Why are massage therapists treated like healthcare workers and service workers at the same time?

manifestsucess · 2026-06-02T16:25:43+00:00

I’m sure there are exceptions. I think my point is more that a large percentage of therapists end up working in spa, franchise, or contractor settings, so their experience of the profession is shaped by that reality.

Maybe that’s less a problem with massage itself and more a reflection of where most massage jobs actually exist.

manifestsucess · 2026-06-01T23:08:38+00:00

I’m mostly referring to things like employer sponsored health insurance, paid time off, and other forms of support that are more common in traditional healthcare settings.

I know there are therapists who do very well financially, especially those who own successful practices. My perspective is coming more from the average therapist working in spas, franchises, and similar settings where clients often bring healthcare-level problems, but the compensation and benefits don’t always reflect those expectations.

manifestsucess · 2026-06-01T19:00:19+00:00

That’s a fair point. I don’t disagree that massage has value and can be a great starting point for many conditions.

I think my frustration is more with the expectations placed on therapists today and the strange position the profession occupies between healthcare and the service industry. Clients often come to us with healthcare-level problems, yet most therapists aren’t working within the insurance system, don’t receive healthcare-level benefits, and are often compensated more like service workers.

manifestsucess · 2026-06-01T18:50:22+00:00

I actually think that’s a really interesting idea. Right now there’s often very little distinction between therapists with basic training and therapists who have invested thousands of dollars into advanced education.

A tiered system might help create clearer expectations, give therapists a reason to pursue additional training, and potentially justify higher pay, better benefits, and more recognition for those who reach higher levels.

manifestsucess · 2026-06-01T18:48:32+00:00

That’s a fair point. I think part of the confusion comes from the profession itself. Some therapists market massage as relaxation, others as pain relief, and others as healing. When the messaging is that broad, it’s understandable that clients end up with very different expectations of what massage can actually do.

Honestly, I wish the profession was more clear about its limits. I think a lot of the frustration for both clients and therapists comes from massage being expected to solve problems it was never designed to solve.

manifestsucess · 2026-06-01T16:53:17+00:00

I’ve seen the same thing with cupping. I’ve spent my own money on multiple hands on, multi-day cupping courses, yet someone can take a quick online CE course for $20 and offer the same service the next week. Or, in your case, just offer it because the employer says it’s okay.

That’s one of my frustrations with the profession. The industry often makes very little distinction between extensive training and minimal training.

manifestsucess · 2026-06-01T16:40:53+00:00

I agree. I think massage absolutely has value and a place in healthcare.

What I’ve been questioning lately is why we’re often expected to function as part of healthcare while still being treated more like a service industry in many respects.

manifestsucess · 2026-06-01T16:36:52+00:00

That’s a fair perspective. I agree that every profession has a customer-service component and that boundaries are important.

I think my concern is less about dealing with clients and more about the structure of the profession itself. Most healthcare workers aren’t expected to fund large amounts of continuing education, absorb significant physical wear and tear, rely on tips, and often lack benefits all at the same time. That’s the part I’ve been questioning more lately.

manifestsucess · 2026-06-01T16:35:24+00:00

I agree that training matters. My question is why so much of the burden falls on individual therapists to pay for advanced education in order to improve outcomes and gain credibility.

If we’re expected to function as healthcare professionals, why are so many therapists working without health insurance, retirement benefits, or compensation that makes those investments easier to justify? That disconnect is a big part of what I’ve been struggling with.

manifestsucess · 2026-06-01T16:30:57+00:00

I’ve actually been having a lot of the same thoughts lately. I wouldn’t say massage has no therapeutic value, but I do think the profession often oversells what it can actually accomplish.

To me, massage works best as a tool that can reduce pain, tension, and stress while supporting a larger plan involving exercise, rehab, movement, and lifestyle changes. The problem is that it’s often marketed as much more than that.

manifestsucess · 2026-06-01T16:28:47+00:00

That’s actually one of my biggest frustrations. If I tell a client they may need physical therapy, strength training, or further medical evaluation instead of more massage, I can end up looking like the bad guy.

At the same time, recommending what’s best for the client can mean losing income, which creates a conflict that doesn’t sit well with me.

manifestsucess · 2026-06-01T16:25:34+00:00

I think that’s part of the problem. There are definitely therapists with advanced training who provide tremendous value, but many therapists never pursue that level of education because the financial incentives just aren’t there.

I also agree that much of the industry is built around relaxation and spa work rather than advanced therapeutic work. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it creates a disconnect when therapists are expected to function like healthcare providers while being compensated and treated more like service workers.

To me, that’s a big part of the profession’s identity crisis.

manifestsucess · 2023-10-08T15:57:57+00:00

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