Professional Ethics of massage therapy

by Laura K Dylla

Jul 7, 2010

I just finished an Elite Continuing Education course for CEUs on Ethics and Standards...Roles and boundaries in Massage Therapy which was recently approved for Texas to be able to do online courses.

 

My question is this...in a small town setting, just how important are the guidelines that NCBTMB and the medical community have evolved?  Many of the situations about boundaries, such as seeing clients in the community, or speaking to them out of the office about their situations, meeting clients for lunch...etc; just seem to be more stuff to be on the look-out for than could really be a problem.  I was one of the first massage therapists in this small town, a bedroom city for a larger city, to begin massage and there were no guidelines or cautions like the ones stated in this course. 

Does anyone have anymore input? 

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    Laura Allen

    I've been teaching ethics for about ten years...I also practice in a small town.

    Boundaries are not just for the protection of the client; they're for us, as well. Believe me, I have been a state board member for four years, and there are numerous ethical problems (other than sex) that arise all the time.

    If I'm out in public and see a client, I nod and smile and wait for them to speak to me instead of speaking to them first. Maybe the spouse is with them and doesn't know they're visiting you (that applies to women just as often as it does to men). Maybe they don't want the next person in line to know their personal business. You should not stand there discussing their condition and their next appointment where other people can hear the conversation. If another friend walks up, you don't say, "This is Marge, my client." It is a violation of confidentiality.

    One of my boundaries is a clear policy on cancellations and charging for missed appointments. When you start going out to lunch with clients, and assuming the dual role of "friend" as well as massage therapist, you will find yourself reluctant to enforce policies with "friends." That can lead to resentment, not a good thing to carry around.

    I recommend you get the book, The Educated Heart by Nina McIntosh (3rd ed, LWW, 2010). It is all about roles and boundaries and says so much that I don't have the time to say here. It's a great book and it gives people an a-ha moment. It's available on Amazon.

    LA

    Jul 8, 2010

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    Laura K Dylla

    Hello Laura, thanks for your feedback. I appreciate your taking time to answer as well as the judicious answers you gave to me. The class was an eyeopener in the ways that I can be more cognizant of my clients rights while meeting them on a regular basis in the community. I happen to be a talker and can be a motor mouth at times and this is not good for me or my clients. I will look up the book, The Educated Heart...it seems as if this is definitely where I must go if I want to continue to honor my clients rights and privacy while continuing to provide massage in this community, and provide guidance for others who work in my practice. Thanks again.

    Jul 13, 2010