Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68013
CLEAR COMMUNICATION AND SELF-PROTECTION I'm a newly graduated massage therapist who would appreciate some tips on how to avoid being mistaken for someone who is offering sexual services. I put an ad on a local Internet service and have already gotten calls from men who want more than a therapeutic massage. As a relatively small female, I'm also afraid of not being able to deal with a client who makes a pass at me. N.M., Raleigh, North Carolina Dear N.M., Your concerns are valid. We live in a culture in which massage therapy is still associated with sex. Many people are uneducated about our work and do not appreciate that we are professionals who work with therapeutic intention. It's distressing but understandable that some of the public might still think that all massage practitioners offer sexual services. How often have we seen massage therapists portrayed in television sitcoms or movies as crossing the line? How often have new acquaintances made sexual innuendos and jokes about our work? To complicate matters, those who do offer sexual services often bill themselves as practicing massage. Moreover, the intimacy of our work leaves us open to misunderstandings and false accusations. SELF-PRESENTATION First, you need to create a professional image with everything related to your work. You have to assume that you're representing the profession every minute. If you have a private practice, take care with your phone message, your website, even your e-mail address. You don't want to sexualize your work in any way: no sexy music on your answering machine, no double entendre for an e-mail address. There's nothing remotely funny about playing into the idea that our work is sexual. Promoting a sexual image of massage denigrates the profession and may put you and other massage therapists in danger; it will not be appreciated by those who have worked to combat the massage parlor stereotype. visit massageandbodywork.com to access your digital magazine 117