08/24/2026
It’s been a while since I’ve written a post here but there’s been a reoccurring theme over the last week or so that I think is worth talking about. This post is long. And is mostly just words and thoughts put down on “paper.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about competency in the Massage therapy profession.
It all started with a Facebook discussion about how you know when you’re ready to offer a new technique to the public after learning it in class.
There were many responses, but I found myself surprised at how little conversation focused on competency. Which is something that we don’t talk enough about obviously. 
Confidence and competence are not the same thing.
Taking a class means you’ve been exposed to new information and skills. It doesn’t mean that you’ve developed the proficiency, judgment, or clinical reasoning to offer those skills as an expert to the public.
Taking the time to intentionally practice your new skill is how competency develops.
Confidence is: I FEEL like I could do a relatively good job offering this technique.
Competence is: I can perform this technique safely consistently and effectively. I understand when I should modify it or not use this technique at all.
I think there’s an ethical responsibility to distinguish between: I went to a workshop this weekend and learned a new technique, versus I am competent enough to provide this technique to clients in a truthfully skilled way.
To be fair, We don’t know what we don’t know.
Which is exactly why confidence and competence are not the same thing.
I’ve taught in this profession in multiple environments, including a career college that was extremely corporate, to hosting my own classes, to working as a part of a national continuing education company.
I’ve seen many therapists who are overly confident but wildly unskilled.

That’s why studying and continuing to learn what we’ve been taught is very important.
It’s not a one weekend thing, and then we’re done learning.
Another instructor from my team touched on this recently in a post on social media talking about how she retakes classes on a consistent basis because what she understands then is different from what she understands now.
Growth is such a beautiful thing but what she’s talking about is how her competence has changed. Her word used was mastery in that post.
So what should a practitioner be able to consistently demonstrate beyond simply knowing the techniques? Some off the top of my head: Body mechanics, client assessment, clinical reasoning, and communication.
These are things that therapist are missing in their skill set, especially when they first learn a technique and focused on the “moves”.
There are levels to learning which include cognitive and motor skills.
How do we know when someone has actually reached competency? People who teach and train therapist should flesh this out and explain it in their courses.

This is a question that students are asking, but not in these words. They want to know when am I ready? What’s the magic number for me to start advertising and charging clients for this new technique.
This is an ethics conversation.
As a way to protect clients, support developing therapists, and raise the standard of our profession in a profession that doesn’t always seek competency.
There’s a lot going on in our profession that is getting us lost in the ex*****on and performance, masquerading as competency and excellence. When in reality there are big holes missing.
I’d love to hear how other massage therapists and educators are thinking about this.
What does competency mean IYO and how do you know you’ve achieved it? Have you ever thought about it before in this way?
If you’re new here, I post occasionally about the Massage therapy profession for other massage therapist. I’ve been a therapist since 2004, with my own practice in Plano, Texas. I also teach continuing education and volunteer with an organization that sets the bar for massage therapy education.

Yesterday I participated in a sound bath at Lakeside wellness and apothecary and flower mound. It was such a beautiful experience and a way to take care of myself through some tumultuous times including this ridiculous ridiculously hot weather.
Picture below :)
