Massage Therapy School in Dallas, Texas
Fair weather, sports, and big city amenities. Add to the mix some favorable economic conditions, and Dallas is a good place to begin a career in massage therapy. Jobs, though, vary a lot with regard to both expectations and pay. It can be a good idea to distinguish oneself with more than just the 500 hours of training required under Texas law.
Hands on Therapy, one of multiple massage schools in this area, has provided some insight into the differing expectations for different types of job setting. The school gives students multiple options, including an advanced program which emphasizes assessment and treatment planning. It lists health practices and fitness centers among the employment options for those with advanced training.
It’s not necessary to get all one’s training at the onset, though. Many LMTs choose to pursue advanced trainings and certifications in areas of specialization. Many LMTs hold National Board certification as well as state licensing. They may also have certification in disciplines such as neuromuscular therapy and oncology massage.
Top Massage Schools in Dallas
Hands on Therapy offers two options: a 500-hour program and a 750-hour program. Those who opt for the advanced program get additional training in client assessment and development of treatment plans. They learn more modalities.
Hands on Approach is more economical than the typical massage therapy school. The school touts the real world facilities at the spa where students do their student clinic hours. The spa is not just a place for students to hone their skills and provide services to budget-minded members of the public. It also provides professional massage. LMTs may be former students who have made an especially good impression.
The College of Health Care Professions offers a 600-hour program. Students spend 60 hours performing massage at the student clinic. The school has campuses in both Dallas and Fort Worth.
Massage Therapy Work Options
Massage practices are a varied set. Some practices offer tailored massage for people who are looking for relief from symptoms associated with health conditions. They may emphasize targeted massage for specific parts of the body over full body massage. Some practices even advertise that they’re not spas.
Spas, though, are also very popular. Here full body massage typically reigns. Swedish relaxation, deep tissue, and hot stone are among the most popular modalities; some Eastern styles are also very popular. Expectant mothers may receive prenatal massage in this setting. Massages are often enhanced with scented and therapeutic oils. Spas may also provide focused massage. Some employ massage therapists who are well-trained in assessing clients and providing customized massage treatments. Generally, though, they’re not seen as the go-to place to up one’s sports performance or seek long-term orthopedic benefit.
There are multiple franchises in the area, including Hand and Stone, Massage Heights, Massage Envy, the Woodhouse Day Spa, Elements, and Spa Habit.
Some massage practices cater to a clientele who’s looking for a physical or mental pick-me-up in the location they’re in at that moment. One will find a number of massage therapists in the area who provide mobile massage. The national chain Soothe has a Dallas presence. There are also local providers. One will also find massage at the airport. Two airport massage companies were advertising for massage talent in mid-2019: Xpress Spa and Be Relax.
Massage for Special Populations
Many in Texas recognize the value of geriatric massage. C.C. Young is among the facilities that provides on-site services for seniors. In a Dallas News article, two 93-year-old residents talk about how the therapy enhances their health (https://www.dallasnews.com/life/better-living/2018/03/01/massage-therapy-healing-seniors). One had been introduced to massage many years earlier when he was a bike racer; he notes that he played baseball and cycled until age 65. CC Young has a massage room where non-residents can also book services. Residents can receive in-room massage.
It is becoming relatively common for senior living communities to have on-site spas.
Some massage therapists in the Dallas area work in hospice. A 2019 press release announced a new hospice at Methodist Dallas Medical Center (https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/02/07/1713642/0/en/VITAS-HEALTHCARE-CELEBRATES-GRAND-OPENING-OF-INPATIENT-HOSPICE-UNIT-AT-METHODIST-DALLAS-MEDICAL-CENTER.html). The facility is for patients whose needs can’t be met in a home setting. It includes services like music therapy and massage therapy as well as accommodations for visiting family. It is the third VITAS Healthcare inpatient hospice in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area.
An article prepared for John A Hartford foundation includes insights by a massage therapist working for Faith Presbyterian Hospice, also located in Dallas (https://www.nextavenue.org/comfort-hospice-massage-lifes-end).
Among the recent job postings: someone who could provide in-home therapeutic massage for a variety of populations, including pediatrics, elders, and hospice patients. Experience with special populations was desired, as was experience in pain management.
Top Dallas Massage Practices
Hiatus Spa and Retreat now operates two spas in Dallas, as well as spas in other Texas cities. Dallas is the city where this spa – described by D Magazine as almost a Texas institution – was born (https://www.dmagazine.com/style-beauty-wellness/2019/03/dallas-best-day-spas/) Among the offerings is a sports massage that includes stretching and aromatherapy, a chakra massage that includes guided meditation and essential oils, and a ‘glow-getter massage’ that is performed with warm water raining down from a “Vichy shower”.
Trained in the Art of Touch has a different style, but is also very good at pleasing its clientele. The organization has a 5.0 rating on multiple sites. The focus is pain relief. The website lists a number of conditions LMTs are adept at providing care for; individuals with conditions not listed are invited to call and discuss their needs (https://trainedintheartoftouch.com/pain-%2F-injuries-we-fix).
The Massage Elite specializes in custom massage that blends multiple modalities. The organization states that they have a very experienced bodywork team.
Dallas Massage Therapist Salary and Career Outlook
Dallas was ranked #6 by Sparefoot on its 2018 list of best cities for massage therapists. Both the base average salary and the adjusted salary are high by Sparefoot’s estimation — here the cost of living is actually pretty close to the national average. Dallas also got a good score for job availability.
Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics are more modest. Still, Texas is an island of dark blue (high wage) in an island of light blue. The average hourly wage was $22.61 in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area in 2018. The median was $19.90, with those at the 10th percentile making $10.84 and those at the 90th percentile making $41.37. BLS figures put job concentration somewhat higher in Fort Worth than Dallas.