MASS 1301 - TN Massage Law & Practice Ethics

Credit hours: 3

Course Description:
Students will begin to develop professional boundaries by studying prevailing statutes, rules and regulations governing Massage Therapy in the State of Tennessee. Various Codes of ethics will be examined and Students will be expected to apply gained knowledge to real life dilemmas in massage practices. This course will cover TN Ethical Standards as they relate to massage therapy and scope of practice for massage therapists. Coursework will include completing most elements in an application for a Tennessee Massage Therapist License and understanding the rules of the Tennessee Board of Massage regulating the practice of massage therapy.

Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to:

Define and demonstrate the interpersonal and physical components of a therapeutic environment.
Identify the scope of practice of massage therapy and bodywork in relation to the components in a wellness model.
Formulate and convey informed consent to client prior to initialization of treatment protocol.
Develop and implement strategies to address challenging client/therapist interactions.
Identify methods of self-assessment and stress management.
Self-assess needs, behaviors, beliefs, attitudes and knowledge relevant to the practice of massage therapy and bodywork.
Identify how personal and cultural values, attitudes and ethics influence professional values, attitudes and ethics.
Identify the physiological and psychological effects of stress.
Identify various stress reduction techniques and their benefits.
Identify and discuss how physical fitness and lifestyle habits affecting physical fitness affect performance and stress management as a massage therapist.
Design and implement a personal stress management strategy.
Define and demonstrate active listening, rapport, empathy and feedback.
Identify strategies to effectively deal with emotional and behavioral client responses to massage therapy and bodywork treatment.
Describe the principles of conflict resolution and apply conflict resolution skills effectively in the client- therapist relationship.
Identify the qualities and characteristics of boundaries and discus the need for professional boundaries and settings.
Discuss and demonstrate the use of draping during treatment as a professional boundary issue.
Identify cultural differences related to boundary issues.
Define and discuss transference and counter transference.
Define and discuss the differences between personal and a professional relationship.
Identify and explain the role and purpose of a code of ethics.
Identify the role and purpose of Standards of Practice specific to massage therapy and bodywork.
Identify common ethical situations in massage therapy/bodywork and processes by which to effectively resolve ethical issues.
Identify confidentiality principles related to massage therapy/bodywork practice and the responsibilities and liability for maintaining client confidentiality and privileged communication.