This article is for you if you…

• Found schools over-emphasis on consent annoying or confusing
• Want to deepen your understanding of what quality consent entails in the wellness industry
• Are worried about clients accusing you of inappropriate
• Are a client anxious about getting a massage but really really want one

What is Consent in the Context of Massage and Rehab?

If you are like me, the steps to acquire consent were not made clear in school. My take away from school was to say ‘do you consent to this’ after every normal sentence when performing practical tests. That is not consent, and not how humans communicate. This article aims to provide a clearer, and more actionable explanation of consent.

Consent in both a spa and rehabilitation setting are the steps taken by an RMT, to ensure that both the practitioner and the client are in agreement. The steps that confirm both parties have chosen to be a part of the activities and modalities that will make up the appointment.

If the practitioner is uncomfortable providing a specific services to a client they do not have too.

If a client is uncomfortable receiving a specific modality, or performing any action, they can say no.

If both parties can not agree upon a treatment plan the practitioner is ethically obligated to deny services, and should endeavour to refer the client to a practitioner that can meet their needs (within scope). Consent must be clear and obvious. If the practitioner perceives verbal consent as begrudging or the physical presence of the client as hesitant they MUST reaffirm the clients power to direct the treatment.

Some client try to push all the decisions onto the practitioner. In this situation RMTs MUST make explicit what the appointment will entail. It must be clear to the client that they can end or modify the appointment’s activities at any time for any reason. Outside medical emergencies touch should be consensual.

Why We need Consent in the Context of Massage and Rehab

Consent matters because wellness and rehab professionals goal is to help their client. If an RMT provides a treatment they believe will harm their client, they are acting outside their scope of practice, and must not consent to facilitating the treatment. There is also, of course, the fact that RMTs are liable if they hurt a client. Plus consent makes the intent of treatment and the practitioner. Agreed upon treatment plans make it harder for clients to push boundaries and reducing the likelihood of a client misinterpreting therapeutic touch as sexualised touch.

From the client side of things, they will recover as quicker, and be more relaxed if they have zero doubt as to the intentions of the practitioner. Clear consent protects both the client and the practitioner from each other, and builds confidence in the treatment.

Gaining consent means RMTs need to have a long term treatment plan. If an RMT knows what their next steps, and long term goals there is little need to ‘chase the pain’ or complicate the treatment when they’ve run out of ideas. If the plan did not work you can, with consent, easily renegotiate the activities the following appointments based on client feedback. My CE Really Simple Rehab intertwines consent and treatment planning, making both simple, more helpful and easier to understand.

Part 2 here

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