ETHICS FOR THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE AND BODYWORK (3HR)

Course overview

This course emphasizes the principles and standards of ethical practice for massage therapy and bodywork, and ethical issues that impact the professional in daily practice. The course includes steps to identify potential ethical conflicts, and strategies for ethical decision-making to avoid and resolve ethical issues before they become problematic. The components of informed consent, documentation and records maintenance, establishing boundaries, and collaboration with supervisors and colleagues for integrated healthcare, are detailed based on ethical standards of best practice. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: •Identify the principles of the professional Code of Ethics from the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), and the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP). •List and define five standards of practice from the AMTA, the ABMP and the NCBTMB, and give an example of each standard. •Explain the concepts of power dynamics, transference and counter transference related to the scope of practice in massage and bodywork. •List five key elements of documentation and records maintenance, including the HIPAA Privacy Rule. •Define the risks involved with dual or multiple-role relationships between therapists and clients and list four strategies that reinforce appropriate boundaries. •Explain the relationship between patient autonomy and therapist/client agreements, including the client’s bill of rights, informed consent, and right to refuse treatment. Therapists must recognize the importance of evidence based practice modalities to ensure the safety of their clients. They must enhance their practice based on continued education and training from approved providers and remain within the scope of their practice and level of competency. The professional therapists and bodywork professional must meet the challenge to adapt to the needs and demands of diverse communities with expanding health care needs. They must build a practice that projects high standards of ethical conduct and professional practice that welcomes all clients.