When I first started massage therapy school, my Swedish instructor was among the many down the line who insisted on our use of the term massage therapist, instead of masseuse or masseur. She elaborated weekly on how massage therapist is a professional title that many in the industry had fought long and hard to be accepted and used. She explained to me and my class, virtually lay people at the time, that there was indeed a significant difference between massage therapists and masseuses.

It all sounded a little elitist and heady to me at the time. All I knew was that I wanted to massage people to make them feel better, reduce their stress and pain and help provide lasting change in their health and well-being. The promise of eventual entrepreneurship and making a lucrative living was also a focus, but not what I was going to call myself when I received my certifications. Little did I know, my very reason for wanting to massage (the former, not the latter) was a definition in part of a massage therapist.

A masseuse provides relaxation and stress relief through massage and professional touch (skin, fascia and muscle manipulation). A massage therapist can do that plus provide therapy by figuring out a cause of any musculoskeletal pain and postural distortions, then treating clients (often through a series of sessions) for long term relief. The key difference between the two professions is that massage therapists must be educated (in most states with at least 500 hours) and skilled in teaching their clients preventative measures and encouraging healthy routines for general wellness.

Living in Georgia, I also learned that it was important to recognize the distinction because this state categorizes (scheduled to change by Summer 2007) massage therapy under Adult Entertainment instead of Healthcare. Even today there are probably just as many establishments with “Massage” on their shingle that provide MUCH more than what I would EVER do for money. The blacked-out windows of these “spas” are a dead-give- away for the types of massage they perform. I wish I could say I have never been asked how much I charge for “happy endings” but alas that is not the case.

So today, I proudly proclaim to be a qualified, professional, certified massage therapist (CMT) and would be happy to explain the difference to those who ask (or at least direct them to this post).


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