Massage Therapy Schools In Portland (Salem, Springfield: credit, loans, job market)

[Gabbles]

I'm trying to relocate from Raleigh to Portland to attend massage therapy school and live on financial aid until I finish. As it turns out, the few massage therapy schools in Portland don't offer the type of financial aid that provides loans that can cover living expenses.

So I began looking into the community colleges out there. I can't seem to find a single one that offers message therapy courses.

So I'm basically racking my brain trying to find either a massage therapy school in portland with financial aid that can cover living expenses, or a community college that offers massage therapy courses in or within one hour from Portland. Anybody have any tips? I'm desperate to start school out there as soon as possible as my sister is offering to put me up for a few weeks.

Also, if I should need to find a part-time job out there, how's the job market?

[Metlakatla]

Have you checked out this one? It says on their website that most of their students use financial aid:

Colleges in Portland, Wilsonville, Clackamas, and Springfield Oregon | Programs | Pioneer Pacific College (http://www.pioneerpacific.edu/programs/detail/?id=18 - broken link)

[Nell Plotts]

My BIL went through a massage therapy program, got his licence and found that the skill didn't generate income.

Your experience may differ, but...

[mariposatrece]

UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN STATES. It is the only Massage Therapy program at a University in Oregon. That means if you ever wanna use those credits in the future they will transfer to other universities. You can fill out the FAFSA for financial aid. They have a campus in Portland and another program offered in Salem on Chemeketa's campus.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I hope you aren't thinking that you will use that massage therapy degree to obtain a job.

[BornJuju]

Why is everyone here so negative about massage therapy in Portland? Is it truly that over saturated of a market? Goodness.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by BornJuju

Why is everyone here so negative about massage therapy in Portland? Is it truly that over saturated of a market? Goodness.

Yes. Almost every ex-stripper and about half the good looking gay men under 30 are either a hair/makeup stylist, or a massage therapist.

OK, I'm generalizing a bit, but odds are it's true when you start talking to them.

[Nell Plotts]

Absolutely, the massage therapist market is over saturated.

[Minervah]

It's over-over saturated. Seriously though, I know people who once made a good living as massage therapists. Because it once was such a good thing to get into, many signed up but eventually there just weren't enough clients to go around. Then of course times became hard and people gave this type of thing up as a luxury so that didn't help.

I know of only only one massage therpist today who still earns a passable wage in this business. She has been doing it for many years. She worries though about being able to continue to pay her ever increasing rent. She has loyal clients who have stayed with her for years. It's a real struggle. She has often told me that today if starting over, she would go into a different field even though she loves what she is doing.

Another business of this type appears to be graphic design.

[asimplebalance]

I've experienced the opposite with Bowenwork in Portland, OR. It's a type of bodywork from Australia that is easy on the therapist and has effective and lasting results on the client. I can see multiple clients at the same time, increasing my income and optimizing my time. Also, you can do sessions with loose fitting clothing, hitting a market of clients afraid of nudity or undressing. It's changed my practice by leaps and bounds. I've been a LMT for over 18 years. I teach classes here in Portland but alas the American Bowen Academy has no Financial Aid But it's definitely worth checking out as an alternative to massage.
[url=http://www.asimplebalance.net]A Simple Balance | Cobalt Coy Certified Bowenwork Practitioner |[/url]