Requirements

An RMT:

1. establishes and maintains professional boundaries with a patient before, during and at the termination of the therapeutic relationship, including by:
   
   1. providing patient-centred care at all times;
   2. demonstrating respect for the patient;
   3. establishing a professional rapport with the patient; and
   4. maintaining an appropriate level of professional objectivity;
2. advises and redirects a patient if a boundary crossing occurs by:
   
   1. recognizing that it is always the responsibility of the RMT to establish and maintain professional boundaries;
   2. re-establishing professional boundaries with the patient; and
   3. using professional judgment to determine whether and when to terminate a therapeutic relationship in accordance with the CMTBC Code of Ethics;
3. where there is a potential or actual boundary violation that cannot be adequately resolved, terminates the therapeutic relationship in accordance with the CMTBC Code of Ethics;
4. recognizes and respects the obligations set out in the CMTBC Code of Ethics never to sexualize the treatment environment or the therapeutic relationship through words, touch, or any other form of explicit or implicit sexual conduct (which constitutes sexual misconduct), or to permit a patient to do so;
5. does not enter into a close personal relationship with a patient;
6. does not enter into a close personal relationship with a former patient unless:
   
   1. a reasonable period of time has elapsed since the therapeutic relationship with the former patient was terminated, and
   2. the RMT is reasonably satisfied that the power differential inherent in a therapeutic relationship no longer exists. 
7. avoids providing treatment to close friends or family members where possible, and, if such treatment is provided:
   
   1. clearly communicates to the patient when the RMT is acting in a professional capacity; and
   2. maintains relationship boundaries when acting in a professional capacity;
8. recognizes when he or she is in a dual relationship with a patient and:
   
   1. clearly communicates to the patient when the RMT is acting in a professional capacity as a registered massage therapist; and
   2. maintains relationship boundaries when acting in a professional capacity;
9. recognizes transference and counter-transference and:
   
   1. continuously assesses the patient’s presentation and responds empathetically; and
   2. monitors his or her own communications and reactions to manage transference.
10. refrains from giving gifts to patients or receiving gifts (including tips) from patients, except where the RMT’s objectivity or ability to act in the patient’s best interests will not be compromised;
11. recognizes the power imbalance within the therapeutic relationship and does not use the therapeutic relationship for inappropriate personal or financial gain;
12. communicates verbally and non-verbally with patients in a manner that:
    
    1. meets patient needs;
    2. avoids professional jargon or overly technical language;
    3. is professional and respectful; and
    4. demonstrates unconditional positive regard.
13. discloses personal information to the patient only to the extent required for the provision of patient-centred care;
14. recognizes and is accepting of individual and cultural differences based on factors such as age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, cultural beliefs, ability, values or lifestyle;
15. recognizes both cultural and individual differences in levels of comfort with touch and physical contact;
16. regularly checks in with the patient regarding his or her level of comfort with physical contact and treatment delivery, and monitors the patient’s presentation for signs of discomfort (including non-verbal signs);
17. employs touch only with therapeutic intent;
18. does not initiate non-therapeutic touch or hugging with a patient and, before receiving non-therapeutic touch such as a hug, considers whether it would be appropriate, supportive and welcome;
19. communicates the intent of therapeutic touch to the patient before and during treatment delivery near potentially sexualized areas of a patient’s body;
20. obtains and documents the patient’s informed consent to treatment, both initial and ongoing;
21. recognizes and takes steps to minimize the occurrence of unintentional or incidental physical contact with potentially sexualized areas of a patient’s body;
22. only undrapes the area of the patient’s body where treatment is delivered;
23. if unintentional or incidental physical contact with potentially sexualized areas of the patient’s body occurs, stops treatment, obtains patient consent before continuing with treatment, and documents the incident in the patient record;
24. takes steps to prevent the occurrence of unintentional or incidental physical contact with the patient’s body by potentially sexualized areas of the RMT’s body;