Ethics is not something meant to be learned once and then relied upon only in the direst of situations. Truth is, as massage therapists and bodyworkers, you face ethical challenges every day in your practice—not letting a late client impact your next appointment, referring out to other health-care providers when a client’s needs exceed your capabilities, not letting boundaries get fuzzy. And your ethical “talents” continue to improve with each circumstance.
There is always room to grow your ethics knowledge, no matter what stage of your career you are in. Because of the nature of the work you do, it’s important to be on a lifelong ethical journey.
In this second installment of “What’s Your Ethics IQ?,” it’s time to test your understanding of boundaries and relationships in the treatment room. Take a look at the questions below. Answer what you can, research what you can’t. We’ve given you a head start on a few. Good luck! (For the rest of the answers, visit our digital edition at www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com.)

Test Your Knowledge
1. Define the phrase conflict of interest as it relates to a therapeutic relationship.
2. Define the term kickback.
3. List three therapist behaviors that demonstrate a lack of attention to sexual innuendo.
Answer: Making complimentary comments about a client’s body or accepting client compliments about the face, body, or hair; having nude artwork anywhere in the massage practice; and making sexual jokes or allowing clients to make sexual jokes.
4. List four therapist behaviors that demonstrate sexual impropriety that can lead to sexual harassment or sexual assault.
5. Define the term sexual abuse as it relates to a therapeutic relationship.
6. List two possible outcomes of sexual abuse allegations by clients.
7. List three pieces of information you would find in an informed consent document.
8. Define the term referral.
9. List two instances where referral to another health-care provider demonstrates ethical practice.
Answer: When the massage therapist does not believe massage can benefit the client, or the client needs treatment beyond the ability of massage to benefit the condition.
10. Define the term boundaries.
11. Explain the meaning of personal space.
12. Give one example of when to use each of these types of boundaries: permeable, semipermeable, impermeable.
13. Describe these types of boundaries: physical, emotional, mental,
spiritual, sexual.
14. Define the term boundary violation (or boundary crossing).
15. Give one example of a way a therapist might cross each of these client boundaries: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, sexual.
16. Explain one client behavior that might violate a therapist’s boundary during a massage session.
17. List two methods that help clients establish healthy boundaries during a massage session.
18. Recall three therapist behaviors that establish the boundaries of a therapeutic relationship during a massage session.
19. Explain the phrase dual relationship.
20. List one type of dual relationship that is prohibited in the massage profession.
21. Identify ways to obtain external guidance on issues related to therapeutic relationships.
Watch for the third and final installment of “What’s Your
Ethics IQ?” in the next issue.

Anne Williams, LMT, (anne@abmp.com) is the director of education for Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and author of Massage Mastery: from Student to Professional (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2012) and Spa Bodywork: A Guide for Massage Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006).

Karrie Osborn is senior editor at ABMP and collaborates with Williams on various education projects, including ABMP Exam Coach and ABMP Student Life.