FAQ
find answers to frequently asked questions
Scheduling
Find answers to general questions about scheduling.
How do I become a client?
When welcoming new clients, all intake is done in advance. This allows for full consideration of any special needs to be planned prior to treatment to ensure the highest quality of care. It also alleviates stress at the start of the session for a more relaxing experience.
For this reason, you will need to contact Thrive Therapeutic Massage directly before booking your first appointment. Intake forms can be filled out online or over the phone with the therapist. Once the intake forms are completed and reviewed, the massage therapist will have a phone meeting with you to discuss your treatment and address any questions before scheduling your first appointment.
How do I schedule?
Once you are an established client, appointments may be scheduled online or by contacting Thrive Therapeutic Massage directly. A credit card is required to be on file and will be charged after your service is completed. This reserves your time and creates a more relaxing experience on the day of treatment.
How do I cancel?
Your therapy time is reserved exclusively for you. Should you need to cancel or reschedule, you can cancel online with greater than 24 hours notice. Please call us if you must cancel/reschedule less than 24 hours before your reserved appointment time. We understand that life can be unpredictable and may result in late cancellation or no show. Fees will be applied on a case by case basis with all considerations made. We reserve the right to charge half the price of the scheduled service for late cancellations and up to the full value for no shows. Repeated late cancellations and no shows may result in client termination.
When should I arrive for my appointment?
Please arrive a minimum of 5 minutes before your appointment time. This will decrease stress and ensure you have time for your scheduled service. Late arrival will result in less treatment time and appointments will not be extended past the scheduled time.
Payment Policies
We want our policies to minimize stress as much as possible.
Why do I have to pay when I schedule?
All New Clients must pay in advance for their first service. Payment is taken at time of scheduling to reserve your appointment. Established clients can keep a credit card on file with Square to be charged after their session. This creates a more relaxing experience on the day of treatment by avoiding the “check out” process.
What does “Gratuity Not Accepted” mean?
Gratuity/tipping is NOT accepted.
In many settings, tipping your massage therapist is appropriate and appreciated, however we do not accept gratuities at Thrive Therapeutic Massage. Our primary focus is on stress reduction and it shapes our policies. We consider stress management a health issue, and for this reason, we do not think it is appropriate to accept tips. Some people also find tipping stressful. In order to avoid this additional stress on your treatment day, payments are made in advance and you will never be prompted to add gratuities after your treatment. Please respect our policy and the policy of other establishments in regards to tipping your massage therapist.
Do I have to have a membership?
There is no membership to Thrive Therapeutic Massage.
Health & Wellness
Your health and wellness are our priority.
Why do you need so much health history?
Some medical conditions and treatments can alter the type of massage therapy techniques considered appropriate and safe. For this reason, a medical history is required to be filled out by every client. It is the responsibility of the client to keep the massage therapist informed of any medical conditions, treatments, or changes as they occur.
Clients must inform the therapist if they are under the care of any medical provider, including but not limited to physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc. A written release from their medical provider may be required to receive massage therapy. The client also has a duty to inform their other healthcare providers that they are receiving massage therapy and verify that massage therapy does not interfere with their treatment or need to be modified.
What if I am not feeling well?
The health and wellness of our clients is our top priority. We ask that you please reschedule your appointment if you have any symptoms of illness, including but not limited to fever, cough, congestion, rash, or diarrhea. Please contact us to reschedule as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms. This wellness policy also applies to our massage therapists. In the event that we must reschedule your appointment due to therapist illness, a full refund will be given
What health measures do you have in place?
In addition to our wellness policy stated above, cleaning and sanitation have always been a key to providing quality care for massage clients. Our treatment room and tools are cleaned after every client. Therapists follow strict hand washing protocols before and after making contact with each client. In addition to these basic cleaning procedures, we have taken extra steps to ensure that you feel confident when you come in for services. Here are some of the additional measures we take:
- H14 HEPA air filter
- 30 minutes scheduled between clients to allow for additional air filtration time and cleaning
- Therapist wears a mask during all sessions
- Contactless digital forms and payments completed at home before session
More Info
Find out more about what to expect from your service at Thrive Therapeutic Massage.
Policies
A list of our policies can be found here.
Techniques
Therapists use a variety of techniques in different ways to based on client needs and goals. Described below are some of the techniques and methods used at Thrive Therapeutic Massage:
- Effleurage – longer, gliding strokes
- Petrisage – lifting, kneading, wringing, rolling and other similar movements
- Compression – holding pressure in one area
- Rocking – gently moving the body in a rhythmical motion
- Friction – smaller, repetitive, deeper movements
- Vibration – quick shaking of the body and muscles, sometime using an electric tool
- Tapotement – stimulating tapping and other percussive movements
- Gentle stretching and Range of Motion – moving parts of the body
- Heat – applying heating pads or using heated tools for massage
- Movement Cupping – gliding movements using silicone cups to suction and lift the tissue
None of the techniques used during your session should be painful. Please discuss with your therapist any questions or concerns you have regarding any techniques. At any time, you are welcome to refuse any techniques you do not enjoy.
Risks
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, “The risk of harmful effects from massage therapy appears to be low. However, there have been rare reports of serious side effects, such as a blood clot, nerve injury, or bone fracture. Some of the reported cases have involved vigorous types of massage, such as deep tissue massage, or patients who might be at increased risk of injury, such as elderly people.”
Thrive Therapeutic Massage is focused on the health and wellness of our clients. In effort to reduce the chances of harm, we take a thorough health history to help identify potential areas of risk. We also have additional training in massage therapy for older adults. We would discuss and get informed consent for the use of more vigorous or higher risk massage techniques. There is also a chance of allergic reaction to a massage product, so we have hypoallergenic products available and ask that you tell us immediately if you notice any discomfort.
Although massage is generally safe for most people, there are potential risks we want our clients to be aware of. Some risks associated with massage therapy include, but are not limited to superficial bruising, short-term muscle soreness, and exacerbation of an undiscovered injury. While most people can benefit from massage, it may not be appropriate if you have:
- Bleeding disorders or take blood-thinning medications
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Infections
- Burns or healing wounds
- Broken bones or severe osteoporosis
- A very low platelet count
Discuss the pros and cons of massage therapy with your doctor, especially if you are pregnant, have cancer, or unexplained pain. You may also contact us with any questions or concerns.
Your massage treatment should not be painful or uncomfortable. If any part of your massage doesn’t feel right or is painful, speak up right away.
Scope of Practice
Thrive Therapeutic Massage therapists are licensed professionals by the state of Illinois and hold themselves to the professional standards of the American Massage Therapy Association. Massage therapy involves applying manual techniques to the body with the intention of positively affecting the health and wellness of the client. Licensed Massage Therapists do not diagnose medical conditions and are not an alternative for proper medical care and treatment. Massage therapy can be a valuable part of your stress management and wellness team and should not be considered a replacement for mental health services or other medical methods of managing your mental or physical health.
Modesty and Draping
Draping will be done to ensure modesty. Only the area being massage will be undraped. Undress to your level of comfort. You may leave on as much clothing as needed to provide that comfort during your session and we will tailor our bodywork accordingly.
Comfort
Your comfort is important to us. Please make sure you let your therapist know if there are any adjustments we can make to ensure your comfort. We are more than happy to adjust temperature, music volume, massage techniques or anything else you may need. For more information, see our Respect for Client and Boundaries statement under Policies.
Scent/Aromatherapy Policy
We do not use any fragrances or aromatherapy at this time. We know some people are very sensitive to fragrances, so we only use unscented products at this time.
Have additional questions?
We’re here to help. Let’s talk.