A massage should be an extremely relaxing and therapeutic experience. For the best experience, the relationship between you and the massage therapist should be an inherently open and trusting one. Here are a few things that you, the consumer, should know and expect of your massage therapist.
Licensure
Most importantly, the practice of massage therapy requires licensure by the North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy (NCBMBT). This may seem obvious, but reports continue in the NCBMBT’s periodic newsletters concerning people practicing massage without a license. The license should be on display in the therapist’s place of business.
Once a therapist is licensed, he or she agrees to uphold a set of standards for the profession. These standards should directly play out in your massage sessions.
Health history
First, your therapist is required to take your health history before your first session to ensure that you are healthy enough to receive a massage (contraindications for massage therapy will be covered in a future article) and, if so, to tailor a massage session specifically for you.
Informed consent
Second, you should have the opportunity to discuss, modify and agree to any proposed treatment and, with your signature, indicate your understanding of and consent to treatment.
Confidentiality
Third, your massage therapist is required to keep all information and conversations in the massage room strictly confidential, even what may seem like casual chitchat. The therapist should confirm this either in conversation with you or, better yet, state it in a written policy.
Only a doctor can diagnose
Possibly one of the hardest principles for massage therapists to remember, and particularly those who are extremely knowledgeable and experienced, is that they cannot diagnose conditions. Not to diagnose a problem can be particularly challenging when a client specifically requests an opinion. However, a massage therapist is not a doctor. A therapist can and should rightfully tell you when he or she thinks you should see a health care practitioner to get a diagnosis.
As of this writing, the NCBMBT has issued just over 11,000 licenses in our state. To find out if a massage therapist is licensed in North Carolina, use the online verification tool at the NCBMBT's website.
Look for part 2 of this article, coming soon. Here’s to your happy and healthy massage therapy experiences!
Comments