As I have traveled around the country, I have met thousands of massage therapists who work in a multitude of environments. Over the last thirty years, I have seen a trend in which more therapists are working in environments with other practitioners, such as in a chiropractic clinic, physical therapy clinic, or several other settings. The addition of franchises also provided another environment for practice. While all of these have strengths and weaknesses, the one environment where I have seen a decline is the independent massage therapy clinic, such as my own in Champaign, IL.
There are many advantages (and challenges) to such an environment and one of the most prominent is the ability to portray massage therapy in a way that reflects the preferences of the therapists who occupy the practice. This is certainly true at my clinic in Champaign, which has been fully engaged with the community, representing how this field can contribute to the health and vibrancy of the city in which we reside.
My clinic was the subject of an article written by Bob Benson in Massage and Bodywork Magazine in 2018. We revisited that subject in a podcast aired in May of 2023. I hope you find it inspiring.
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