We care about clients. We show up with our great hands and noble hearts to every session. So why do some client relationships feel unhealthy and what can we do to get dysfunctional sessions back on track?

Together, we’ll deepen our understanding of therapeutic relationships, boundary types, boundary forms, and boundary violations. With this informed foundation we’ll use simple but powerful communication skills that make it easier to maintain healthy relationships. We’ll learn to speak our truth and assert our boundaries clearly while respecting our clients and ensuring their wellbeing.   

Video presentations, interactive features, and learning activities keep this content fresh, fun and engaging as we learn to respond effectively to client drama and stay grounded in our confidence as health care professionals.

The digital textbook titled, Boundaries: The Foundation of Ethical Massage Practice is required for completion of this course. This textbook is included with the purchase of this course. 

PREREQUISITE: Learners must complete the course titled, Personal Space & Personal Boundaries in an Ethical Massage Practice before they begin this course.

BOUNDARIES – CORE CONCEPTS

• Introduction
• Learning objectives
• Terminology preview
• Therapeutic Relationships
• Boundary Development
• Boundary Types and Forms
• Boundary Crossing
• Boundary Violations
• Apply It! (4 Activities)
• Practice Quiz (10 Questions)

ESSENTIAL BOUNDARY SKILLS

• Introduction
• Learning objectives
• Terminology preview
• Understand Relating Styles
• Attention to Body Language
• Active Listening
• Speak Your Truth
• Establish and Maintain Boundaries
• Respect Other’s Boundaries
• Apply It! (3 Activities)
• Practice Quiz (10 Questions)

FINAL COURSE EXAMINATION (20 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS)

Having completed this course, you will be able to:

• Define these terms: Boundaries, therapeutic relationship, power advantage, personal space, permeable boundaries, semipermeable boundaries, impermeable boundaries, boundary crossing, and boundary violation.
• List the features that define therapeutic relationships.
• Compare and contrast client-centric massage sessions with therapist-centric massage sessions.
• Differentiate between permeable, semipermeable, and impermeable boundaries.
• Match each boundary form to its written description.
• Give one example of a professional boundary crossing that would not likely cause harm to a client.
• List three behaviors a client experiencing transference might exhibit.
• List three behaviors a therapist experiencing countertransference might exhibit.
• Explain what is meant by the phrase “sexual exploitation by a helping professional.”
• Define these terms: Active listening, aggressive relating style, assertive relating style, closed body position, open body position, passive relating style, passive-aggressive relating style, presence, reflecting, relating style, verbal encouragement.
• Compare and contrast the characteristics of different relating styles.
• List three benefits of paying attention to other’s body language.
• Describe the position of the face, chest, arms, and legs in an open body position.
• Describe the position of the face, chest, arms, and legs in a closed body position.
• Name three characteristics of active listening.
• List three benefits of reflecting during a conversation with another person.
• Give one example of proper verbal encouragement during a conversation with another person.
• Outline the process of saying “no” politely.
• List two methods for responding to boundary violations effectively.
• Compare and contrast “you-statements” with “I-statements.”
• Transform five “you-statements” into “I-statements.”
• Explain the meaning of unconditional positive regard in relationship to personal boundaries.
• Give an example of a situation in which one person invites another to share their boundaries.

PREREQUISITE: Learners must complete Course 01: Personal Space & Personal Boundaries in an Ethical Massage Practice before they begin this course.

To complete this course (Course 02: Essential Boundary Skills in an Ethical Massage Practice), work through the materials in Lesson 02 (Boundaries – Core Concepts) and Lesson 03 (Essential Boundary Skills) in the digital textbook titled, Boundaries: The Foundation of Ethical Massage Practice.

You have already completed the Orientation and Introduction and Lesson 01 in the prerequisite course (Course 01: Personal Space & Personal Boundaries in an Ethical Massage Practice). You do not need to complete Lessons 04 in the digital textbook to meet the requirements for this course (Lesson 04 is the source material for Course 03 in this series).

Please click the “mark complete” button at the bottom of each webpage in the digital textbook to log your progress through the appropriate sections.  You must pass the final course examination from the link at the bottom of this Course Area with a score of 70% or higher.