The on-site Public Student Clinic at Utopia Academy is a teaching clinic and offers massage and hydrotherapy services to the public. Students learn how to incorporate the medical and wellness models of health care to provide a treatment session that is truly holistic in nature.

The student clinic provides an opportunity for students to gain valuable hands on and case management experience as they are guided by knowledgeable and experienced clinic instructors. All clinic instructors are registered massage therapists who meet or exceed the requirements for instruction as determined by the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia. Instructors guide the students through the appropriate assessment and treatment planning so the public receives safe and effective treatments.

The state of the art clinic consists of five massage treatment rooms, a medical hydrotherapy tub with underwater massage, air jet bath tub, medical vichy shower, steam room, change areas and consultation cubicles. In addition, one of our classrooms is specially designed and equipped with curtained cubicle treatment areas that ensure your privacy and which can be used for special needs and advanced clinical purposes.

As massage therapy students advance in their learning the focus of their clinical practice in the student clinic also advances. Our first year students are required to provide a full body Swedish massage, while second year students are required to provide therapeutic sessions for specific conditions such as sport injuries, arthritis and joint complaints, systemic disorders and other types of medical complaints.

Students are taught specific strategies for implementing an ‘ Active Massage Therapy Rehabilitation Program’ when managing specific injuries and medical conditions.

You may choose to book only a massage therapy session or you may combine it with a hydrotherapy session. Check below for a list of services offered at the student clinic.


Arriving for your session
On your first visit to our student clinic please arrive 20 minutes before the start of your appointment time. You will be required to complete a clinic intake form and, depending on the session you’ve booked you may be required to change into a robe.

For subsequent sessions we ask that you arrive a minimum of 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.

Arriving more than 15 minutes late for your appointment can result in cancellation of your appointment, or a reduction of time from your session. Alternatively, if resources are available you can book another appointment of a shorter duration. We encourage you to make every effort to arrive on time.


For Hydrotherapy sessions
If you’ve booked a Hydrotherapy session, we recommend that you bring a bathing suit /garments with you.

Consultation with the student therapist
The focus of the year one student internship is to develop the ‘hands on skills’ when performing a full body massage. The student will use general Swedish massage techniques to provide you with a nurturing and relaxing massage. The student is also required to begin to integrate the techniques learned in the classroom.

The focus of the year two student is to use their advanced assessment and treatment skills to assist you in managing a specific concern or complaint. For example, you make be experiencing neck and shoulder pain, or lower back pain or even headaches.

Before the student therapist performs your massage session there are certain procedures they must follow.

They must:

• review your student clinic intake form with you
• consult with the on site clinic supervisor if needed
• do an assessment (according to their stage of learning) with you, take your blood pressure and clarify what your goals are for the session
• report to the clinic supervisor the results of the assessment and what your treatment goals are
• discuss with the clinic supervisor a proposed treatment plan
• get the session plan signed off by the clinic supervisor
• get consent from you to perform the treatment

If you are scheduled for a hydrotherapy session you may be asked to change into a robe and the student will be required to take your blood pressure before and after the session.

We ask for your complete cooperation during this time. The total time for this procedure may take up to 15 minutes with our year 1 students and up to 20 minutes with our 2nd year advanced students.

Before your treatment
Your privacy and comfort in the student clinic is of the utmost importance and we will work with you to make you feel as comfortable as possible. After discussing the massage session plan and obtaining your consent to treatment the student will give you the appropriate instructions on how to prepare for the session. Depending on the focus of the session you will be asked to disrobe to a level that you are comfortable with. During the treatment, except for the area of the body the student is working on you will always be fully draped. The student will leave the room while you get ready for the session.

During your massage session
Depending on the goals of the session the student may use hot or cold modalities to better prepare your muscles and joints for the session. This clinic is a learning environment and during the session the clinic supervisor will enter the room or cubicle area to check in with the student. The supervisor will discuss the details of your specific goals with the student, ask them questions about what they are doing and will demonstrate techniques that are pertinent to your treatment. On occasion, and with your permission another student therapist who is doing rounds with the instructor may enter the room/cubicle.

After your treatment
When the massage session is over the student therapist will leave the room/ cubicle so you can redress. When they re-enter the room /cubicle they are required to do a quick re-assessment with you to determine the effectiveness of the session. They will also be recommending a home care plan for you that may consist of exercises, stretches, breathing, relaxation techniques or hydrotherapy.

Home care recommendations
The home care recommendations are an important part of the treatment session and they are designed for you to continue taking care of yourself at home and before your next session. Your student therapist may recommend bath additives, certain massage creams/lotions etc. to aid with general muscular discomfort or exercise tubes or bands to aid in strengthening your muscles. Any exercises or stretches recommended should cause no pain and must be performed slowly as per instructions.

Booking your next appointment
Your student therapist will recommend when they would like to see you again for a treatment session. It is important that you pre-book your appointment before leaving the student clinic. We want all our students to have a wide variety of clinical practice and we recommend that you see one student no more that 5 times during any one term.