Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/142672
personal safety over Internet scheduling. The more specific information you can gather, the better, she says. Ask first-time clients, in particular, whether they have had previous massage therapy and what outcome they are seeking. If you sense something inappropriate, seek more information. Generally, this will end the call. Be willing to refuse the appointment. State that you don't believe you can help meet this client's needs. To give yourself an extra layer of protection, if your practice permits, consider scheduling first-time clients when other therapists will be around. "You need to be doing good screening anyway to properly assess client needs, injuries, and health conditions," Sohnen-Moe says. She adds there are even more practical benefits to this type of procedure, since telephonescreened and confirmed new clients are less likely to be no-shows. During the Session Proper setup and strong, clear intake policies go a long way in protecting yourself from inappropriate behavior. With those safeguards, most clients will not be a cause for concern. But you still need to recognize and be prepared to deal with clients whose expectations or actions are unacceptable. You have to be ready to say no, to end the session if appropriate, and to simply get out if necessary. Many massage therapists may have difficulty in properly recognizing or assessing a problem situation. Marsh emphasizes this in her seminar, Embodying Ethics. "Massage therapists work with bodies, but don't listen to warning signs from their own. Self-care and personal safety are part of the journey of listening to our bodies and living in our bodies." She has found this to be an area not covered in-depth in many training programs. She sees many new therapists in her ethics seminars who need a better comfort level in dealing frankly with personal contact issues. Marsh incorporates role-play exercises to help bridge the experience gap. Sohnen-Moe likewise uses roleplaying training to get massage therapists comfortable with direct communication. This sort of frank communication can diffuse a misunderstanding, work past a purely physiological reaction, or forgo other awkward situations. It also helps therapists to recognize when something more could be going on, and to increase their willingness to put their needs first and end the session. Fortunately, few inappropriate requests lead to physical confrontations. Despite your stage setting and intake procedures, the client may have misunderstood the nature of your practice. The client still may simply be confused as to the boundaries of therapeutic massage contact. Be direct. Explain firmly that you only provide professional therapeutic massage and that the request is inappropriate. It is possible, after making this clear and seeing that the client truly understands, that the session could continue if you are comfortable with the situation. If not, do not be reluctant to terminate the session and ask the client to leave. As Marsh says, listen to what your own body is telling you. The appropriate response depends on several factors. A client lying supine on the table making a verbal request is not (yet) as threatening a situation as a client who is standing. The setting is very important. If you are within earshot of other therapists in a large office, your risk exposure is not nearly so great. If you're the only one there or if you're isolated, in solo practice, or on an outcall, your exposure is much greater. In those situations, you will need to have a much higher level of caution. Instances of actual physical assault on massage therapists are fortunately rare. But the bottom line—both for peace of mind and for your safety—is that you need to be ready for even that sort of assault, just as you would when alone on a dark street. Here is the most basic rule: when in doubt, move. If you feel threatened, or sense that you could be in physical danger, or even are feeling unsure whether you're entirely safe or not, just go. Don't hesitate, don't let the situation escalate, don't worry about explanations or the rest of the session. Get out. SPH Dennis Walker is an attorney and massage therapy client. He is a sport shooting enthusiast and has taught personal protection and defensive pistol use.