Setting and Respecting Boundaries

PART OF MASSAGE MASTERY INSTITUTE'S commitment to professional ethics

CREATED AND INSTRUCTED BY
JENNIFER CARLSON, LMT, BCTMB


In-Person Ethics
4 CEs
NCBTMB Approved

Course Date/Time

Sunday
September 6th, 2026
11am to 3pm

Location

NJ School of Massage
216 Main St #1
Toms River, NJ 08753

We like to keep our courses small for an excellent personalized experience.
Maximum enrollment is 10.
There are 8 seats left.

Overview

This course is designed to help Licensed Massage Therapists strengthen their understanding of professional boundaries and apply ethical, legal, and therapeutic standards within massage therapy practice. Because massage therapy involves therapeutic touch, emotional vulnerability, and inherent power dynamics, maintaining clear boundaries is essential for client safety, practitioner protection, and the integrity of the profession.

Participants will explore the foundations of professional boundaries, including physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, financial, and digital boundaries, and learn to distinguish between boundary crossings and boundary violations. The course reviews ethical codes, scope of practice, informed consent, and the therapist’s responsibility to maintain professionalism regardless of client behavior.

Through real-world scenarios, case studies, and communication exercises, therapists will develop practical skills for setting, communicating, and enforcing boundaries with confidence and clarity. Special attention is given to managing challenging situations, responding to inappropriate client behavior, documenting boundary concerns, and safely terminating sessions when necessary. 

By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with practical tools and professional language to uphold boundaries, protect themselves legally and emotionally, and foster safe, respectful, and therapeutic client relationships.

Learning Objectives

  • Define professional boundaries specific to massage therapy practice
  • Identify boundary crossings vs. boundary violations
  • Apply ethical, legal, and scope-of-practice standards to real scenarios
  • Communicate and enforce boundaries clearly and confidently