My Journey: Why I Became A Therapist

I sat down a few weeks ago brainstorming what I would write about for this months article and I realized that I never really told the story of how I decided to become a massage therapist.  I don't think it's anything crazy, but I figured I would switch it up a little bit to keep it interesting :) 

When I was growing up, I always enjoyed helping people.  It took me some time to realize that because like most kids the only thing I wanted to do was play (swimming in our back yard and eventually video games).  But as I started being more responsible, I realized that I actually liked pitching in to help others.  I was raised on the "golden rule" where you treat others the way that you expect to be treated.  I never expect anything in return but it always felt good knowing that I could ask other people for help when I needed it.  It was about giving and receiving both time, effort and love.

Like literally everyone else, high school was tough.  I never had a strong sense of who I was as a person, and I felt like I didn't know where my life was headed.  I was so focused on academics, keeping good grades/doing home work, playing hockey and being in the school concert band all added up.  Then I started working part time to start learning the true value of a dollar.  So eventually a few things had to be sacrificed.  I stopped playing hockey because the demands were too much.  As most of you could imagine that I'm not a violent person so the body contact never really appealed to me so I started to loose interest.  Everyone always asked me what I wanted to do after high school for a career and I had no idea.  I still needed to graduate high school (and keep up my grades).  I have always LOVED roller coasters, so I was debating doing something related to that (designing or construction), but when I looked into it the job market wasn't the best and after some self-reflection I realized that I would probably lose my passion for the thrill I get from riding them.  It just wasn't for me because I didn't want to give up that passion.  So I was back at square one.  What do I do??  I took an extra year at high school, then a year off from school to work and save up some money working as a like cook at a local restaurant. Then one day I was sitting down with my parents trying to figure out what direction I wanted to go.  I knew that whatever I set my mind to I'd be successful but I didn't want to waste the time (and the tuition fees) for something that I wasn't 100% passionate about.  So I got serious.  I asked myself -"Chris, what do you like to do?"  And it brought up the passion for helping people.  This rediscovery gave a new light to my search.  I pulled out the big book of college and university programs again.  A few new options came to mind, then I discovered the Massage Therapy program.  I had never had a massage before, so I had no previous experience to draw on.  It sounded pretty interesting, but what I found most intriguing was that one of the prerequisites was a biology course that my parents wanted me to take in high school.  Side bar: I have since learned that sometimes the universe gives you a nudge in the right direction and I believe this was one of those times although I didn't know it at the time.  I applied and was accepted!!  I was on my way!

Going in with a blank slate made things kind of challenging but I was open to new possibilities.  Most of my classmates had had some sort of experience with massage whereas I was brand new.  My thoughts going in were more relaxing/spa massage treatments so that's what I set my mind on.  But the more I learned about how we can help people the more interested I got and it ignited a passion.  MY passion for helping people with therapeutic touch.  It has such an incredible power that I was just tapping into.  I finished the training program and was successful at my CMTO registration exams.  It was hands down the most challenging thing that I have ever done in my life but it was also the most rewarding.  Now I can use my skills to help others!  It felt amazing!

After I became registered, I was still in the mindset of working in a spa.  I wasn't 100% confident in my communication skills so I started there and learned what it was like taking care of members of the public without supervision.  It felt good knowing that people appreciated the work I was doing.  After a few years I decided I wanted to be in a health clinic.  I made the transition and started taking on more clinical cases, which challenged me but also allowed me to grow as a therapist and have my clients benefit from my knowledge and experience.  

The past  years have been an incredible journey and I cannot wait to see what it has in store for me!  If you have come to see me for a treatment, I want to say thank you for being a part of this journey and allowing me to help you :) You don't know how much it means to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and I hope you have an awesome day :)