Trans Massage Therapist

[hpfan.jake23]

Hello all! I'm ftm and a massage therapist still practicing as a female therapist. I recently started testosterone and will be switching everything over at work to practice as a male therapist. I haven't been able to find anything online with any sort of first hand accounts of experiences with this, so I'm here asking for some advice.
Does anyone here know of any transgender massage therapists? If so, do you know anything they experienced while transitioning at work?
Obviously, I'll have to come out to individual clients (my regulars, mostly) before I transition in hopes to keep them as regulars, but with new clients, I'm just going to hope they roll with what I tell them. I, unfortunately, have a larger chest, so binding definitely isn't something that's too effective. I have to come up with a script for my coworkers to have so they can discuss this with clients when they call to book an appointment with me and use my dead name. So any suggestions on that would be appreciated as well.
Also, I feel like I need to mention that I work in Tennessee, so I work in a community that is mostly conservative and religious, but it is getting better every year.
Any suggestions would be awesome.
Thanks so much!
Jake

[Northern Star Girl]

Hello all! I'm ftm and a massage therapist still practicing as a female therapist. I recently started testosterone and will be switching everything over at work to practice as a male therapist. I haven't been able to find anything online with any sort of first hand accounts of experiences with this, so I'm here asking for some advice.
Does anyone here know of any transgender massage therapists? If so, do you know anything they experienced while transitioning at work?
Obviously, I'll have to come out to individual clients (my regulars, mostly) before I transition in hopes to keep them as regulars, but with new clients, I'm just going to hope they roll with what I tell them. I, unfortunately, have a larger chest, so binding definitely isn't something that's too effective. I have to come up with a script for my coworkers to have so they can discuss this with clients when they call to book an appointment with me and use my dead name. So any suggestions on that would be appreciated as well.
Also, I feel like I need to mention that I work in Tennessee, so I work in a community that is mostly conservative and religious, but it is getting better every year.
Any suggestions would be awesome.
Thanks so much!
Jake

@hpfan.jake23
Dear Jake:
     I am so very glad that you have become a member here and this is your very first posting.   I am happy to see that you found the Susan's Place Forums.

    As you post on the forums you will be able to exchange thoughts and comments with others that are experiencing many of the same things that you are.   I expect that you will be getting many members offering their thoughts and suggestions as you continue to post here. 

    This is the right place for you to be to find out what others may have to say that may have been in your circumstances and with your questions and concerns.
    There are a lot of members here that will be able to identify with your situation and as you continue to feel free to share with all of us.

    I also want to warmly WELCOME you to Susan's Place. 
You will find this a safe and friendly place to share with others and to read about others similar trials, tribulations, and successes.

    As you are certainly aware you can share with others and involve yourself with some give and take with other like-minded members.  When frustrated or if you have successes you can share it here if you wish and receive support from others and offer support to others. ....
     ***There is a very good chance that you might find that you will make some new like-minded friends here. 

    Please come in and continue to be involved at your own pace.
   
    I have attached important and informative LINKS that will help you to navigate around the Forums and will allow you to enjoy the features here.     
Please look closely at the LINKS in RED, answers are there to many questions that new members ask.

Again, Welcome to Susan's Place.
Danielle

Here are some links to the site rules and stuff that all new members should be familiar with:
 

Things that you should read

Site Terms of Service & Rules to Live By	Standard Terms & Definitions	Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar)	Cautionary Note
Reputation rules	News posting & quoting guidelines	Photo, avatars, & signature images policy	Membership Agreement

[Northern Star Girl]

@hpfan.jake23   
Oh, and another thing Jake...
Please plan to write a post and tell us more about yourself in the Introductions Forum so that other members will be aware of your arrival... therefore you will be able to share your thoughts with more members here.
     
Thank you again for joining Susan's Place and being involved in the Forums here.
Best wishes to you,
Danielle
NOTE: Now after all of this Greeting Stuff I will let you have your thread back so you can pursue answers to your questions.
Other members here will certainly be along to give you their comments and suggestions that you may be seeking

[KathyLauren]

Hi, Jake, and welcome!

If you have any registration or certification documents, you may want to see about getting them re-issued in your new name.  Old documents are perfectly valid, when accompanied by a legal name change document, but many people in personal-service fields like to display their qualification documents on the wall.  You wouldn't want to display your dead name.

[Ryuichi13]

Hello all! I'm ftm and a massage therapist still practicing as a female therapist. I recently started testosterone and will be switching everything over at work to practice as a male therapist. I haven't been able to find anything online with any sort of first hand accounts of experiences with this, so I'm here asking for some advice.
Does anyone here know of any transgender massage therapists? If so, do you know anything they experienced while transitioning at work?
Obviously, I'll have to come out to individual clients (my regulars, mostly) before I transition in hopes to keep them as regulars, but with new clients, I'm just going to hope they roll with what I tell them. I, unfortunately, have a larger chest, so binding definitely isn't something that's too effective. I have to come up with a script for my coworkers to have so they can discuss this with clients when they call to book an appointment with me and use my dead name. So any suggestions on that would be appreciated as well.
Also, I feel like I need to mention that I work in Tennessee, so I work in a community that is mostly conservative and religious, but it is getting better every year.
Any suggestions would be awesome.
Thanks so much!
Jake

I don't know how large your chest is, but have you tried either Underworks or GC2B?  I have a D almost a DD cup size, and I use this Underworks binder, along with a sleeveless t-shirt overtop of it tucked into my boxer briefs to help my chest look more like pecs. 

Also, I heard that both Underworks and GC2B's customer service is amazing, and willing to help you measure yourself so that you can get a good fit. 

Good luck with your transitioning and work, and welcome to Susan's Place! 

Ryuichi

[hpfan.jake23]

Hi, Jake, and welcome!

If you have any registration or certification documents, you may want to see about getting them re-issued in your new name.  Old documents are perfectly valid, when accompanied by a legal name change document, but many people in personal-service fields like to display their qualification documents on the wall.  You wouldn't want to display your dead name.

Thank you!! I have actually been discussing that with my boss and we are trying to figure out if I can legally work under a professional license as a male therapist that was issued to a female therapist. We have a couple of members of the TN massage therapy board that work where I am employed and neither one of them have any clue as to how to approach this. We think my experience will end up becoming new policy for TN massage therapists, which is scary and awesome at the same time!
I am going to work on getting my name changed legally soon so I can at least start that process and hopefully won't run into any legal issues with my license throughout my transition.
Thanks!
Jake