Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2024

66 • Massage Therapy Journal

O ne of my fondest childhood memories is sitting at the kitchen table with my grandmother who would help me with my homework. Though my grandmother only had an eighth-grade education, she would sit with me patiently, teaching me reading, spelling (which was the hardest for me), and math. My grandmother grew up on an American Indian reservation in New Mexico. As a child, she was taken hours away from her family to attend a boarding school run by nuns—first through eighth grade.

his way. The gods decide to intervene and send Athena to appear to Telemachus disguised as Mentor to give him the advice and courage he needs to reclaim his birthright. Throughout the centuries, the model of an experienced person taking an untrained or lesser experienced person under their wing to guide and develop expertise has been widely utilized. Examples include guild and trade apprenticeships during the Middle Ages and medical apprenticeships during the 19th century. In the 1970s, mentorship even grew as a model used for corporate executive development. Currently, mentoring programs are widespread in a variety of health professions. A variety of research is being conducted to better understand the efficacy of mentoring. Many massage therapists have benefited from mentoring relationships. Many times, these are more informal arrangements that develop organically. Other times, the therapist may have sought out the mentor through more formal programs, such as AMTA’s Mentoring Program. Other times, mentoring takes place alongside other established roles, such as teacher and student or supervisor and employee. When mentoring takes place within these other relationships, clear boundaries must be established to make sure that the positive function of mentoring is maintained. One framework that might be helpful in creating meaningful mentoring relationships and opportunities is self-determination theory, which was developed by psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan. According to self-determination theory: competence, autonomy and relatedness are three interconnected needs which, when fulfilled, create optimal motivation for an individual to thrive, both personally and professionally, by enhancing performance, increasing persistence and facilitating growth. A mentoring relationship that helps fulfill these three needs can be highly fruitful. Mentoring Within the Massage Profession

Looking back on this time, the information my grandmother taught me was what made a very real difference in my life. The faith she had in me that I can learn was what was most important to me. Since those early, formative years sitting at the table with her, I have gone on to earn several degrees—including a doctorate—none of which I think would have happened without my grandmother helping me with my homework as a child. The lesson: Having people in our lives who support and inspire us can be foundational. Sometimes, these relationships happen organically, and other times, we need to seek out and build these relationships. Mentorship is one way we can foster personal and professional support. Building Community: The Role of Mentoring Mentoring can be defined as a sustained relationship between an experienced, trusted person who offers advice and guidance to a less experienced person. The mentoring process helps a mentee fuel their personal and professional growth. The term “mentor” comes from a character in Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey.” In this poem, Odysseus leaves his wife and son to lead his army to fight in the Trojan War (hint: the war with the wooden horse). When he leaves, Odysseus asks his old friend, Mentor, to look after his son, Telemachus. Odysseus is gone for 10 years, and in his absence, Telemachus needs some help finding

FURTHER READING For more information on the importance of establishing and maintaining boundaries, consider “Drawing A Line: Defining Boundaries for Massage Therapists,” available at amtamassage.org/mtj.

amtamassage.org/mtj