Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP)

Overview:

Profession(s): Massage Therapy
Member Type(s): Massage Therapist, Bodyworkers, Somatic Therapists, Estheticians
Scope: National - United States
Formed: 1987
Members: 57,000
Address: 1271 Sugarbush Drive, Evergreen, CO, 80439, USA
Phone: 1-800-458-2267
Email: expectmore@abmp.com
Website: www.abmp.com

Description:

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) is a professional membership association serving the massage, bodywork, somatic therapy and esthetic professions. ABMP is the largest massage membership association in the United States with 57,000 members.

Mission/Aims:

ABMP is devoted to promoting ethical practices, fostering acceptance of the professions and protecting the rights of legitimate massage, bodywork and esthetic practitioners. ABMP competes effectively for members by providing the best value and most responsive, knowledgeable service. Our business philosophy is summed up by our credo: expect more.

Member Benefits:

We pledge to our members that they will speak with a real person or receive a callback from someone within an hour 90 percent of the time when they call our toll-free number during normal business hours.

Credibility — As members of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, practitioners express to consumers their adherence to a Code of Ethics governing their client relationships, professionalism and scope of practice; use of appropriate techniques; and advertising standards.

Low membership fees for valuable benefits — no increases in the base Professional Membership fee since 1987. Several levels of membership are offered while spurring members to reach for our top Certified designation.

Massage & Bodywork magazine, published nationally six times annually, is widely regarded as the most helpful professional journal in the field, offering the latest research, historical perspectives, massage techniques, business information, professional trends and a variety of regularly featured columns. It also features supplemental sections and publications addressing key topics.

Body Sense magazine (member support piece geared to a practitioner’s massage customers) twice a year.

Numerous additional publications supporting members in establishing and operating their practices.

ABMP.com, an advertisement-free website that includes business, marketing and educational support for healthy business practices.

Website features include:

MassageFinder, a searchable, online referral service for consumers, helping to drive business to members. MassageFinder is accessible on both www.abmp.com and ABMP’s public education website, www.massagetherapy.com.

A database of educational articles that includes more than 600 features and columns on various bodywork techniques and the conditions they help treat.

Legislative updates, so members can know what laws and directives are being pursued or passed in their respective states regarding massage therapy.

Online Client Newsletter Generator — a program that gives members all the pieces to easily assemble a professional, color, four-page newsletter in minutes.

Forums via threaded discussion groups for members to engage in online discussions and networking with their colleagues.

A photo library, including a selection of bodywork images for members to use on their websites and in marketing materials.

Customized client education brochures to market to and educate clients. Titles include: Why Should I Get a Massage?, About Sports Massage, About Maternity Massage, What Should I Expect During a Massage Session? and more.

A website creation program, available to all members so they can have their own site highlighting their practice.

E-mail accounts — a web-based service so that members can communicate online.

Occurrence-form coverage, which ABMP pioneered in 1993 as a member benefit protects members from late-filed claims.

The highest insurance limits available in the field — the profession’s best value in liability coverage. Ours are the highest aggregate coverages available — $3 million professional liability (malpractice), another $3 million general liability (slip and fall) and yet another $3 million products liability.

Legal defense coverage, $100,000 premises fire-damage coverage for renters and no charge for obtaining an additional insured endorsement if requested by a member employer or landlord. All this is covered by our basic membership fee.

Optional insurance programs — low-cost optional business personal property insurance can insure massage tables and other office possessions.

Other Benefits:

An aggressive massage-school relations program that in seven years has resulted in ABMP staff visits to 800 schools, creation of newsletters for students and school directors and an annual School Issues Forum meeting for school owners and directors.

Regularly conduct consumer and member surveys to educate the public and meet consumer and member needs.

No mandatory state chapter meetings or fees — just networking, resources and formation of local affiliated groups, when requested.

Regulatory and networking support to members. ABMP members are kept up to date on legislative issues affecting their right to practice. We work with legislatures and municipalities to secure a level playing field for all legitimate, professionally trained massage practitioners.

Efficient service and a streamlined organization through our central headquarters.

Exclusive member discounts — including a low-cost credit card program to make a practice credit-card friendly, discounts on travel/lodging, ABMP member apparel, a legal support program, a members-only credit card and more.

Verification Criteria:

Consumers should first look to Massagefinder.com to be confident they are choosing the right practitioner for them, knowing their session will be conducted by a professional who has received proper training. All practitioners on MassageFinder, which is free to consumers, are members of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. All members receive a certificate consumers may ask to see for verification. By using an ABMP professional, consumers know they are working with a practitioner who has agreed to abide by the ABMP Code of Ethics.

Additional Information:

Consumers can locate a qualified professional, learn more about the 250 kinds of massage and bodywork recognized in the United States today, and learn what to expect from the massage experience at massagetherapy.com. Reporters and researchers will find the most complete, authoritative information on the massage profession at massagetherapy.com Consumers, reporters and researchers alike also can read more than 600 articles on everything from Acupressure to Zen online.