.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article3134337.ece
Can Sportstherapy keep us posted on this.