Boundaries, Misconduct and Reporting Problems in Massage

Urgent first

If you are in danger now, or you have been assaulted and need help, call 911 in the US. If you are in emotional distress and thinking about harming yourself, call 988. You do not have to decide about a complaint before you are safe and, if you need it, medically checked.

What happened is not your fault. A massage therapist is responsible for keeping professional boundaries, not the client.

You can say stop at any time

A massage should never leave you feeling trapped. The code of ethics of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), a certifying body in the US, tells certified practitioners to respect the client's right to refuse, modify or end treatment regardless of prior consent. [1] The same code says practitioners must get and record informed consent, which can be written or verbal, before treatment. [1] In plain terms, you can change your mind mid-session, ask for a different area or pressure, ask for a pause, or leave. You do not owe an explanation.

You can say things like "please stop," "I'm not comfortable with that," or "I'd like to end the session now." You do not need to be polite first. Pressure, pain you did not agree to, or comments you do not like are all reasons to speak up. A source for massage clients says that if a massage feels worse than "hurts good," it is too much and you should speak up. [2]

What professional codes say

We could only read the NCBTMB code in full. It says practitioners should:

• provide draping and treatment in a way that ensures the safety, comfort and privacy of the client. [1]
• respect the client's boundaries around privacy, disclosure, exposure and emotional expression. [1]
• refrain, under all circumstances, from a sexual relationship or sexual conduct with a client, whether consensual or otherwise, from the start of the relationship and for at least six months after it ends (the code gives one narrow exception for a relationship that already existed). [1]

Codes from other professional groups and from your state's laws may differ, and we did not read them. Massage regulation varies by place; see massage licensing by state and country and practitioner qualifications, consent and boundaries. For consent and touch after trauma, see massage with a trauma history.

Boundary problems versus misconduct

Some problems are about comfort: pressure too strong, a room that is too cool, a therapist who chats when you want quiet, or a draping style you dislike. Say so and ask for a change. Other problems are misconduct: sexual contact or sexualized comments, touching you without consent after you said stop, exposing you without your agreement, or pressure to continue. You do not have to be sure it was "bad enough" to leave or to ask questions. The code above treats sexual conduct with a client as something practitioners must avoid under all circumstances. [1]

Reporting routes

State licensing board. The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) says consumers can file complaints against any licensed massage therapist over inappropriate conduct or legal or ethical violations. It says each board has its own process, and that you should contact your state licensing board or agency; its page links to a state-by-state directory. [3] NCCIH says 45 states and the District of Columbia regulate massage therapy. [4] Whether your own state does is something to check on your board's website.

What a board may ask. The examples we read were:

• Alabama's massage board says a written complaint is required, with your contact details, all available information about the person, and a detailed description of what happened and which law or rule you think was broken. It says you will get written acknowledgement and may be contacted by an investigator. [5]


• Outcomes listed by that board range from no action, to a letter of concern, a fine and probation, or suspension or revocation of a license, to referral for criminal charges. [5]


• California's voluntary certification body (CAMTC) says it does not investigate anonymous complaints and may ask for a signed declaration under penalty of perjury and possibly testimony. [6] It also says it is not a law enforcement or government agency and does not regulate massage establishments, which are under cities and counties. [6]

Other states' rules were not read. Do not assume your state works like Alabama or California.

Police. Alabama's board says that if the complaint involves criminal activity, you should also file with the appropriate law enforcement agency. [5] California's body asks whether a police report has been filed. [6] A board complaint and a police report are separate routes.

Outside the US. Regulator routes for other countries are not described in the sources we read.

Helpful things to write down

Dates, times, location, the therapist's name, anything said, and any witnesses. The complaint examples above ask for detailed descriptions and identifying information. [5][6] If you were injured or assaulted, seeing a clinician comes first and records can be added later.

Related pages

Red flags in massage practice and marketing, how to talk to your massage therapist and the warning signs checklist.