14 Nov WSC Massage Therapy Clinic Open
WILLISTON, N.D. – Do you need to be kneaded? The Williston State College Massage Therapy Clinic is now open for the 2019-2020 year and is taking appointments.
Eleven students are progressing through the WSC Massage Therapy program and anticipate graduating in May 2020.
Students are required to complete a certain number of “supervised” clinical hours as well as “unsupervised” clinical hours which are required outside of scheduled clinic time throughout the year.
A minimum of 36 appointments are available each week for the supervised clinic on campus.
“During the fall semester students are required to complete a minimum of 25 hours supervised and 25 hours unsupervised for a total of 50 clinical hours,” explained Wendy McGinley, Program Coordinator and Associate Professor of Massage Therapy. “The spring semester requires a minimum of 50 hours supervised and 50 hours unsupervised for a total of 100 clinical hours.”
Prior to any hands-on training and the start of clinic, students learn about a variety of topics.
“We address indications and contraindications for massage, pharmacology, body mechanics, positioning and draping of the client, various techniques or strokes used in massage, documentation of the treatment provided, and clinic etiquette,” explained McGinley. “A variety of guest speakers and licensed massage therapists are also brought into the classroom to provide additional education and information for the students to utilize when opening their practice.”
Students initially start practicing massage on backs. As new areas of the body are introduced in lecture, students incorporate them into clinic practice.
“Currently, students are working on backs, arms, and were recently introduced to legs all while the client is lying face down on the table,” stated McGinley. “Eventually students will have the client turn over so they can work on the front side with legs, arms, and ending with the head and neck region.”
Clinicals are very important for the students as both supervised and unsupervised clinic hours are required by most state massage therapy boards as part of a massage education for licensure in that state.
In addition, students gain real world experience in a safe classroom setting and learn what it takes to run a successful clinic.
“Students are responsible for all parts of running the clinic,” explained McGinley. “They return phone calls, do laundry, schedule clients, clean the clinic, do laundry, check clients into the clinic, and ensure all paperwork is completed, all while doing more laundry.”
Outside of the clinic and classroom, WSC Massage students participate in a variety of on-campus and off-campus events, providing onsite hand and chair massages. Some of these events include the WSC Health & Wellness Fair and women’s retreats at the Williston Area Recreation Center.
Every spring, WSC Massage Therapy travels to the state massage therapy convention in Bismarck where students network with massage therapists from around the region and are introduced to a new massage technique or modality.
The WSC Massage Clinic is located in the Western Star Building on the east side of campus.
Clinic runs until December 12 and will resume again on January 16, 2020 until May 7. Appointment days and times are Tuesdays and Thursday at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.
Suggested donation is $20 for an hour-long massage. Donations are used to support the Massage Therapy program by paying for services and equipment needed such as: massage oil/gel/lotion/cream, paraffin wax, essential oils, hot stones, and hot/cold packs.
Donations can be made in cash or checks made out to WSC.
If interested in scheduling an appointment, please call or email the WSC Massage Clinic at 701.774.4297 or wsc.massage@willistonstate.edu.
Stay up to date with all things WSC Massage Therapy by following them on Facebook (@wscmassage), Snapchat (wscmassage), and Instagram (@wscmassage).
For more information on the WSC Massage Therapy program, please contact Wendy McGinley, Program Coordinator, at 701.774.4293 or wendy.mcginley@willistonstate.edu.
For more information, please visit www.willistonstate.edu, call 701.774.4200, or stop by 1410 University Avenue, Williston, ND.