The Educated Heart: Professional Boundaries for Massage Therapists, Bodyworkers, and Movement Teachers

by Nina McIntosh

This handbook offers much-needed guidance on professional and ethical boundaries in client-therapist interactions. Replete with real-life examples, the book presents practical solutions to dilemmas, judgment calls, and sensitive situations including confidentiality, sexual attraction, socializing with clients, negotiating fees, and deciding when to stop working with a client. This edition's new communication chapter gives specific suggestions for what to say in various situations, emphasizing the importance of tone and intention. A new section explains how to set limits and why setting limits is crucial. This edition offers a clearer explanation of transference and countertransference with more real-life examples. Each chapter includes new Questions for Reflection.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Virginia]

I can't actually rate this book since I am not a Massage Therapist or bodyworker and haven't actually read it. The author,Nina McIntosh, was my neighbor and as a thank you for helping her with some minor technical details she gave me one of the first books hot off the press in 1999. She worked so hard on this book and was ecstatic when it finally was published. Nina is intense, but an intensely caring, genuine friend. I'm so happy to see her book here and know she'd be happy to see positive reviews.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reference book for anyone wanting to open there own practice or starting a new job in bodywork.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

comprehensive guide for professionals in body work, on a one to one relationship, to detect how they may involuntarily violate boundaries of clients, and how to protect themselves, colleagues and clients against transgressions.

[Philip · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this for an Ethics class I was required to take at my Massage Therapy school. I thought it was a good 'intro' book and an easy read, but I didn't find it to be very in-depth in terms of its approach to the subject matter.

[Wendell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still can't stand the title (sans sub-title, of course) because it's too damned vague, but it's an excellent book on ethics for massage therapists and body-workers.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good resource for anyone for anyone involved or thinking about getting involved in practicing or teaching any kind of bodywork.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best reads for a massage therapist out there! Common sense wisdom for professional massage therapists.