6 Hour CE Course
Do you have the The Educated Heart textbook? See your enrollment options above for "I already own the text".
This course provides a practical and compassionate exploration of the ethical challenges massage therapists and bodyworkers face in today's professional environment. Drawing on insights from The Educated Heart: Professional Boundaries for Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers, you’ll learn how to recognize "red flags" that may indicate ethical decision points, and how to respond with clarity, confidence, and professionalism - rather than react in a way that could appear judgmental or uncertain.
Through real-life examples and easy-to-understand guidance, this course supports you in creating a safe and consistent therapeutic environment while navigating the subtle psychological dynamics of the treatment room.
Topics include:
Whether you're a student, new practitioner, or seasoned professional, this course will help you develop the solid professional boundaries essential to career longevity and personal well-being.
Chapter 1: The Educated Heart: The Need for Professional Boundaries |
Chapter 2: Protective Circles: Boundaries and the Professional Relationship |
Chapter 3: Framework: Nuts and Bolts of Boundaries |
Chapter 4: Client-Practitioner Dynamics: Boundaries and the Power Imbalance |
Chapter 5: Ethical Boundaries: From Theory to Practice |
Chapter 6: Boundaries and the Power of Words |
Chapter 7: Sexual Boundaries: Protecting Our Clients |
Chapter 8: Sexual Boundaries: Protecting Ourselves |
Chapter 9: Financial Boundaries: Getting Comfortable with Money |
Chapter 10: Dual Relationships and Boundaries: Wearing Many Hats |
Chapter 11: Boundaries and the Internet |
Chapter 12: Help with Boundaries: Support, Consultation, and Supervision |
Open-Book Test and Course Evaluation Form |
"One sign that clients have promoted us to an elevated status is that they rarely express their unhappiness with something we're doing, and they often agree to something they don't really want to do. They may tell us, for instance, that they are fine lying in a position that is actually making their neck hurt. They often don't speak up when we make them uncomfortable, such as when we've set the room temperature too hot, we're talking too much, or even when they think we've crossed sexual boundaries. If we make them too uncomfortable, they simply don't come back, sometimes without being conscious of the reason. Or they might remain as clients but become what we call "difficult" clients.
The sense of powerlessness that usually goes with being a client is especially noticeable when the client is also a peer. I hear many stories from even seasoned practitioners who have had trouble speaking up when getting work on themselves. You would think that, as professionals, we would have no trouble asserting ourselves, but because of the power of the transference, because of what happens when we are on the table, we may be as speechless as anyone else. If we feel powerless to question our colleagues, how must our clients feel?" (The Educated Heart: Professional Boundaries for Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers by Laura Allen, 2017, p. 76-77)
Which of the following is an example of transference?
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