Sorry, this came off as just a vent, but if someone has any advice, I'm interested!

Have you asked people you know about their personal experience?  Sometimes a recommendation from someone who is familiar with the RMT is a good bet.

I have a wonder RMT . . . she is very well qualified . . . and continues to take courses and educate herself.  She has been so helpful to me over these last months.  I am so blessed that she has me for a client.  I hope she never leaves :)

I asked around the first time, none of my friends really see one.  The clinic wasn't able to recommend anyone closer to me either.

I am lucky this time in that I can go back easily.  I can try out a new person and if it doesn't work, go back for a good massage before trying out someone else.

I know some work out of their homes, is there a primary page where they tend to advertise?  I've never gone that route before, but some of it was just because of my location.

In Ontario they must be registered with their professional college - usually a listing can be obtained on-line, and may indicate specialty areas of practice or advanced training.  They may also have a helpful hints page for questions to ask during selection.   Perhaps your province has something similar.

Word of mouth reference is usually the best, I find.  It's a bit like finding a new hairdresser, or new doctor ... might have to try a few before finding a good fit. 

And with word of mouth, helps if the person referring has a similar sort of issue. Woman who recommended my RMT is a similarly fine-boned, high strung, tension-holder in the neck and shoulders. I see mine every 3 weeks, and she keeps my shoulders suitably away from my ears...

Alberta has a listing, but there are so many RMTs who aren't listed with them.  The oversight isn't as great here.

Bette, I agree, but I find it's hard to get a referral from anyone, let alone someone with similar issues!

I see that the Massage Therapists Association has a searchable listing, by geography & service provided.  I would suggest respectfully, that if therapists are not members of their association they may not be keeping up to date professionally.   It also looks like the associations are continuing to strive for self-regulatory status, which I know from our Ontario experience, is a long but very worthwhile process when it comes to protection of the public. 

Carolla, I know some people just aren't listed on the site, and others choose to belong to other associations.  One person I was considering is a part of the remedial MTA (I don't know for sure if she's just no listed on the MTAA).  Do you think I should only be considering people who are part of the MTAA?

The only RMTs on the MTAA in the area I wanted are at a much more expensive clinic.

When trying someone new, what's best?  30 min just to test them out, or should I go for a full 1 hr?

I fully enjoy and need the full hour with my current RMT - but I do think if I were trying someone new I would try the 1/2 first, unless they were personally recommended by someone I really trusted.

I would, though, keep in mind that 1/2 hour is not comparable in how I feel to a full hour, but that I am just getting an understanding of who this person is and how they do their work..

Those are good questions chemgal - it might be most helpful to call the associations & ask their opinions.  What's "the remedial MTA"?  

Personally, as a health professional myself, I believe it is an important professional responsibility to be a member of the provincial association/society that is representative of my occupation.  It is a way to network, stay abreast of clinical opportunities & developments, ensure continuing education and practice standards are met,  understand efforts being made toward regulated practice, etc.   Those who do not join such associations voluntarily would not be my first choice of practitionner.   

I'd do as Beloved suggests above - 1/2 hour "trial size" appointment :-) 

Thanks Carolla

RMTA:

http://www.rmta.ab.ca/about

We are a small not for profit association that has quietly been providing an option for massage therapists with 2200 hours of education that do not want to undergo the stress and cost of additional testing in order to join an association.

We support the regulation of the massage industry in Alberta, and a minimum educational requirement of 2200 hours from a recognized massage school.

So I guess they wouldn't be a member of the MTAA.  There's too many associations out there!

Other Associations:

ARMTS - coudn't find a site.  They are with MTAA and RMTA for regulation.

AATM - against regulation

http://albertaatm.com/index.php

NHPCA - Canada and not provincial, but I know there were RMTS at the clinic I was going to who belonged to this and not the MTAA.  My RMT doesn't seemed concerned if people choose this over the MTAA.

http://www.nhpcanada.org/

Interesting to read about the various associations & their stances on regulation.  In Ontario, regulation is seen as protection for the public - a guarantee of qualifications, and an avenue to lodge formal complaint about practitioners, which will then proceed through investigation.   It is a recent development though - the regulatory colleges - and was lobbied for for many years by the regulated professions.   But we digress ... hopefully you'll soon find someone who helps you feel your best! 

Too much info for here, but I wanted to have it for reference!

I found the regulation thing a little odd.  It was partially to support immigrants whose English skills are lacking.  I wish we had the regulation that Ontario has!

I'm in a lot of pain today.  I really didn't want to have to go far because of it.  I tried out one of the new places, and couldn't even get in with the RMT I was considering.  I think she was good, although this type of pain isn't a good judge.  It helped, but it's come back as bad as I had it before.

I've found that good RMTs are pretty fully booked - I find I have to book quite a time in advance.  Sometimes a cancellation opening becomes available tho, for last minute stuff.  Glad to hear you were able to get an appointment chemgal.

Sorry to hear managing your pain is more difficult today - chronic pain is like that, isn't it - sometimes less, sometimes more; pretty much always there to some degree.  

I found a therapist I trust and who helps keep my body reasonably happy.  I always make another appointment before leaving so I get in regularly.  She first trained somewhere in Europe and continues upgrading here.  She handles a wide range of clients with a variety is problems -  sports injuries, chronic diseases, unidentified pain and so on.  She has lots of certificates on her walls and is registered with some sort of regulating body but I don't know what one.