Cultivating sensitivity and trust is essential to keeping clients safe – especially as we are aware that many women and men have experienced physical or sexual trauma. In this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Kristin and Darren speak with Dr. Ben Benjamin about how to avoid violating client boundaries, understanding the patient is in charge of the session, why it’s important for the therapist to understand the power differential, and whether maintaining boundaries are a shared responsibility between client and therapist.

Dr. Ben E. Benjamin has done much pioneering work in the areas of ethics, communication, and sexual assault prevention, writing articles on professional, sexual and business ethics. He is the co-author of The Ethics of Touch, a textbook used in schools throughout North America to teach ethics and boundaries to massage therapists as well as other hands-on health care professionals. He has been an expert witness in cases of sexual assault in the massage and bodywork field since 2004. In 1974 Dr. Benjamin founded the Muscular Therapy Institute, a school he owned and nurtured for over 30 years. In the 1980s he developed a 150-hour curriculum in ethics and communication skills for therapists in training. He has taught courses in ethics, boundaries, sexuality and communication to somatic therapists for over 30 years.

Additionally, Dr. Benjamin earned a Ph.D. in Sports Medicine and has dedicated his life to helping people cope with and overcome the pain and stress caused by injury to the body in his muscular therapy sports injury private practice since 1963.

Related Article in Massage & Bodywork magazine:

“Keeping Clients Safe, Part Two,” by Dr. Ben Benjamin, Massage & Bodywork magazine. July/August 2021, page 70.

“Keeping Clients Safe, Part One,” by Dr. Ben Benjamin, Massage & Bodywork magazine. May/June 2021, page 64.

Sponsors:

Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com 

Universal Companies: https://www.universalcompanies.com/

Handspring Publishing: https://www.handspringpublishing.com/

Pain in the App:

Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function.    

Website: anatomytrains.com    

Email: info@anatomytrains.com          

Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA  

Universal Companies has everything the spa professional needs for success, including massage tables and accessories, linens, tools, pain relief products like arnica, and a range of lotions, oils, and gels. The products we offer help the independent practitioner save on their everyday expenses, as well as provide the convenience of shopping across broad categories.

Recognized as the “Favorite Distributor” in the American Spa Professional’s Choice Awards for the past 17 years, we see this as a continuous challenge to provide the best products that pros trust the most.

Beyond our extensive selection of spa products, equipment, and tools, we have an education and marketing site for our customers to develop their skills and promote their business. The UCo Learning Network offers CEU courses, marketing kits, and business tools.

Universal Companies website https://www.universalcompanies.com/

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About Handspring Publishing

Handspring Publishing specializes in professional-level books for massage therapists, osteopaths, yoga and Pilates teachers, physiotherapists, and other professionals who use touch or movement to help patients achieve wellness. Handspring Publishing’s books are written and produced to serve the professional and educational needs of health and medical professionals, musculoskeletal therapists, and movement teachers.

Its list includes bestsellers like Fascial Stretch Therapy by Chris and Ann Frederick, Fascia: What It Is and Why It Matters by David Lesondak, and Musculoskeletal Pain: Assessment, Prediction and Treatment, A Pragmatic Approach by David Walton and James Elliott and the recently published Myofascial Induction™ – An Anatomical Approach to the Treatment of Fascial Dysfunction, Volume 1: The Upper Body by Andrzej Pilat. Handspring’s books combine attractive and accessible presentations with an evidence-based approach to writing, including referencing the latest research findings.

Authors are drawn from the ranks of highly respected teachers and experts in their area of specialization including Jim McCormick, Cathy Ryan, Til Luchau, Robert Schleip, Graham Scarr, Gayle MacDonald, and Carolyn Tague among others.

ABMP members save 20% off regular list prices. Visit handspringpublishing.com and use discount code abmp20 to order. Shipping is free to all addresses in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Website: https://www.handspringpublishing.com/

Email: info@handspringpublishing.com

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/HandspringLtd

Facebook: handspringpublishing

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiD4TybAPVTbCL_xvCrwNOQ

Ep 209 – How to Avoid Violating Client Boundaries with Dr. Ben Benjamin

The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession