You can make a statement such as "Many people with have experienced relief from massage," but assuring them that massage is going to "fix" any condition is wrong. There are numerous reasons people experience pain and dysfunction, including the possibility they may have an undiagnosed pathology they (and we) know nothing about. Leading clients to expect too much out of a treatment is never a good idea. As massage therapists, we should stick to expressing we hope massage is going to benefit them and we'll do our best to help them feel better, instead of promising them it will.
False claims sometimes go beyond having too much confidence in our own ability to help someone and into the realm of making medical claims out of our scope of practice—or worse, claims that have no basis in reality. We are obligated to receive education in anatomy, kinesiology, pathology, and physiology to obtain a license, and yet, many therapists ignore those sciences and make up their own versions of how the human body works. Making such claims is unethical.
Imagine the following scenario: A new client mentions to you during the massage that she's hoping to start a family soon. You jump right in and tell her you will release the adhesions around her ovaries and align the uterus so she can conceive. She suddenly sits up, tells you this session is over, informs you she is a medical doctor, that she will be reporting you to the board for violating scope of practice, and will furthermore be spreading the word on social media and online review sites that you are a charlatan.
As massage therapists, we should stick to expressing we hope massage is going to benefit them and we'll do our best to help them feel better, instead of promising them it will.
How do you know she has adhesions around her ovaries or that her uterus is "out of alignment?" You don't. Making false or inflated claims to clients can harm your professional reputation, result in disciplinary action, or even end your career.
Stick to the truth, and avoid making unethical claims.
Gossiping with or about clients is always unethical. But there are limited scenarios where it is legally OK to violate confidentiality.
When we use the term emotional release, we create an agenda where none should exist.
What does acting and staying within your scope of practice look like, and when is a referral more appropriate?
Clients and therapists alike have the right of refusal. Don't be afraid to use it.
