Why Do We Need Laws to Protect Massage Therapy?

Yesterday I had the great opportunity to do chair massage at the Connecticut State Capital for the legislature. Members of the American Massage Therapy Association were there not only to demonstrate the benefits of massage to the participants but also talk to them about to pieces of legislation that we are supporting that will be going to vote soon.

The first bill under consideration is House Bill 5455. It adds shiatsu, acupressure, and Thai massage to the list of services that fall under our massage license. Therefore, anyone performing these modalities or advertising them must have a massage license. It also adds the employer to the law not just the person doing the massage or the above modalities. So, if someone is found to be doing the massage without a license they and the employer will be responsible and can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor and fined.

Second is House Bill 5514. This is a Public Health Department Bill. It states that in order to be eligible for a CT Massage License the person must graduate from a school of massage that is accredited by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Body Work. Applicants for state licensure must attend an approved massage school and pass the National Board Exam.

These bills are very important to both massage therapists as well as the public. This will help protect those therapists who are legitimate licensed professionals. By shedding light on businesses and closing them, we are sending a message that massage is a therapeutic modality and is not an erotic profession. These bills will also protect the public. Any client should be assured that when they receive services from a massage therapist that this therapist has been probably vetted by the Department of Public Health as a professional who has received proper training as well as continuing education.

Massage therapy is a health care service and it should be held to the highest standards to fully protect the practitioners and the public.