Empathy is an integral part of our human nature. It is a skill ingrained in us, but it can also be learned and improved upon. Explore ways to develop your empathy and be more successful in life.

Watch a TED Talk about empathy.

Think about the last time you were at a doctor or dentist's office--what made you nervous? What made you feel better? Is helping people through an experience like this something you'd like to do?

Picture working in a medical office.

Massage Therapists

Perform therapeutic massages of soft tissues and joints. May assist in the assessment of range of motion and muscle strength, or propose client therapy plans.

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Receive massage. Take an intro course. And be curious. Don't listen to people who say bad things about being a massage therapist. People who complain about being a massage therapist are most likely not the ones that wanted to be in that profession. They saw a quick schooling, and thought they could make quick money. If you really want to work with your hands and have an immediate, direct effect on improving someone's quality of life, then just go for it!

My parents refused to co-sign my student loan. I asked every single person in my family. I asked people not in my family. I was persistent and never gave up and an aunt and uncle finally came through.

I took a lot of drugs in high school. Eventually my drug use tapered off in my early twenties. I didn't have much in the way of emotional support, but once I found a community of supportive friends I didn't need that crutch.

I have epilepsy, I've struggled with severe depression and my body seems to allows get physically hurt one way or another. Embrace your disabilities. It can always be worse. Be grateful for the lessons it has to teach you. Don't let it define you.

I come to work and massage people. I listen to what is causing pain in their bodies, and I address the issues by massaging, stretching, and implementing other bodywork techniques. I work about four hours a day, three to four days a week. I also work at the front desk from time to time.

Massage Therapist

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Healthcare Support Occupations

Other Healthcare Support Occupations

Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.

Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.

Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment.

Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.

Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.

Assess clients' soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength, and range of motion.

Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises.

Massage Therapists

Overview

Career

What Massage Therapists Do

Other Job Titles Massage Therapists May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Massage Therapists

Overview

Career

What Massage Therapists Do

Other Job Titles Massage Therapists May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Massage Therapists

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers

Related Leaders