Do you want to know the research behind the effects of oncology massage therapy?
Do you ever come up against hard questions in your work with people who are seriously ill?
And…
Would you like to earn research and ethics CE hours that relate directly to your practice?
Join Tracy Walton for a day of research, ethics, and lively conversation.
Two courses:
Cancer and Massage Therapy: What Does the Research Say?
and
Ethics in Oncology Massage and Hospice Care
We are offering a rare chance to learn about key topics in oncology massage, massage at end of life, and massage for any serious illness.
Complete two requirements—research and ethics—in a single day, in live conversation and community, with a skilled instructor.
Course 1 (Morning):
Cancer and Massage Therapy: What Does the Research Say?
Finding stronger research, and stronger skills to use it.
3.0 CE hours, NCBTMB approved. Click here for a full list of approvals for this course.
Course Description
A client with cancer or a cancer history asks you, “How will this help me?”
How do you answer?
We often default to the lists of massage benefits we learned in school, on the web, or in trade publications. Yet in order to really speak to this client’s question, to give an honest answer about the benefits of oncology massage, we need the best, most current oncology massage therapy research in the field.
In this course, we will review the oncology massage therapy evidence in a fun and easy-to-understand format. Then we’ll choose the strongest and most relevant evidence for you to use with clients, in your outreach materials, and with health care professionals who might send you referrals.
You’ll receive guidelines on how to use the evidence. When to bring it up, how to frame it, and when to use a simple testimonial instead.
Along with true massage benefits we can claim, we will also list the common myths in massage therapy to avoid. We will take a look at common massage claims that have little or no evidence behind them, and define better, stronger ways to make the case for massage therapy.
You’ll go home with:
- Accurate claims to strengthen your case for oncology massage, based on research and observations from massage practice;
- Better tools that strengthen your outreach to potential oncology clients and referral sources;
- Good, solid references on massage therapy to use in your outreach.
Together, we’ll look at how all kinds of data can strengthen our case for massaging this special population, and how it all fits into responsible oncology massage marketing.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Distinguish between supported and unsupported claims of massage benefits;
- Name the three highest levels of evidence, and reference one oncology massage research study at each level.
- Use accurate language and research to describe the effects of oncology massage.
To register and see more payment information, check our Training Schedule. For CE course approvals, check here.
Course 2 (Afternoon):
Ethics in Oncology Massage and Hospice Care
Dealing with the good, messy questions.
4.0 CE Hours, NCBTMB approved; fulfills NCBTMB ethics requirement. Click here for a full list of approvals for this course.
Course Description
The work of oncology massage, end of life care, and massage for anyone with serious illness answers a high calling. It can also demand deep inner resources. At times, the work can be enlivening, draining, intimate, and intense.
On top of the usual ethical challenges, unique challenges can arise.
Here are a few tender situations we’ve encountered over the years:
- A client, nearing end of life, asks you your beliefs about life after death. How much do you share?
- How do you react when a client asks you, “What treatment would you choose, if you were in my position?”
- What are your personal reactions when your client complains about their medical care, their illness, or anything else?
- Your client is medically frail, near end of life, and repeatedly asks for deep pressure. How do you respond?
- What do you say if a client asks you about alternative treatments for cancer or another condition?
- Suppose, at a memorial service for a client, a family member asks, “And how did you know my brother/mother/aunt?” How do you answer?
Most often, massage therapists manage these situations alone. Most of us could use support and conversation when we’re in this territory. Any one of these could start a rich discussion, but only if you have someone you can discuss it with.
In this course, we gather a group of MTs together to look at the dynamics that can arise when we provide massage therapy to people during or after serious illness. We will pay attention to the moments that make our hearts sing, others that make our hearts break open, and the moments when we ask, “And…what the heck should I do or say now?”
In our discussions, we’ll refer to all the usual resources: MT scope of practice, privacy and disclosure guidelines, and the sensitive power differential between client and therapist.
While some ethical questions have clean, clear answers, other ones are messy, and they bring up more questions.
You might find yourself sitting with some unknowns. But you won’t be sitting there alone.
Join us and dig in!
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Explain how some deeply held belief systems can serve to join us with a client, how others might separate us from a client, and consider guidelines for when, how, and most importantly whether to share our beliefs;
- Describe three ethical dilemmas that can arise in providing massage therapy for people who are seriously ill;
- Reference three guidelines from professional codes of ethics.
- Communicate firmly, sensitively, and compassionately while explaining the reasons for gentler pressure.
To register and see more payment information, check our Training Schedule. For CE course approvals, check here.
Prerequisites for these courses in Research and Ethics
These courses are focused on the practice of massage therapy and are primarily for professional massage therapists and advanced massage therapy students. We do not require a background in oncology massage therapy or hospice care, but we refer to information and concepts used by practitioners and courses in these areas.
All health care professionals are welcome at these courses. Anyone with a professional interest or background in cancer care, hospice care, research, administration, or ethics is welcome to attend.
Continuing Education (CE) hours are offered only to massage therapists. Click here for a list of approvals for each course.
Who are these courses for?
Both courses are open to all massage therapists and advanced massage therapy students.
You are welcome if you have extensive background in ethics or research, oncology massage or hospice care.
You are welcome if you have no experience with these topics, and you’d like to know what might come up before you start.
You are welcome if you like learning in community, and would like your ethics and research CE hours to be directly related to your areas of interest and practice.
You are welcome if you’d like to learn!
To register and see more payment information, check our Training Schedule.
Who is the instructor?
Tracy Walton, MS, LMT, is a pioneer in the use of massage therapy in cancer care. She is also an established instructor, researcher, and practitioner, focused on some of the most important issues in massage therapy. She has been working and teaching in the field for 26+ years, has learned from thousands of clients, and has a story or two to share. Read more about her here.
Are we going to talk for 7 hours straight?
A fair question!
As required CE subjects, ethics and research have a reputation for being a bit boring and…flat. Seven hours of flat would be deadly.
And yet, each time we have taught or taken these subjects in person, it is a fun, inspiring exchange of ideas. When you believe that our clients are our greatest teachers, and you have a high-energy instructor who weaves your client experiences into the greater good of the subject at hand, you might just have…fun. Far from a dreary course, online or in person, you can learn in community.
Yes, there will be talking. Surround yourself with people. Bat some questions, ideas, and probably some strongly held opinions back and forth. Join an inclusive discussion led by a skilled facilitator. Learn from your peers, your instructor, and—most likely—yourself.
When
For our current schedule and to register and see more payment information, check our Training Schedule.
Where
The Boston (Medford) course will be held in a beautiful classroom at the Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy, 222 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA. Plenty of free parking, a short walk from Whole Foods and Starbucks.
All Boston registration and correspondence is done through our office at Tracy Walton & Associates, LLC, NOT Elizabeth Grady School.
To register and see more payment information, check our Training Schedule.
Can I sign up for just one of the two courses?
Yes! These are two courses, with two separate certificates of completion. You can register for just one session.
But we strongly recommend both, because they dovetail with each other, because you’re already schlepping to class anyway, because it’s worth it, and because we don’t know when we will offer these again.
Tuition
Boston (Medford), MA
- $167 for the day (2 courses, total 7.0 CE hours) if registered by the early registration deadline;
- $197 for the day (2 courses, total 7.0 CE hours) thereafter.
- $87 for Research only (3.0 CE hours, no early registration discount)
- $117 for Ethics only (4.0 CE hours, no early registration discount)
To register and see more payment information, check our Training Schedule.
What to Bring
Your experience, your questions, your challenges.
An open mind and heart.
Curiosity (“How do other people handle this? What insights might I bring home? What surprises are in store for me?”)
Snacks for you. Snacks to share if you want. Chocolate is particularly well-received.
Pen and paper.
No massage tables are needed. There is no hands-on work.
To Register
See our Training Schedule to register.
The day’s schedule:
 Morning – Research in Massage and Cancer Care (3.0 CE hrs). We will start with a quick introduction and an overview of the different kinds of research evidence. Using clear visuals, we’ll weigh the evidence, looking at which kind is the strongest and which is the weakest. Then we will survey the oncology massage therapy research for examples of each. Finally, we’ll look at the common myths in massage therapy, and identify some stronger statements about massage that can be used in marketing a practice. |
 Lunch on your own. (0.0 CE hrs) There are several eateries within walking distance. |
 Afternoon – Ethics in Oncology Massage and Hospice Care (4.0 CE hrs). We start with an introduction and ground our discussion in a quick overview of the various codes of ethics. Then we introduce challenging case scenarios. We ask you to reflect on how you would handle each one, and then open it up for discussion. Throughout, we invite you to contribute your own client situations to the mix. We pay particular attention to hard conversations with clients. If there is time, we play out what we might say during those conversations. |
You’ll leave the day with support, insights, and stronger skills in marketing and managing your practice with these special populations.
To register and see more payment information, check our Training Schedule.
Withdrawal Policy
Medford, MA course:
Once registered for the course, if you withdraw by 7 days prior to the start of the course, you will receive a refund of tuition paid, minus a $20 administrative fee. After that date, there is no refund of tuition.
Questions?
Do you have more questions about this course?
Contact us at Tracy Walton and Associates through this website with questions about logistics at the Boston, MA location. Please do not contact the Elizabeth Grady School.
Questions about content? Use the form below.
Course Approvals
Tracy Walton & Associates, LLC is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as an approved provider, #283404-00.
For a full list of approvals for these courses, click here for Research, and here for Ethics.