LMT was texting during my massage

by Karen Satke

Aug 19, 2017

I've been a massage therapist for 10 years now and I just had an alarming experience.  My mother gave me a gift card to a local spa and I booked a massage.  The massage therapist was using her phone during the session while I was face down.  She was thoughtlessly massaging with one hand and I could hear the buttons being pressed on her phone.

I wasn't sure the first time, but when it happened a second time I nearly jumped up to confront her. Needless to say, my blood was boiling from being so upset. I kept my composure, let the massage finish, checked out, and I left a message for the manager as soon as I got home.

I'm posting to make sure my rage at the situation is within reason. It has never even occurred to me to handle my phone during a session with my clients. To me, that is an obvious, terrible breech of privacy.  I'm giving her the benefit by assuming she was texting, but she could have been taking pictures!

What would you have done?  Do any MTs check their phones during sessions? Am I just an overreacting old fuddy-duddy?

Thank you!

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  • up

    Erika Han

    Wow, what a drag!

    I own a spa and I would fire the very MT who behaved like that during the therapy.   Clients pay a couple of hundred dollars minimum for an hour and face this kind of insensitivity?   No waaaaaaay.   Not in my spa.

    Aug 21, 2017

  • up

    Karen Satke

    I heard back from the manager and she said the Massage Therapist admitted to texting during the massage.  Her mother was in the hospital and she was trying to get the details.  She said the LMT was very apologetic and asked if I would come back so she could provide the massage again.

    I'm glad she admitted to texting, but I'm not sure I feel comfortable going back for a second chance.  If I messed up big time, I would like the chance to make it right, but I don't think I can provide that kind of consideration in this situation.  I was very, very upset and my frustration destroyed my entire weekend (eclipse weekend!).  

      The manager made it clear that they do not provide refunds, which seems ridiculous considering what happened.  But I'm not willing to continue the argument.

    Aug 22, 2017

  • up

    Laura Garza

    I have worked in businesses with a strict no tolerance policy for cell phones in the room. One therapist was fired for texting in the middle of an appointment, she was a great therapist.  If I ran a business with a store front, I would have the same policy.  There is no reason to ever have phone in the treatment room in a business with a store front.  I do on-site and in-home massage, the phone is used for the clock and music but I have it out of reach during the session.  That's very unprofessional and a potential liability for the business.  

    In addition, I have been at corporate and in-home massages where the therapist text while giving massage.  I am growing my own corporate massage business and wound NEVER consider the therapist I have seen doing that.

    Karen Satke said:

    Thank you for responding!
    There were times when bad news arrived and I had to decide between canceling a session or forgetting my problems for 60 min and focusing 100% on the client. As professionals, I think we need to make that decision before we start a session. We may not be perfect at seperating ourselves from our pressing issues, but we need to make the choice to try.
    I just received a call from the manager and I didn't get the feeling that she was taking the situation as serious as she should have. She actually said "young people have a hard time putting down their phones." She assured me that nothing like that has ever happened there and the therapist in question was one of their best.
    The manager offered me another massage and she was shocked that I didn't want to come in again. But she said she would talk to the therapist and then call me back. I'll let you know the final resolution. Thank you!

    Oct 14, 2017