Informed Consent

Informed Consent

Informed consent is one of the most important parts of the therapeutic relationship and building a massage therapy business. You inform clients of what you are going to be doing and why and everything about what you know so they can be informed and clear about what they will be getting. They get to have input into the care that they receive. It also is what will protect you when a client makes a claim against your liability insurance or makes a complaint about you. It is the basis for a safe experience for both the client and the therapist. It is the foundation of the therapeutic relationship and building a successful massage business.

From the minute they start searching for someone to give them a massage, either online or by asking friends and doctors for referrals, a person that will get initial impressions of you which starts the process of the therapeutic relationship.

Clients must be informed of:

Who you are and that you will be working with them.

Your work hours, fees and policies.

The background, history, tradition or evidence of your work.

Your training and experience in learning the massage method. How many years of training and experience, classes taken, teachers and reputations, board certifications or certificates (know the difference).

The benefits that should come as a result of the work. Know your research.

The risks involved in getting the massage.

How people may feel before, during and after a massage.

What to expect during a massage 부천오피 session with YOU. What areas of the body will you be working on and how. What areas of concern do you and the client have?

Describe sessions in a language that is simple and clear, explaining technical terms. What happens from the minute they think about trying you for a massage – the website, scheduling, cancellation policies, appointment times and days, techniques you will use and how feedback will be handled. Assume that people know nothing about massage or the work you do.

Clearly state your scope of practice and that you are not able to diagnose anything.

Policies and Procedures including cancellation, no show, late arrivals, payment at the time of service, late fees, no payment or delay of payment fees.

What is expected from the client – being on time, draping, how to behave (no sexual advances).

Clients must be capable of making a decision for themselves and not be influenced by marketing, hype or rhetoric. A child may need parental consent.

Right of Refusal.

A client has the right to refuse treatment at any time before or during the session. The client should be able to ask questions at any time and stop the session at any time. They should be allowed to give feedback and have it be heard. This is often one of the most difficult things for clients to do when they are undressed and in a vulnerable space.

Informed Consent Forms

Having a client sign a consent for usually should be enough, but many do not fully read those forms.

A good informed consent form will include these topics:

Possible expected outcomes of your massage session

Proposed course of session. What to expect during a session – think person who never had a massage before.

The client’s financial responsibility

Your statement about confidentiality including a link to your HIPAA forms

Specific details of your cancelation, no show policies, late arrivals and other policies.

Cautions and contraindications

A bio about you with experience, training etc.

Informing Clients

Beginning with first contact which is often a Google Business Listing or finding your website or talking to a friend/coworker/family member about you, your messaging needs to be clear and consistent. Your website should tell what solutions you provide as well as have your policies and procedures listed.

As you work with people on the massage table, you can also use this as an opportunity to inform them of everything you are doing especially if they have never had a massage session or had a session with you. Tell them how to lie on the table -under the sheets, face up or down or side, covering up, level of undressing and whatever is needed to help them feel comfortable. Tell them what you are doing before you do it —like I am going to massage the gluts or adductors or pec minor— and I am going to do this and this and you may feel this or this.

Liability Insurance or Professional Association?

Liability insurance for massage therapists is required in most states. It is a necessary business expense to protect your business and property.

There are many different groups offering massage liability insurance so it is important to compare and contrast the various plans to make sure you get the coverage that is best for you.

The most popular are:

Massage Magazine’s Insurance Plus – Massage Magazines Liability insurance plan

Hands On Trade. Owned by Judi Calvert who started Massage Magazine with her husband back in the early 90’s

American Massage Council –

CM & F group –

Hiscox – usually higher priced but better coverage.

Beauty and Bodywork Insurance

Alternative Balance – the only insurance I have seen that covers HIPAA breaches which is really a necessity.

Professional Associations for Liability Insurance.

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) are the two main associations that also offer liability insurance.

AMTA has been the leading advocate for massage therapists in the US since the early 90’s. Each state has their own chapter for organizing and sharing information. AMTA usually has a national convention and many states have state conventions. AMTA is a non-profit membership association that means they puts the money earned back into the organization.

AMTA also owns Massage Today – the once popular online and print newspaper. They also are the main funding source of the Massage Therapy Foundation (research) and also the National Certification Board for Massage and Bodywork. The NCBTMB is also run by past AMTA board members and the executive director also was once the executive director for AMTA. The NCBTMB is having big financial troubles because of the Federation of Massage State Boards taking over the CE classes and becoming the main state testing source. The NCBTMB has created specialty certifications that really should have been board certifications, but they lack the financial resources to create board certifications. Currently, there is a committee working within the NCBTMB to figure out what to do with the Specialty certifications and will hopefully work to move them into true Board Certifications. (Yes quite the mess).

ABMP is a for profit company owned by about 8 different people. The company that owns ABMP is called Professional Assist Corporation, DBA Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, and also owns many subsidiaries Associated Skin Care Professionals, Associated Hair Professionals, and Associated Nail Professionals. They have quite a line up of free CE classes for everyone and more for members. They also were first to gather and share info on the Covid-19 issue.

Both have many added benefits like discounts on products and services like many of the individual liability insurances.

Choosing Wisely

With so many options, it divides our profession up which makes it very difficult to move forward on issues like getting license portability between states, consistent scope of practice laws, consistent CE classes that are evidence based, and working to get massage 대구오피 therapy more accepted by health insurance, Medicaid and Medicare.

Neither professional associations really fit the bill for what we need and we are falling behind in moving forward. There is also talk of new associations and even talk of unions forming to fill in the gaps.

Do you want to support growth of the profession or do you just want to be covered by insurance? Who should you choose if you want to support the growth of the profession?