The treatment consent is naturally the hardest as it changes based on what you are treating and client behavior, while the other consents are fairly static.
Fill in the example to help you get started.
For today’s treatment, we have __________ minutes. We will be working generally on _________________ and specifically on __________________, so I will need to touch ______________ (possibly explain garment removal and draping). I am going to use ______________ which is for/feels like _____________ and ______________________ which is for/feels like _____________ and possibly ________________ in the treatment. I hope that this treatment will make you feel/help you to _______________ . You should know that during the treatment or after you may experience _______________________. I am going to be very careful an check in with you but there is always the risk that ______________________ could happen. We can stop anytime or change the treatment so please let me know about your comfort and the depth of the massage. Do you have any questions? Great! Are we okay to move forward?
Let’s try some cases. Please use this format to write out the following treatments:
Torticolis, client is late, only interested in treating the neck.
For today’s treatment, we have __________ minutes. We will be working generally on _________________ and specifically on __________________, so I will need to touch ______________ (possibly explain garment removal and draping). I am going to use ______________ which is for/feels like _____________ and ______________________ which is for/feels like _____________ and possibly ________________ in the treatment. I hope that this treatment will make you feel/help you to _______________ . You should know that during the treatment or after you may experience _______________________. I am going to be very careful an check in with you but there is always the risk that ______________________ could happen. We can stop anytime or change the treatment so please let me know about your comfort and the depth of the massage. Do you have any questions? Great! Are we okay to move forward?
Biceps tenoditis with upper back pain.
For today’s treatment, we have __________ minutes. We will be working generally on _________________ and specifically on __________________, so I will need to touch ______________ (possibly explain garment removal and draping). I am going to use ______________ which is for/feels like _____________ and ______________________ which is for/feels like _____________ and possibly ________________ in the treatment. I hope that this treatment will make you feel/help you to _______________ . You should know that during the treatment or after you may experience _______________________. I am going to be very careful an check in with you but there is always the risk that ______________________ could happen. We can stop anytime or change the treatment so please let me know about your comfort and the depth of the massage. Do you have any questions? Great! Are we okay to move forward?
Ankle sprain with limp
For today’s treatment, we have __________ minutes. We will be working generally on _________________ and specifically on __________________, so I will need to touch ______________ (possibly explain garment removal and draping). I am going to use ______________ which is for/feels like _____________ and ______________________ which is for/feels like _____________ and possibly ________________ in the treatment. I hope that this treatment will make you feel/help you to _______________ . You should know that during the treatment or after you may experience _______________________. I am going to be very careful an check in with you but there is always the risk that ______________________ could happen. We can stop anytime or change the treatment so please let me know about your comfort and the depth of the massage. Do you have any questions? Great! Are we okay to move forward?
Pregnant woman with back pain and pain down the leg
For today’s treatment, we have __________ minutes. We will be working generally on _________________ and specifically on __________________, so I will need to touch ______________ (possibly explain garment removal and draping). I am going to use ______________ which is for/feels like _____________ and ______________________ which is for/feels like _____________ and possibly ________________ in the treatment. I hope that this treatment will make you feel/help you to _______________ . You should know that during the treatment or after you may experience _______________________. I am going to be very careful an check in with you but there is always the risk that ______________________ could happen. We can stop anytime or change the treatment so please let me know about your comfort and the depth of the massage. Do you have any questions? Great! Are we okay to move forward?
Since we are not actually in a lab, and dealing with people who deserve compassionate care, at any time the treatment might change during the process as new information comes to light, but at that point the therapists are asked to re-state their consent to treat so they can move forward with a modified treatment plan.
Beret Loncar is the founder of Body
Mechanics Orthopedics Massage in New York
City. who has been a massage therapist for 12
years. She originally completed a Bachelors
degree in the field of design. Post graduate,
she pursued massage training in Ontario,
Canada as an RMT, where she lived and
worked for six years. She currently resides in
New York City with her husband and two dogs.
In the last six years, she has devoted to the
running of her Medical Massage clinic in
Manhattam which has a staff of 15 employees.
Her additional credentialing includes being a New York state continuing education provider, a mentor, a personal trainer, a running coach, and therapeutic yoga teacher. Her background in treatment ranges from medical hospice care to Thai massage. She is also a PADI rescue diver, runner, and lover of photography. She can be reached at [email protected]
34 massage & fitness magazine