Re: Legalising "Massage"

[life-lover]

Hi There

I have just completed my ITEC A&P Holistic Massage Diploma. - I got a credit. The course was for three months - first week of each month in the college and the rest of the time at home studying.

I just wanted to add that I actually did my ITEC because I heard a rumour that this country is going to be regulating massage in the near future. So, I presume the same as America - anybody using the word massage in their advertising or practicing massage in any way, shape or form will have to have an ITEC qualification. Believe you me this has been a long time coming.

It has been on the news recently that Mr Blunkett wants to legalise prostitution. So it looks like the wheels are in motion.

So spread the word people - and make sure you have got the ITEC qualification.

Let me know if anyone has heard anything similar

Love Tracy

 

[Fancypants]

?????!!! Not too sure how to take that comment as a Massage Therapist!

Karen x

 

[....]

Karen

Sorry if you took that the wrong way. What I meant is the connection of the word "Massage" being misused in this country to attract clients to Ladies of the Night - so to speak.

I am also a massage therapist and proud of it.

Love Tracy

 

[Suzy]

Why, though, do you assume that ITEC will be the qualification to have? Nothing has been agreed yet. The powers that be have been talking about this for years and I'm sure that when the time comes, other known qualifications of a certain standard will be taken into consideration, along with experience and CPD.

I don't think those of us who are well qualified should be worrying just yet.

Lesley

 

[ReginaldQ]

I can't even remember where I first heard about it. Thats why I threw it into the arena to see if anyone else had heard anything similar. Obviously you have and as you say it has been going for years.

Shame I was looking forward to all the many local establishments here in East London closing down and leaving their "Saunas/Massage" businesses to be converted into houses of wellbeing!!!

My first message was by no means meant to be taken offensively. Just thought I'd bring the subject up.

Love Tracy

 

[Big PAPA]

Errr! (high pitched comedy theatre voice)
[sm=hippy.gif] "I'm a Ladieeee of the night.... I am!"

Soz, just having a "Little Britain" moment.
Rgds,
Roger

 

[ilOveNicKjoNas]

are you saying that *those* sort of massage therapists will have to hold ITEC qualifications? <snigger> i never realised their clientele would be that bothered!


roger... what ya doin' here??!!

 

[asbieyho]

Massage is indeed in the (slow) process of being regulated, but this wont be done by any of the bodies such as ITEC, it will be done by an independent body. It may more than likely be a body such as the Health Professions Council, but there is a waiting list, as they are currently working on Sports Therapy and Sports Massage.

In my opinion regulation is a long time coming, as there are far far too many massage therapists who may have done a days training somewhere and claim to be able to 'treat all ills' [sm=soapbox.gif]

As for legalising prostitution, I know, through contacts, of prostitutes attending massage classes, just in case they get investigated by the police etc, so they can say they are offering a professional service [sm=rollaugh.gif]

 

[yahoooo!]

does all this licencing really work?
When the osteopaths had to resit exams and register to licence those that failed that wanted to stay in practice just changed their names to myo-osteopaths.
steve

 

[sciencegeek+]

You are right Steve, but they are still not registered Osteopaths. Doesn't mean they weren't or aren't good though.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have ITEC qualifications so think I can speak on this one. ITEC will NOT be the only recognised qualification. The standards should all come into line so that all the current qualifications are similar. VTCT are currently doing their bit by doing 'advanced' courses to bring their therapists up to speed on this.

Self-regulation will be the first step and this is not the same as regulation or legalisation of massage. I agree, it should be controlled and am in favour of it, but your facts about ITEC being THE certificate to have are not correct as I know it.

We have had many discussions on this forum and others about ITEC versus VTCT etc etc and it has long been decided that it is a combination of therapist/teacher and ultimately it is the therapist who is responsible for doing a good job. Basically if you ain't any good you don't get returning clients. I have my own clinic and I am the only ITEC therapist as I trained in London. In the North West VTCT is more popular and available. I have the most wonderful VTCT therapist and have learned not to judge!

 

[Bettyboop]

I have done VTCT as well - my tutor hated the ITEC way of teaching - he's been qualified for over 15 yrs in all his therapies and he was and still is an wonderful experienced teacher.

I will not be willing to resit any exams/courses to get the ITEC qualification becuase I think i am good at what I have done through VTCT and didn't just learn overnight.

 

[y n]

A Funny One. - My tutor had a gentleman turn up with 16 girls and he asked if my tutor could get them all through an ITEC course. Of course my tutor jumped at the chance. Unfortunately when they turned up only three of them spoke English.

 

[Evan Halstead]

Returning back to the legalising prostitution bit.. I think think there'll be chaps calling the people listed in the yellow pages under complementary therapy cause they don't want the stigma of calling someone listed under brothels.. or anything similar.. ]

As for ITEC being the only qualiication recognised, it's likely it will be ONE of the qualifications recognised, but it ties in with all the other exam boards and official bodies - they seek to represent good courses, well qualified individuals and to protect the public from those who lack the experience to practice - they wont just cancel out someones qualification, it'll be a very slow process and very measured.

To be honest, I am not sure how 'massage' and massage are related.. they are worlds apart.. unless of course, one of you has heard rumours that ITEC are gonna be starting certificated courses in 'massage'. [sm=hidesbehindsofa.gif]

 

[Umbrella Corporation]

I too have to admit that I was approached by a gentleman offering quite a good deal of money to teach some of his 'employees' massage

Being the kindly sort, I directed him to the local college

 

[anewsxax]

I know its on a different track, but I have recently found out that some of these osteomyologists dont even have formal training and yet are performing high velocity neck and back manipulations! Maybe legislation isnt tough enough?

 

[iLyAnA]

I think it is up to the public to make sure they use osteopaths who are regulated. A few phone calls or chats to friends will soon make the situation clear and anyway, most people go on recommendation. We get most of patients that way.

 

[Maurog III]

Have never yet had a problem with the whole 'massage' thing myself. It's all about how you present yourself really. Can't see any connection between massage being regulated and seedy saunas. Everybody knows the difference. There is absolutely no connection in my mind or the minds of any of our clients.

 

[rebkszpg]

Just to add my two US cents...

One of the early reasons for the current regulated state of the US Massage profession was to distinguish legitimate massage, from "massage" or rather prostitution. In doing so, the idea was that if someone paid and attended a 500 hour training, they won't throw it away by being a prostitute.

I'll say now that that is one of the most stupid reasons for regulating the massage profession. And as for prostitution - it is like alcoholism - better to regulate it than try to stamp it out because that will drive it underground (or as in the US, across the state border...)

Regulation should only be imposed if demonstrable harm can be shown to have arisen from the work of unqualified practitioners. As I have mentioned somewhere, there is a groundswell of opinion in the US that things have gone too far and that the steady creep of regulation has to be restrained. As for 'confusion' between legitimate massage and sexual services: get real. Callers know what they are asking for, and the men and women who do look for these services know where to call, or find out very quickly the person they are speaking to does not provide sexual services.

BTW, ITEC, for all it's lofty claims, will not qualify anyone to be a massage therapist in the US: in the regulated states the minimum hours of training has to be 500 hours. New York requires 1000. ITEC only has 120. I cannot call myself a Massage Therapists, only a Massage Practitioner.

Of course in British Columbia, Canada, you need 2,200 hours to be a massage therapist.....

 

[Lilliah]

...and before I get murdered on this board, I am not denigrating ITEC or VTCT or the other schools - after all I am ITEC qualified myself! (IGPP - that's another matter!! :-( )

As Candie has mentioned time and again, we truly only start learning after we get the basic qualification. And from what I have seen so far, when it comes to Swedish massage, I have yet to see someone in the US perform Swedish with the classical form that ITEC still insists on. So one up for ITEC there.

In fact, in states fighting legislation, people are trying to point out that in making the 500 hours, many colleges take courses other than pure massage e.g. other therapies like lymphatic drainage, reflexology etc. So does it make sense to insist that only people with 500 hours of training should be allowed to massage?

 

[Melany Souders]

Now that is interesting.[sm=scratchchin.gif] Pray tell, what is the difference?

Personally I think practitioner sounds much grander!