Policies and Procedures
APPOINTMENTS: Massage sessions are by appointment only. To ensure appointment availability, we suggest a regular series of appointments be scheduled.
CANCELLATION POLICY: It is requested that you cancel your appointment 24 hours in advance. Clients who fail to show up for their scheduled appointment time will not be scheduled for future appointments unless they pay in advance. Gift certificates will be forfeited for no shows.
LATENESS POLICY: We request that you arrive 10 minutes early for your appointment. If you arrive 5-10 min late for your appointment, the time left will be used to its best advantage. If you arrive 15 mins or later without calling you will be considered a NO SHOW and you will be charged and/or shall forfeit any gift certificate or pre-paids. We will make an attempt to contact the client, if no answer, we will leave a message and your scheduled time will be released for rebooking.
If the massage therapist is late for the appointment, the client will receive their full treatment, if the massage therapist is running more than 15 mins late the client will receive a discount for their massage session.
SICKNESS POLICY: Balanced Bodyworx recognizes that both massage therapists and clients are vulnerable to infections and therefore ask clients to cancel appointments when they are feeling unwell. If you have any of the following contagious illnesses the massage sessions will be rescheduled: Diarrhea, Vomiting, Fever, Chicken Pox, Measles, Mumps, Meningitis, hepatitis A, Conjunctivitis, Rubella, Head Lice, Impetigo, Influenza, Meningococcal Disease, Polio, Ringworm of the body, feet or scalp, Scabies, Thrush, Whooping cough and the common cold.
SANITATION AND HYGIENE: Our massage therapy policies on sanitation are that all equipment and linens that come in contact with the clients will be cleansed in an approved method.
Before and after each massage, the massage therapist's hands and forearms will be washed with hot soapy water and a disinfecting solution. Any breaks in the skin of the massage therapist will be covered with protective coverings.
The client will come to the massage therapy appointment clean. The client will inform the massage therapist of any breaks in the skin, and these areas will be avoided.
SCOPE OF PRACTICE: Therapeutic massage is intended to be a health enhancing system that promotes body balance and efficient body function.
Massage stimulates the natural restorative processes of the body and mechanically reduces muscle tension. These methods may not be used to diagnose or treat any specific, preexisting condition without written permission from your physician.
Massage therapist do not work within the parameters of licensed medical Professionals. Therefore, massage therapists do not diagnose or prescribe for a particular body dysfunction nor are they allowed to provide treatment for a specific condition.
Massage therapy is a maintenance system, and the benefits are cumulative. It is best to receive a one-hour massage every 1- 4 weeks to reduce the physical stress that builds in the body. Occasional appointments provide temporary symptomatic relief, but the cumulative effects of therapeutic massage are lost if massage therapy is not used on a regular basis.
RESPECT OF CLIENTS BOUNDARIES: In this partnership, it is important that the client is honest and open with the massage therapist. Feedback about the effectiveness of the work, situation that may have been uncomfortable for you, massage techniques that you enjoyed, massage techniques that you did not like, etc., is very important.
Respect for client’s boundaries is very important. To maintain respect for each client and establish professional boundaries the following massage therapy policies apply:
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The client may choose to leave on as much clothing as needed for comfort.
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The client will always be modestly draped. Only the area being massaged will be undraped. The clients will be kept informed of the area to be massaged.
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The breast and genital area will NOT be massaged under any circumstances. Permission will be asked before working close to these areas: otherwise, a professional distance will be maintained.
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Sexual interaction or discussion of any kind between the client and the massage therapist is NEVER appropriate.
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Requests for sexual activity will NOT be tolerated, will be viewed as solicitation, and reported to the authorities. The client will NOT be rescheduled if this occurs.
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Children, under the age of eighteen will not be seen without a parent or guardian present in the therapy room unless parent or guardian consent is given.
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The client may stop the massage at any time and is free to leave.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND CONVERSATION: The discussion between the massage therapist and the client is confidential. The client may or may not choose to talk during the massage.
It is inappropriate for a massage therapist to discuss the therapist's personal life with the client. We are happy to listen to your conversation and share our professional expertise.
We may be required to release records under a court order, or to your doctor.
EXISTING AND NEW MEDICAL CONDITIONS: It is the responsibility of the client to keep the massage therapist informed of any medical treatment currently being taken, and to provide written permission from the physician, chiropractor, physical therapist, etc., that the massage may be continued.
The client must also keep the massage therapist informed of any changes in health conditions.
INFORMED CONSENT: Prior to each massage session, the treatment plan will be discussed with you. At your first contact you will be directed to our website to review our policy and procedures.