These are some dire times especially during this pandemic. I am Candice Hill-Coleman, a licensed massage therapist for the past 12 years and I am an advocate for all massage therapist’s.The reality check of this pandemic is that it is very hard to find work as a massage therapist, most of us have multiple jobs trying to make ends meet. We are often at the bottom of the totem pole with healthcare although we go to college take a board exam do continuing education courses to maintain our occupation we have degrees and student loan’s. It is what we do for a living. Yet, society looks down upon us in comparison to a chiropractor, acupuncturist, physical therapist and occupational therapist, meanwhile we are all specialist with a similar craft and are apart of wellness integrative medicine and health care. I find that it is very sad that we have trouble with insurance companies accepting us for treatment even though it is beyond pampering but very necessary and it is not cosmetic. Today I tried signing up as a provider for Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield and was denied because Licensed Massage Therapist’s are not on the list of accepted provider’s, however an athletic trainer was. There are many benefits to massage therapy those of which are acute/chronic pain, anxiety, soft tissue injuries high blood pressure, insomnia, mental health, chronic disease (Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, Lymphedema) etc.

The list goes on and on and we will always be around just like everyone. We have been around since 3000 BCE and we are not going anywhere despite how we a treated. Ethically we love to help people beyond the politics of healthcare.Ive said all of that to just say please respect us and our craft. Make it so that all health insurance companies add us as providers too it is only fair.