How to Set Sexual Boundaries in a Professional Massage Practice
There are eight aspects of personal space that we need to consider when it comes to boundaries. One of the most challenging areas for both therapists and clients is around sexual boundaries.
Almost every therapist at some point has been in the uncomfortable position of having to deal with sexually inappropriate behavior in the massage room. And clients aren’t the only ones behaving inappropriately. Sexual misconduct is the primary reason for disciplinary action by state massage boards and a recent BuzzFeed investigation made the scope of the problem very public.
In many instances, the issue is not that the client or therapist is a sexual predator, but rather that clear sexual boundaries have not been clearly established and articulated. So for our safety and the safety of our clients, it’s vital that we learn to set firm sexual boundaries.
As a review for all of us, here’s a video on the topic of Sexual Boundaries from the textbook Boundaries: The Foundation of Ethical Massage Practice.
All of us, as massage therapists, experience times when clients challenge our boundaries, and the therapeutic relationship feels unsettling and confusing. Boundaries: The Foundation of Ethical Massage Practice is a compelling textbook full of video and immersive learning features. Through the book, you’ll tackle boundary issues head-on in the areas of:
- Physical Space
- Sexual Space
- Sensory Space
- Psychological Space
- Emotional Space
- Privacy
- Autonomy
- Ownership
Relationships, both personal and professional, are incredibly nuanced and driven by a complex, dynamic interplay of psychological needs and wants. In this book, you’ll go on a fascinating journey to explore the factors that drive your personal behavior in relationships. Once you understand the psychological needs and wants that influence your actions and those of the people around you, you’ll be ready to apply your skills to set better boundaries with clients.
Need Ethics CEs for license renewal?
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When you purchase the Boundaries in an Ethical Massage Practice CE Package, you get three high-quality online home study courses worth 12 hours of NCBTMB-approved ethics CE, and ongoing access to our premier digital textbook titled, Boundaries: The Foundation of Ethical Massage Practice (regularly $39). With this bundle, you save more than $60 on these engaging courses which are full of video and immersive learning features. These courses never expire, so you can complete each course – 4 hours of CE each – in the CE reporting years that you choose.