Since Therapeutic Connections School of Massage LLC opened in 2007, the program has developed into a springboard for students, says Rebecca Dragseth, the owner-director of the Spokane-based business.

Dragseth says the school boasts a steady crop of graduates who have established successful careers in a growing industry reflected by the long list of job opportunities on the company’s website.

“When you graduate from here, you can hit the ground running,” Dragseth says.

The school encountered a crossroads in early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, and Dragseth received notice that she would need to alter the company’s modus operandi.

“The state said, ‘Either shut down or go online,’” she recalls.

The business pivoted quickly as Dragseth applied to launch a hybrid program.

“We spent 2020 building the program and introduced it in 2021,” she says. “I knew we were going to make this happen.”

The transition meant significant expansion with video instruction through Google Classroom. While the school’s headquarters, at 505 E. 24th, on the South Hill, a few blocks south of Manito Park, remained the company’s hub, the new virtual component translated into double the graduates and nearly quadruple the staff, she claims.

“We became the next version of who we are,” Dragseth says.

The closure of one of TCSM’s main competitors, Inland Massage Institute, in 2020 fed more business Dragseth’s way.

“We ended up being the go-to place after that,” she says.

The pandemic had another effect on the school as Dragseth saw an influx of people considering “a career change or adding to careers.”

“I had so many people walk into my office and say, ‘I want to help people. I want to make a difference in people’s lives,’” she says. “I feel so grateful my industry is focused on self-care and helping people.”

Gary Schwander has been part of the team at TCSM for the past eight years—the latest stop in a career in therapeutic massage that began in 1989. His journey has included stops in Major League Baseball with the New York Mets as well as two Olympic Games. The New Jersey native says Dragseth sets a positive tone for the entire school.

“Rebecca is so enthusiastic,” he says. “She knows that students are going to come to class not always having their best day. It’s about meeting the students where they are.”

The newest graduating class will feature 16 students at the end of July, the largest group ever at TCSM. Annually, the number of graduates has increased to 40. The school operates on a quarterly schedule with a program that spans 11 months. Tuition runs just shy of $18,000 with payment plans available. The fall quarter begins Aug. 13. Prospective students are required to apply and go through an interview process.

“I want students here for the right reasons,” Dragseth says.

The curriculum covers a broad range of anatomy and physiology studies and emphasizes what Dragseth calls “strong foundational layering.” A professional development course offers insights on starting your own business.

TCSM offers on-site massage therapy that makes its way to hospitals and other venues. A student clinic that Schwander runs also is part of the program as are a slew of continuing education courses.

“I always want to be better,” Dragseth says.

Dragseth was 29 in 1999 when she went through massage therapy school in Seattle after a career in teaching that featured a variety of stops, including a year of English instruction in South Korea. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Western Washington University.

“When I started in this field, I remember thinking ‘I get it now. I am a teacher, and I’ll be teaching others to do massage,’” Dragseth says.

In its first year, TCSM featured five students in a garage studio. Dragseth was expecting her son, now 16, when the school opened its doors. Through the years, Dragseth has made it a point to avoid the ambiance of a somber classroom.

“We have fun,” Dragseth says. “You can be in an educational environment and have fun. We want it to feel highly inclusive with a priority on open dialogue. If there’s ever an issue, we want to be able to talk about it.”

Dragseth says therapeutic massage has worked its way into fields like chiropractic, physical therapy, and acupuncture.

“I get calls every day, looking for massage therapists,” she says.

Some TCSM graduates like Samantha Wertman venture off to start their own businesses, prepared for the rigors of entrepreneurship. Wertman was one of the first students to go through TCSM’s professional development program.

“I feel like the connection Rebecca and the school provided me just launched my success,” says Wertman, who earned a degree in exercise science from Eastern Washington University and worked in the physical therapy industry before enrolling at TCSM.

Like all students at TCSM, Wertman focused her studies on preparing for the state board exam—the criterion required for licensing for massage therapists. Wertman was successful on her first attempt at the test and says the structure at TCSM was a catalyst.

“The teachers, the homework, the online curriculum were all so helpful,” Wertman says. “I feel like I had so much support every step of the way.”

The network of instructors and graduates is like an extended family, Wertman adds.

“I still consider Rebecca such a mentor in my business and my life,” she says.