5 Tips on How to find an Exceptional Massage Therapist.

  • By Rebecka Lassen
  • •
  • 10 Apr, 2018

Check out these top tips that can help you know if you have found an exceptional massage therapist.

You are stressed, tired and sore. You need a massage like yesterday, so you desperately go on Groupon and click buy.  You high five your cat as he sits on your keyboard. Then that “Hold on a minute” thought creeps in. You check out the business website see it seems a bit questionable. It hits you then,”WTF did I just do?!”  Let’s stop that doing that. Let’s mitigate some of that uncertainty. Let’s get real about how to find an exceptional massage therapist (MT).


1. Do they have a legit?
I feel it is obvious with this day and age, no website, no go. There are just too many free website builders that literally do all the work for you. Even if you don’t own a computer, I promise, they should know someone that does, or if they are legit, willing to hire someone.

We also don’t live in an 8-bit world. Does it look like it belongs on the Oregon Trail? If they are not updating their site, it is likely they aren’t deeply invested in their business - which is you. Avoid that dysentery and keep your wagon rolling on.  


2. Can you find their face?

There is a sense of peace and comfort knowing who you are letting oil you up when you are in your skivvies. Does the massage therapist have their own picture on their website? As a client, I want to know who will be touching me for a longer time than my sexual relations last. A good confident therapist will proudly show you their smiling mug.

3. Is it a small business or corporation?

I am fully aware that I will get flack for this, but small business is the way to go. And hear me out before you start telling me how wrong I am. There is something to be said when a massage therapist has a stake in the business. They are aware that their business depends on the massage being great, otherwise you aren’t coming back. That means no money.

If the MT is just on the clock for a corporation, it doesn’t cost them any money if you don’t come back. They still get paid either way. Now of course, if you aren’t a good MT at a corporation, you could eventually lose your job. You generally just have to be good enough, that no one will complain.

Just to note: I have had plenty of good massages at corporations, but I’m telling you the best ones I’ve gotten came from small business owners. And of course, some small business owners are bad too.I’m speaking in general terms, of course.

4. Are they on the FBI's most wanted list?

This easy and 5 second trick can save you a lot of time and money. Do not go into the weeds on this either. Just google the business or name of the therapist.
----Do they exist? Check.
----Have they axe murdered anyone? No. Check.
----Do they have reviews? Check.
----If they have negative reviews, did they respond appropriately? Check.

On this note, don’t let one or two negative comments ruin it for you. Some people are just impossible to please.So a couple negative reviews doe not mean they suck. However, the good ones should outweigh the bad. And most review sites, allow you to respond. An exceptional therapist will have responded professionally and respectfully.

Again, don’t go into the weeds on your googling.  At some point of researching a business, it crosses the line into wasting time. Either that or it leads to cat videos.

5. Do they ask have an intake process?
So this one you may or may not know until your appointment, but an exceptional massage therapist will have you do a short intake form. If you get ushered into a room and they don’t even ask your name or what bothers you, you are getting the “house special” massage.

With an intake form, your massage therapist will likely plan the massage based on of your needs. Even an informal interview process will help the quality of the massage since they are taking the time to listen to your needs. Either or both of these intake processes almost guarantees a custom massage built around you.

6. Bonus Exceptional Qualifier!

Now if you want an amazing, exceptional customer first massage, find a massage therapist that also has experience in energy based healing. Healing Touch, Reiki, and Qigong are good examples of what I mean. These types of holistic modalities teach the importance of intention and being present.

I don’t know about you, but I want good intentions or vibes thrown at me while I'm trying to relax and heal. Having someone that is purposefully paying attention to me while I’m getting a massage is also an important thing.

These seemingly small things greatly amp up your massage experience. If it costs an extra $10 or $20 bucks to get a massage from an energy based healer, it’s money well spent.
Let’s recap!
  • Do they have an updated website with their picture and have they managed not to murder anyone (that we are aware of)?
  • Do they have an intake process that seems focused on your needs?
  • And lastly as a fun bonus, do they do any energy-based healing?
If you are able to say yes to all of these, then CONGRATULATIONS! You likely have found an exceptional massage therapist!

DISCLAIMER: There are plenty of great, wonderful and amazing massage therapists that don’t necessarily fit all of these “qualifiers to be exceptional”.  There are a lot more things that help massage therapist be amazing. In my experience getting massages and as well as giving them, these seem to be a trend that I find that make a massage therapist stand out in the crowd.

And as a final disclaimer. I am a massage therapist and I do fit all of these criteria, so I definitely could be biased towards my own kind. But I very humbly believe I am an exceptional massage therapist.