In light of recent news regarding inappropriate conduct at some Massage Envy locations, as a Licensed Massage Therapist I want to let clients know this is NOT acceptable. It saddens and angers me that there are opportunistic people in the world preying on the vulnerabilities of their clients. However, please know there are ways you can avoid these situations. First and foremost, remember that you are in control. Massage therapy is just that - therapy. It is for the purpose of reducing pain and improving movement, sleep, and mood. If something doesn't seem right, speak up. A respectable and reputable LMT will cooperate and do whatever it takes to ensure your comfort. You do not have to continue a service that makes you feel uneasy. Also: as a woman, I know it can make us feel even more vulnerable to be seen by a male therapist. There are many, many amazing male therapists who live and work by Oregon's strict ethics and codes of conduct. But if you feel uncomfortable, speak up. Request a female when scheduling. This is your money, your time, your therapy. You have control. I want my clients to feel safe, respected, heard, and taken care of. If any of those things are not met, I want my clients to know they can speak up without being judged.

Below, I've listed these tips and some advice that you can use to protect yourself and put yourself in the drivers seat, and what to do in the event you feel uncomfortable during your treatment:

YOU ARE IN CONTROL. You have the ultimate say in all things that happen in that room.
SPEAK UP. You can stop that massage at any time - even if it is 5 minutes after it starts. Be confident that it is OK to say something, or even move off the table/out of the way.
IT'S YOUR DOLLAR. You're paying for a service and have high expectations, as you should. Do not continue a service that doesn't meet your expectations. Likewise, you do not have to pay for any treatment that involves misconduct.
COMMUNICATE. A good therapist will ask you up front about likes/dislikes, needs, and areas to avoid. Please communicate during the massage about these things as well.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO REPORT INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT. Massaging the muscles that connect to the pelvic bone is common and acceptable practice; touching genitalia is NOT. Report conduct that is beyond normal massage therapy, that is obviously in violation of codes of conduct and ethics, that is illegal. Go to management first; if there is no manager, go directly to the police. Either way, in situations of obvious and blatant misconduct, police should always be involved. You can also report to Oregon Board of Massage Therapists directly.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER: Massage Therapists are educated to work on all muscles - including those of the glutes and upper thighs. Some people feel vulnerable around the glute area. That is completely ok. If you don't know you're uncomfortable with glutes being worked until you're in the middle of the massage - speak up right then and there. Don't let it continue if it makes you feel uneasy. If you know ahead of time that you don't like certain areas touched, communicate that before the massage even starts. We've all had experiences in our lives that dictate our level of comfort in vulnerable situations, and a respectable, professional therapist will not make you feel bad for ending a service or even moving on to another body part. It may seem obvious, but it is important to reiterate here: working the muscles of the glutes and upper thighs has absolutely nothing to do with genitalia. If an LMT is clearly touching your private parts, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. Stop the service immediately! Do not let it continue. Also: it is against the law to not be draped. You must be draped at all times, with only the body part being worked on exposed. If a therapist states he/she "prefers to work without sheets", end the service immediately. That is inappropriate and illegal. (Likewise, I refuse to work on any client who requests to be massaged without a drape. I've been asked. It will never happen.)

As a Massage Therapist, I do everything I can to make my clients feel at ease, comfortable, and their needs are being met. I know that our relationship can feel "off kilter" with regards to "power" - meaning, the client is laying disrobed on the table, under a couple layers of fabric. This can feel vulnerable and for some people, can make them feel powerless. We as LMTs must respect that, and the vast majority of us do. We are upheld to strict codes of conduct, to ensure clients' safety. Here in Oregon, we have high standards on education and continuing ed. We're required to attend 4 hours of ethics training to renew our licenses; that includes accepting the responsibility of being a whistle-blower when we are alerted to misconduct. Please don't let these recent events deter you from an indispensable and proven therapy such as massage. Do not let it make you fearful of the treatment room. Let it empower you to make good choices and to do your research. Remember, you have control.