From Great Bay Graduate to Multi-Studio Leader: Bree鈥檚 Journey in Massage Therapy
When I enrolled in the Massage Therapy Certificate program at 海角乱伦 in 2012 as a 19 year old, I knew this was the path for me. I wasn’t interested in exploring different career paths. I had a passion for helping people through massage therapy and wanted a program that would prepare me to succeed in the profession.
One of the things I appreciated most about Great Bay was the small class sizes. Massage therapy is such a hands-on profession and having instructors who took the time to provide individual guidance made all the difference. I graduated in 2013 with not only the technical skills to become a licensed massage therapist, but also the confidence to begin my career from the start.
After graduation, I spent a year working in the spa industry before joining Elements Massage in Portsmouth in 2014 as a full-time massage therapist. What I thought would simply be the next step in my career quickly became the place where I found my passion, not just for helping clients heal, but for mentoring teams and developing future professionals.
I worked my way into management and now serve as a Multi-Studio Director of Elements Massage Portsmouth and Bedford NH while also overseeing communications and marketing initiatives across five Elements Massage locations throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts. I am forever grateful to the owners, Matt and Tracy, and our general Manager, Trina, for seeing the potential in me that I didn鈥檛 see myself.
A highlight of my career was when I was asked to be a part of the college鈥檚 Advisory Board in 2025. I sit at a table among multiple talented industry professionals and business owners in the region by collaborating and helping shape the program into the best version it can be through my knowledge and experience. I regularly hire graduates from the massage therapy program, enjoy mentoring students, and each year I will teach a modality class to get hands on with the students in the school.
The massage therapy profession in totality has evolved tremendously over the past decade, especially through the pandemic. Today, massage is recognized as an important part of overall health and wellness. Clients seek massage for chronic pain management, stress reduction, injury recovery, athletic performance, mental well-being, and preventative self-care. It’s no longer viewed as an occasional luxury, it’s an essential part of many people’s healthcare routines. It is not an industry that can be replaced with AI, that鈥檚 for sure!
The demand for qualified massage therapists continues to grow, creating incredible opportunities for graduates entering the field. Whether working in private practice, wellness clinics, chiropractic offices, medical settings, spas, or massage studios, therapists have more career paths available than ever before.
Over the last 14 years, I have been able to create and maintain a fulfilling career with the flexibility to run multiple successful businesses but most importantly provide for my son and be a completely hands-on mom, be present for all the important milestones, attend every school event and coach baseball. And for that, I am forever appreciative for the opportunities Great Bay and Elements Massage has given me.