Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/867515
under the drape near the genital region. This should never happen. The only exceptions to these guidelines occur when the client specifically requests therapeutic work on an injury in this region. For example, a client may seek treatment for a strained adductor muscle- tendon unit from a therapist who is trained in working with those particular injuries. Even in these cases, the genital area should always remain covered and never be grazed or touched. The drape is secured at the very top of the thigh at the lateral aspect of the pubic bone, delineating a boundary that must never be crossed. The Lower Abdomen: Abdominal massage can be very therapeutic for certain conditions. However, the abdomen—especially the lower abdomen—is a very sensual area of the body for most clients. If the therapist has a good therapeutic reason to perform abdominal massage, they should explain that and receive the client's permission before the treatment begins. As a general rule, the therapist's hands should remain at least 2 inches above the client's pubic bone. (Depending on the client's build, this boundary will lie roughly 2–3 inches below the navel.) There may be some exceptions to this guideline—always with client consent—such as treatment of Caesarean section or similar surgical scars by a qualified therapist. The Genital Region: The genital region should never be touched in a massage or bodywork session under any circumstance, even by accident. Any client, and especially one who has a sexual-abuse history, may freeze at that moment and be unable to move or say anything. At this point, they are experiencing sexual trauma and often go into shock. A predator therapist may mistakenly interpret this reaction as agreement with what is being done, when actually the client is frozen in fear. After experiencing such abuse, these clients may suffer from extreme emotional distress. Any touching of a client's genital 60 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k s e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r 2 0 1 7 Do You Know the Definitions? SEXUAL ABUSE In a therapeutic relationship, the practitioner develops a power advantage over the client (power differential) and is considered a legal caregiver. For this reason, any sexual misconduct (regardless of whether the client consents), is considered sexual abuse. The practitioner is responsible and liable for sexual abuse, even if the client initiates sexual behavior. Sexual abuse is a crime. SEXUAL ASSAULT According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. This term is often interchangeable with the term sexual abuse. Sexual assault is a crime. SEXUAL HARASSMENT Uninvited or unwelcome verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature, especially by a person in an authority position (e.g., a practitioner with a client). Sexual harassment is a crime. SEXUAL IMPROPRIETY A failure to observe professional standards or show due modesty in the massage environment, including poor draping practices, telling sexual jokes, making gender-based comments, requesting or accepting a date, or emailing or calling clients for reasons unrelated to the massage session. Sexual impropriety can lead to sexual harrassment charges. 6