Ethics of Chest/Breast/Rib Massage

This blog post is to let my clients know what they can expect of me but also for the betterment of my fellow Massage therapists. There are a few things that I have learned about getting proper, ethically valid from clients.

Firstly, I have a section in my intake form that asks what a new client feels they are comfortable with; including no chest work, upper chest only, upper chest and sternum, full chest/breast/rib massage * (requires a consent form). I do this to show people that I offer work here, and require consent from all genders. If a client is coming in for their first session and they have marked this off. I tell them that I like to build trust in the first session but we could include the full chest in another appointment.

If a client has been seeing me regularly and it seems like they could benefit from massage on their full chest, I make sure to ask them at the beginning of a session. I do this because, people are most cognitively present when they first come in. If we ask during the session (please don't ever do this) they may give consent when they don't really want to. Also, if we ask after a session they could be massage brained (not really themselves) or off of a high from feeling so good that they may say yes without fully thinking about it.

It is also vital, as my teacher taught me to be as neutral possible asking the client. Sounding down when asking or too enthusiastic when asking can be off-putting. A calm, neutral, confident tone is the best. Showing some of the techniques you will be doing on yourself would be really helpful too. Being neutral has also helped me focus better when working on clients. Its a nice chant ("neutrality") to stay focused and provide the best, balanced, safe work we possibly can.