Those of us who are massage therapists get something we need out of our work . . . human connection and touch. But we can’t do our best at helping others when we’re not taking care of ourselves.
When we consider our communication, it’s easy to see that we don’t think much about how our assumptions and our culture influence the stories that take shape in our minds or how we hear things shared with us.
Boundaries—defining them, communicating them, and guarding them—can be tricky. All humans have a right to choose their boundaries. Sometimes this is easier said than done.
Many times, mistakes on our part, such as sloppy draping, are made due to carelessness, without any conscious intent to do something unprofessional. Clients who don’t know us well may not know the difference between carelessness and intention.
Massage therapists aren’t supposed to diagnose. There is some variety from state to state, but for the most part, we are allowed to “assess” but not to “diagnose.”
Many autistic people do not see autism as a condition to be cured, but as an aspect of identity. Integrative health care and massage specifically have shown promising evidence of reducing autistic anxiety and assisting with increased quality of life.
