Sage-Tips

Is it OK for my therapist to hug me?

Therapists may decline a hug from a client if they think you might misinterpret the hug or have irrational ideas or delusions about the nature of your therapeutic relationship. In this case, a hug would not be appropriate. Your therapist should not engage in any kind of sexual contact with you. This is very unethical.

Is it common to fall in love with your massage therapist?

You go in for treatment of sore muscles or an injured back, but sometimes you get more than you bargained for, says Daniel Reinisch, LMT, a New York based massage therapist. In fact, he says, people develop crushes on their massage therapists more often than you’d imagine.

Can therapists touch their clients?

Touch in therapy is not inherently unethical. None of the professional organizations code of ethics (i.e., APA, ApA, ACA, NASW, CAMFT) view touch as unethical. Touch should be employed in therapy when it is likely to have positive therapeutic effect. Practicing risk management by rigidly avoiding touch is unethical.

Can massage therapists feel knots?

Massage therapists are trained to feel where knots occur by looking for tension in the back, neck and shoulders. They find this tension and release it by applying deep compression with their thumb, fingers or elbow, and holding for 20-30 seconds.

Is it okay for my therapist to hug me?

It sure is okay. The therapist can say yes or no. You can decide what you can accept (or not). If a hug is what you occasionally need, it helps to find out the therapist’s stance on this right from the start by asking as a hypothetical question:

Are You Nervous about massage therapy?

Massage therapy has become pretty mainstream in the U.S., but there are still many people who are nervous about it. Will I feel weird being naked? What will the therapist do? What if I fall asleep and drool? Will it hurt? If fear of the unknown has kept you from getting a massage, here are a few things you should know:

Can a hug be analyzed to death?

Some things (hugs) can be analyzed to death. As a person who comes from childhood trauma, I wouldn’t see a therapist who wouldn’t give a hug after the sharing of trying or emotional material. To me, it seems inhumane and a huge missed opportunity at furthering emotional healing through a healing relationship.

Should I take everything off during my first massage?

Most good therapists will treat that as a boundary and leave areas that you choose to keep covered alone. On the flip side, you are welcome to keep as much on as is necessary for you to feel comfortable. Most people go through that scary inner dialogue at their first massage: Should I take everything off?