Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/70065
ETHICS AND ETIQUETTE What Would You Say? Susan has just begun her practice as an MT. With her mother a nurse, Susan grew up with a great respect for all the health professions and how they can make a difference in people's lives by helping them regain or maintain their health. She chose massage therapy as her profession, in part because she enjoys hands-on work and in part because of her own experience with massage, which played a major role in her recovery from a serious sports injury years earlier. In her massage therapy program, everyone acted professionally and accepted the value of professional massage. Now, just a month into her practice, she has experienced some negative comments from others. At a recent party, she was introduced as a "masseuse," leading a couple of people to make tasteless jokes about her profession and infer how easy it would be to "pick up guys." Susan found it very difficult to respond to those comments. What are some potential ways Susan could have responded? of school. In most states, we are a licensed profession, much like doctors, nurses, and physical therapists." PEOPlE ArE OFTEn FEArFul OF whAT ThEy dO nOT undErSTAnd Educating the public about the positive values of massage will help them learn what bodywork is all about. You can help calm their fears with information about the profession. You might say, "MTs are educating the public about the positive benefits of massage and working with clients to provide the safe and nurturing aspects of this work." Remind them that before technology changed the course of the nurse-patient relationship, hospital nurses would often give massages to patients to help ease their pain and comfort them at night, and that nurses remain huge advocates of massage therapy today. lEArn TO wAlK AwAy There are a few people you will not be able to educate or convince. Because of something in their background or belief system, they believe that bodywork is not a good thing, and no amount of talking will change their minds. These people will not become your clients. Sometimes it is better just to say nothing at all. INSIDE THE MASSAGE ROOM We've all had clients who have made uncomfortable comments during a session. The client could be expressing a personal political opinion, telling a bad joke, or referencing a subject with which a therapist does not agree. This can cause a shift in the session and the relationship with the client. Getting angry will easily translate into your hands and change the focus of the massage session. We have to put those conversations aside and concentrate on the bodywork that is being performed. Having the client work with you in the session with breathing and feedback can help move the session away from the conversations and back into the therapeutic relationship. Bring the conversation back to the reason the client is there: "Why don't we take a quiet moment to focus on your massage so that you might fully get the benefits of this session." If the comment is out of line in regards to massage or overstepping personal boundaries, then by all means the session should end. Make sure you have good language on your client intake and health history forms regarding inappropriate client behavior during a session, and the consequences that will ensue, and make sure all new clients read, sign, and date that passage. Talking with a mentor or other professionals in the field may help to reinforce your values or see the need to make a change. It is important for therapists to develop a strong foundation and become comfortable with, and proud of, the work you do. Clients, other health professionals, and the general public will gain a strong respect for who you are when they see how your values and beliefs are part of you as a practitioner. Your foundation needs to encompass not only massage skills and techniques, but also your beliefs and values in the massage and bodywork field. massage therapist for 18 years, working both in private practice and medical settings. She began teaching massage techniques and ethics 13 years ago and became program manager at Anthem College in St. Louis, Missouri, 10 years ago. She is the author of Ethics for Massage Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006). Contact her at tyardleynohr@anthem.edu. Terrie Yardley-Nohr, LMT, has been a connect with your colleagues on massageprofessionals.com 107