A first massage appointment has a set order of steps. Knowing them in advance makes the visit simpler. This guide walks through the appointment from booking to payment, as most BC clinics run it.
Each therapist and clinic works a little differently. Where a clinic’s rules differ from this guide, follow the clinic. This guide does not give health advice.
Before you book
Pick a session type first. If the names on a booking page are new to you, read types of massage sessions in British Columbia explained. It covers relaxation, deep tissue, sports, prenatal, focused single-area, hot stone, chair, and couples sessions.
Then check four details on the booking page or by phone:
- The session length
- The price, including any tax or add-on fees
- The cancellation policy
- The address, and whether the clinic is a fixed location or a mobile service
Check the therapist’s registration before you book. In BC, therapists who use the title registered massage therapist, or RMT, are on a public register kept by the provincial regulator. The regulator is the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC. Search the therapist’s name on the register. A match confirms the person is registered. It does not describe how the session will feel.
Before you arrive
Ask the clinic when to arrive. Many clinics want a few minutes before the start time for paperwork. A new client who arrives right at the booked time may lose part of the session to forms.
Ask the clinic what to wear. For most table sessions, any comfortable clothing works. Chair massage is different. The client stays clothed, so wear clothes you can sit in.
Find the entrance and the parking before the day. Some clinics sit on upper floors or inside larger buildings.
The intake form
New clients fill out an intake form. Expect questions about your health history, any injuries, any medications, and the areas you want covered. Some clinics send the form by email. Others hand it over at the front desk.
Answer the questions as fully as you can. The therapist reads the form and then talks with you before the session starts. This is the time to name the areas you want worked on and the areas you want left alone. It is also the time to mention pregnancy, allergies to oils or lotions, or anything that hurts.
Undressing and draping
Most table sessions follow the same steps. The therapist explains the plan, then leaves the room. You undress to the level you are comfortable with and lie on the table under a sheet or blanket. The therapist knocks before coming back in.
Draping means the sheet stays over you and only the area being worked is uncovered. Many clients keep their underwear on. Others remove it. Both are common, and the choice is yours. If you are unsure, ask the therapist before the session what they recommend.
Hot stone, prenatal, and focused single-area sessions can change the setup. A focused session may only need you to uncover one area. A prenatal session may use side-lying positions with pillows. The therapist will explain the position before you get on the table.
During the session
The therapist works on the areas you agreed on. You decide how much to talk. Some clients chat. Others stay quiet. Either is fine.
Speak up about pressure. Light, medium, and firm mean different things to different people. If the pressure is too strong or too soft, say so. The same goes for room temperature, table heat, music volume, or a body position that is uncomfortable. Therapists expect feedback and adjust as they go.
You can stop the session at any time. You do not need to give a reason.
After the session
The therapist leaves the room so you can dress. Take your time getting up from the table. Some people feel slow or light-headed when they stand.
Payment usually happens at the front desk or with the therapist. Ask about accepted payment methods when you book, since some small clinics or mobile therapists take only certain kinds.
If you have extended health benefits through work or a plan, ask your plan administrator what it needs from a receipt. Plans differ on which providers and session types they accept. Ask the clinic for an itemized receipt that shows the therapist’s name and registration details.
Ask about rebooking at the desk. Some clinics hold regular time slots for returning clients. Others book one visit at a time.
Where mobile and workplace sessions differ
A mobile therapist comes to your home or office. The therapist brings a table or a chair. Ask what space the therapist needs, how long setup takes, and whether travel adds a fee. A mobile therapist may not cover every BC region, so confirm the service area first.
Massage List sorts therapists by session type and by the six BC tourism regions: Vancouver Island, Vancouver Coast and Mountains, Thompson Okanagan, Kootenay Rockies, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, and Northern BC. Use the region to find a therapist close to where you live or where you plan to stay.
Questions to ask on the phone
A short call before the first visit answers most of the open items:
- Is the therapist registered, and what is the registration name on the register?
- How long is the session, and does that include time for forms and dressing?
- What is the price, and are there extra fees?
- What is the cancellation policy?
- What should I wear?
- Where do I park or enter?
Write the answers down. Bring the list with you.
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