The following policies and procedures serve as a guide for first-time and regular massage guests of Pearl River Bodywork.
Personal Hygiene
Clients must be clean. If you would like to receive a massage following a workout, please arrive freshly showered. I reserve the right to refuse to perform a massage for any hygiene issues including excessive sweating and the failure to shower after exercising or after swimming in a pool. Body hygiene includes foot hygiene. The therapist will provide a method to clean your feet in case of smell or dirt from the use of shoes or sandals, but feet must be generally clean. You will be responsible for the full payment of your treatment time if you do not arrive in a condition to receive massage.
Clients must not be wearing perfume, cologne, and heavily-scented personal products (e.g., lotions) in consideration of other people’s allergies.
All warts must be covered to help prevent spread to the therapist or other clients. The therapist can provide Band-Aids.
Confidentiality
At your first visit, you will receive a copy of the massage therapy policies and will be asked to sign the consent stating that you have read the information, understand it, and agree to comply with our policies and procedures. Clients whom we have not seen for at least a year will also be asked to fill out this form.
Everything discussed during sessions will be kept confidential except when subpoenaed by a court of law. Client details would not be revealed unless the client has given written permission to do so. I will not confirm nor disclose the fact that a specific person is my client, unless I have permission and the written consent of the client to do so.
Your privacy is important. Personal information will never be given, leased, sold, or otherwise disclosed to third parties, including health care providers and insurance companies, without your written consent. Any information you give to Pearl River Bodywork will be held with the utmost care and will not be used in ways to which you have not consented.
Sexual Appropriateness
Sexual behavior by the client toward the therapist or by the therapist toward the client is unethical, inappropriate, and unacceptable. Requests for sexual activity, or sexual discussion or interaction of any kind, will be construed as sexual harassment and will result in the immediate termination of the session. Clients making such requests will be reported to the proper authorities and will not be rescheduled.
The breast and genital area will not be massaged under any circumstances. Permission will be asked before working close to these areas; otherwise, a professional distance will be maintained. The low back, hip, and gluteal area will be massaged only with permission and can be worked through the draping if requested.
Attire
You may wear whatever you wish. However, if you do not plan to undress, comfortable and loose clothing is highly recommended.
Before the massage, I will leave the room to allow you to undress and get onto the table. You should feel free to remove as much or as little of your clothing as you wish. Once you are on the table and under the sheets and blanket, I will knock to make sure you are ready, come back into the room, and begin the session. I work with my clients fully draped, meaning that only the part of your body where I am working at that particular moment will be exposed.
Scope of Practice
Massage therapists do not diagnose or prescribe for medical conditions, nor are they allowed to provide treatment for a specific condition without a doctor’s supervision. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition.
Client Rights and Responsibilities
You have the right to be treated with consideration, dignity, and respect. You have the right to ask for information regarding my training, licensing, and certification. You have the right to have visitors present during the massage session. (This is required for clients under the age of 18.) You have the right to refuse any massage methods and stop massage at any time. You have the right to be kept informed of the area to be massaged.
I am happy to adjust pressure, temperature, musical volume, and work longer on an area or move on if you request it. I generally work with some sort of soft music playing, but I will gladly work in silence if you prefer. Please remember that only you can feel what is going on inside your own body, and that you should feel free to tell me if anything is at all painful or uncomfortable.
You are responsible for communicating your preferences and concerns. Clients are also expected to treat the therapist and other guests with courtesy and respect.
Consideration for Minors
Clients under 18 must present written permission from their parents or guardian prior to their first massage session. A parent or guardian must be present at the clinic during the course of the massage session.
Right to Refuse
I reserve the right to refuse any potential client for any reason.