Massage Therapist Ethics, Boundaries, and Laws 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the term for a therapist inappropriately internalizing a client's emotions or problems as their own?
- Transference
- Counter-transference (Correct answer)
- Codependency
- Empathy fatigue
Correct answer: Counter-transference
Counter-transference occurs when a therapist projects their own feelings or becomes overly emotionally involved with a client's situation.
Question 2: Which scenario represents appropriate use of draping during a massage session?
- Removing draping when the client requests it to improve technique
- Keeping genitals and female breasts covered at all times regardless of client request (Correct answer)
- Using minimal draping based on the therapist's comfort level
- Allowing the client to decide entirely whether draping is used
Correct answer: Keeping genitals and female breasts covered at all times regardless of client request
Proper draping requires keeping genitalia and female breasts covered at all times; this is a legal and ethical standard regardless of client preferences.
Question 3: A massage therapist advertises that their treatments can 'cure' fibromyalgia. This claim is problematic because:
- Fibromyalgia is not a real medical diagnosis
- Making cure claims is outside scope of practice and may be considered false advertising (Correct answer)
- Only doctors can treat fibromyalgia
- The claim needs to be approved by the state board first
Correct answer: Making cure claims is outside scope of practice and may be considered false advertising
Claiming to cure medical conditions is outside the massage therapist's scope of practice and constitutes false advertising that could mislead clients.
Question 4: When a minor under 18 comes for a massage, who must provide consent for treatment?
- The minor, if they appear mature enough
- A parent or legal guardian (Correct answer)
- Both the minor and a parent
- The minor's school counselor if referred
Correct answer: A parent or legal guardian
Minors cannot legally provide informed consent; a parent or legal guardian must give written consent before treatment of anyone under 18.
Question 5: What is the primary function of a state massage therapy licensing board?
- To set pricing standards for massage services
- To protect the public by establishing and enforcing professional standards (Correct answer)
- To provide continuing education for therapists
- To negotiate with insurance companies on behalf of therapists
Correct answer: To protect the public by establishing and enforcing professional standards
Licensing boards exist primarily to protect public safety by establishing minimum competency standards and investigating complaints against practitioners.
Question 6: A client asks a massage therapist to keep their session off the books and not create any records. The therapist should:
- Agree if the client offers to pay more for the service
- Decline, as maintaining accurate client records is a professional and often legal obligation (Correct answer)
- Agree as long as the client signs a waiver
- Report the client to the licensing board immediately
Correct answer: Decline, as maintaining accurate client records is a professional and often legal obligation
Maintaining accurate client records is both a professional obligation and often a legal requirement; agreeing to omit records could constitute fraud.
Question 7: A massage therapist practices in a state that has not yet passed massage therapy licensing laws. Which of the following is true?
- Anyone may practice massage legally without any training
- Federal NCBTMB certification automatically substitutes for state licensure
- Local municipalities may have their own regulations that still apply (Correct answer)
- Therapists may only practice under physician supervision
Correct answer: Local municipalities may have their own regulations that still apply
In states without licensing laws, local city or county ordinances may still regulate massage practice, and professional ethics standards still apply.
Massage Therapist Ethics, Boundaries, and Laws 5
What is the term for a therapist inappropriately internalizing a client's emotions or problems as their own?