Licensure Matters: Protecting Clients, Children, AND the Profession
Massage therapy is, at its core, a healthcare profession. It exists to help people heal, regulate their nervous systems, recover from injury, and reconnect with their bodies in a safe and therapeutic way. But massage also exists in a cultural landscape that has, for decades, struggled with misunderstanding, sexualization, and misuse.
Recent public conversations surrounding the Epstein files have again exposed a painful truth: the exploitation and trafficking of children was carried out under the false premise of “massage.” These were not legitimate therapeutic services. They were acts of abuse hidden behind the language of our profession.
It is critical to say this clearly:
Unlicensed individuals using the label of massage therapy create conditions where exploitation can occur.
And every time massage is misrepresented in this way, it harms not only victims—but also the integrity of an entire healthcare profession.
Licensure Exists to Protect the Public
Licensure is not a formality. It is a legal and ethical safeguard.
A licensed massage therapist (LMT) has:
Completed hundreds to thousands of hours of formal education
Studied anatomy, physiology, pathology, ethics, and professional boundaries
Passed standardized examinations
Agreed to follow state laws and professional conduct standards
Maintained continuing education requirements
Obtained professional liability insurance
Licensure creates accountability. It creates traceability. It creates consequences for misconduct.
Unlicensed individuals operate outside of these safeguards.
They are not regulated.
They are not accountable to licensing boards.
They are not held to the same ethical and legal standards.
This is precisely why licensure matters.
The Sexualization of Massage is a Direct Threat to Public Safety
Massage therapy is a clinical, therapeutic intervention. It is not a sexual service.
When massage is sexualized in media, online platforms, or illicit businesses, it does three harmful things:
It creates confusion for the public
It provides cover for exploitation and trafficking
It undermines the legitimacy of licensed professionals
Most licensed massage therapists spend years developing clinical skills to help people with pain, trauma recovery, cancer care, surgical recovery, and nervous system regulation.
To reduce that work to something sexualized is not only inaccurate—it is a degradation of the profession and a danger to public trust.
Ethical Practitioners Prioritize Consent, Safety, and Boundaries
Licensed massage therapists are trained extensively in professional boundaries.
This includes:
Clear, informed consent
Appropriate draping
Clinical documentation
Scope of practice limitations
Mandatory reporting laws when abuse is suspected
These standards exist to protect clients.
They also protect children.
When massage therapy is practiced legally and ethically, it is one of the safest and most beneficial therapeutic interventions available.
For Practitioners: Professional Standards Are More Important Than Ever
For those of us within the profession, this moment calls for renewed clarity and responsibility.
We must:
Maintain active licensure and insurance
Educate clients about what legitimate massage therapy is—and is not
Uphold strict ethical boundaries
Refuse to participate in environments that blur those boundaries
Support regulation and enforcement of professional standards
Our collective professionalism protects the public and protects the future of our field.
For the Public: Know Who You Are Trusting With Your Body
Massage therapy requires vulnerability. You deserve to know the person you are working with is qualified and accountable.
Before receiving massage or bodywork, ask:
Are they licensed in their state?
Are they insured?
Do they operate in a professional clinical setting?
Do they communicate clearly about consent and boundaries?
Legitimate therapists welcome these questions.
They are signs of an informed and empowered client.
Massage Therapy Is Healthcare. It Must Be Protected.
Massage therapy helps people recover from surgery.
It helps cancer patients manage symptoms.
It helps trauma survivors reconnect safely with their bodies.
It helps regulate the nervous system and restore function.
This work is sacred.
And it must never be confused with exploitation.
Licensure is one of the most important protections we have—for clients, for children, and for the integrity of the profession.
A Simple Reminder
Next time you receive massage or bodywork, ensure your therapist is licensed and insured.
It protects you.
It protects others.
And it protects the future of a profession dedicated to healing.