The New Generation Massage Therapist
Moving beyond modalities to build resilience.
Are you tired of the "fixer" trap? Most massage therapists are taught that their value lies solely in their hands—that if they just learn one more modality or take one more certification, they’ll finally have the "magic bullet" for their patients' pain. But this cycle often leads to two things: patients who remain passive and therapists who end up burnt out.
Welcome to The New Generation Massage Therapist Podcast.
Hosted by Jamie Johnston—massage therapist, firefighter, and educator—this show is dedicated to shifting the industry standard from passive "tissue manipulation" to evidence-informed, biopsychosocial care. We challenge industry norms and dive deep into the topics that many in our profession have long avoided: pain science, mental health, and the therapeutic power of movement.
Each week, we explore how to:
- Shift your identity from a "fixer" to a facilitator of change.
- Master human skills like mindful communication and crisis intervention to build a stronger therapeutic alliance.
- Incorporate movement (without needing a gym) to prove to your patients that they aren't "broken."
- Retrain the nervous system to help patients with persistent pain find lasting results.
Whether you are a seasoned RMT/LMT or a student just starting out, this podcast provides the practical, research-backed tools you need to build a more effective practice and a more fulfilling, sustainable career.
It’s time to stop chasing certifications and start building resilience.
The New Generation Massage Therapist
Confident Conversations: How Massage Therapists Talk About Mental Health and Keep Boundaries
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"I'm not a psychologist. I should just stay in my lane, right?"
As massage therapists, we are often told to refer out the moment a patient mentions mental health struggles. But what happens when that referral is the very thing that makes a patient feel dismissed? What if "staying in our lane" actually sabotages their physical recovery?
In this episode, Jamie draws on his experience as both a massage therapist and a firefighter to explain why you are uniquely positioned to help patients in crisis—not as a psychologist, but as an ally. We dive into the research of Psychologically Informed Practice (PIP) and why recognizing "yellow flags" is a standard of care, not an overstep of your scope.
Inside the episode, we discuss:
- The Referral Resistance: Why patients often refuse psychiatric help because they think you’re saying "it’s all in their head."
- Cognitive Appraisal: The two stages of how patients evaluate their injuries and how you can help shift their perspective from "broken" to "resilient."
- The Analgesic Power of Your Presence: How your communication and touch physically activate neurobiological pathways for stress reduction.
- The 6-Step Crisis Framework: A practical, step-by-step guide on how to listen, validate, and support a patient in distress without overstepping your professional boundaries.
This Week’s Challenge: Pay close attention to the language your patients use. If you hear "I'm never going to get better" or "I'm broken," don't ignore it. Use Step 1: Listen and Validate. Simply say, "That sounds really hard, I'm glad you told me," and notice how the atmosphere in the room shifts.
Resources Mentioned:
- Instagram: Follow me @themtdc for more tips on evidence-informed, trauma-aware practice.
References:
1.Wang D, Gupta V. Crisis Intervention. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
2.Padmanabhanunni A, Pretorius TB. Cognitive adaptation to stress and trauma: the role of self-appraised problem-solving in posttraumatic stress disorder. Chronic Stress. 2023;7:24705470231189980.
3.Wertli MM et al. Influence of catastrophizing on treatment outcome in patients with nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review. Spine. 2014;39(3):263-273.
4.Gunderson TC, Chmielewski TL. The foundations of psychologically informed physical therapy for musculoskeletal disorders. Orthop Phys Ther Pract. 2020.
5.Bany-Mohammed M et al. Trauma, stress, and mental health outcomes. J Psychiatry Psychiatr Disord. 2025;9:276-288.
6.Finkel A et al. An automata-based method to formalize psychological theories: the case study of Lazarus and Folkman's stress theory. arXiv preprint arXiv:2501.05185. 2025.
7.Sim A et al. Impact of healthcare interventions on distress following acute musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injury: a scoping review of systematic reviews. BMJ Open. 2024;14:e085778.
8.Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Springer Publishing Company; 1984.
9.Ehlers A, Clark DM. A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behav Res Ther. 2000;38(4):319-345.