Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1402696
upholds ethical behavior. For reference, some massage organizations that include a clear statement about sexual contact in their code of ethics are Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (abmp.com/ abmp-code-ethics), College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (cmto.com/about-the- profession/code-of-ethics), and the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (ncbtmb.org/code-of-ethics). ZERO TOLERANCE Have a brief yet explicit zero tolerance statement regarding sexual abuse or harassment of clients in the workplace. Having a series of clear, unambiguous statements about which actions and behaviors are totally unacceptable makes your values and policies resoundingly clear. Each hired therapist should read and sign the statement, in front of the manager, which will be added to their employment file. (Additional resource: see "Sexual Misconduct Policy" at abmp.com/keeping-clients-safe.) All-Staff Zero Tolerance Meetings Whenever an accusation or complaint of sexual assault, verbal impropriety, or inappropriate physical contact is reported to a spa or massage clinic, a general meeting of the entire staff and therapists should be called as soon as possible. To protect the privacy of all concerned, the names of clients or therapists involved in the incident are never mentioned in these meetings. These mandatory emergency general meetings let all employees know the organization truly enforces its policies of zero tolerance for sexual assault or sexual impropriety by either clients or therapists. They reinforce all written policies available to the staff and therapists that may be overlooked or ignored over time. They also create a greater sense of safety for everyone. An atmosphere of openness and honesty must be encouraged from the organization's management and leaders to have an effective sexual assault prevention policy. L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 75 Recognize that the victim will most likely be in shock, suffering from a form of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Their memory of the details of the incident may not be as clear until a few days later when they are somewhat recovered. Damaging Effects of Sexual Assault Excerpted from Effect of Sexual Assault on Women Sexual Assault Victims by Samantha Gluck, available at healthyplace.com. Here are just some of the potential effects of sexual abuse and assault. • PTSD: Victims may experience severe anxiety, stress, and fear as an effect of sexual assault. • Substance Abuse: Sexual assault victims may use alcohol or drugs to dull their emotional suffering and pain. • Self-Harm: Some sexual assault victims may harm themselves by cutting or other means. • Depression: Depression represents one of the most common effects of sexual assault on women. • Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD): Perpetrators of sexual violence may infect their victims with STDs. • Pregnancy: Sometimes, assault on women may result in pregnancy. • Flashbacks: Some victims become tormented by flashback memories that make it seem as if the sexual assault is happening all over again. • Eating Disorders: Frequently, victims of sexual assault may use food to control and cope with their negative emotions. • Sleep Disorders: Sexual assault survivors may develop sleep disorders characterized by sleeping too much or not being able to sleep. • Body Memories: Frequently referred to as psychosomatic symptoms, body memories occur in the form of physical problems like headaches, migraines, digestive issues, lightheadedness, or dizziness that medical examinations cannot explain. Most female sexual assault victims suffer from some form of debilitating mental and emotional aftershocks, which often subside. Once these dissipate, the victims often feel like they've gotten past the worst part of the aftermath and try to carry on with their lives as usual. The longer lasting effects of sexual assault then begin to manifest a little at a time, unless the victim seeks ongoing help from sexual assault counseling groups and mental health professionals who specialize in helping victims overcome any potential long-term effect of sexual assault. Impact of Sexual Assault on Victims