The latest statistics from the Associated Massage and Bodywork Profession show a dismal aspect of the massage profession. The average income for a massage therapist went down in 2004. Almost 50,000 massage therapists leave the profession each year. The average salary is about $32,000. Most massage therapist said they wished they had more clients.

Why would anyone want to persue a career in massage facing these numbers and knowing that a career in massage is often a struggle to make ends met?

Many people come to the massage profession thinking they want to help others and they want to participate in work that is more meaningful. While a career in massage can provide a place to fulfill those desires, it is also those same things that lead many to struggle along in such a career. Being drawn to the massage profession for the simple act of helping is often what lead to professional burnout and other professional struggles.

When we try to help others it implies that they are not strong enough to figure it out for themselves. It places the massage therapist in a "one up situation" where the client always looks to the massage therapist for being taken care of. "Caretaking" involves giving up one's self to take care of another. We take away from people more than we give. "Caregiving" is more about supporting another in their healing process.

The motivation for helping - why do you want to help others is your driving purpose and the more you get in touch with that part of yourself, the more successful you will be as a massage therapist (or in any other helping profession.)

So if you are considering a career in massage therapy, the most important thing to look at is "why do you want to help".