The Ethics of Touch: The Hands-On Practitioner's Guide to Creating a Professional, Safe, and Enduring Practice

by Cherie Sohnen-Moe, Ben E. Benjamin

In this groundbreaking work on ethics, Ben Benjamin and Cherie Sohnen-Moe directly address the difficult, confusing, and seldom-discussed-but-often-troubling dilemmas confronting touch therapy practitioners. By honestly describing the issues, identifying clear principles, naming specific resources and using stories straight from the treatment room, they have written a book to guide, support and inspire both students and seasoned practitioners. Reflective exercises and questions allow the reader to personalize each chapter. With love and respect for the field and for clients everywhere, Dr. Benjamin and Ms. Sohnen-Moe articulate high expectations and outline practical steps to meet them. This book belongs in the office of every somatic practitioner and in the classrooms of every professional training school.
The Ethics of Touch has sold 60,000 copies, and is recommended by more than 750 healing arts associations and schools. Over 250 schools require it as a text.
The first edition of The Ethics of Touch was five years in the making. The second edition is significantly revised with additional and updated material, and new chapters. It is a collaborative endeavor of many knowledgeable, caring, and articulate professionals. Most massage therapists, bodyworkers, chiropractors, acupuncturists, physical therapists, and other somatic practitioners do not receive adequate ethics training in school. This book supports hands-on professionals in expanding their knowledge about the field of ethics, to better manage boundaries, and to run ethical practices.
Changes to the Second

Genres: Nonfiction, Education

390 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2003

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not as pithy and real as The Educated Heart, The Ethics of Touch is an excellent resource of ethical practices for massage therapy. I'm certain I'll return to this should I encounter issues and for inspiration for the wording of policies and consent forms.

[Cara · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was some helpful information in this book, but most of it I felt like SHOULD be common sense to people. The fact that it isn't common knowledge is kind of frightening and therefore this book probably serves a great purpose. But I found it kind of boring.

[Laura K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the readings in this book were common sense, but a good overview of the soft skills. Great to have premeditated situations in mind so that if they were to arise, it would be handled more effectively.

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat less cheesy than Sohnen-Moe's other book that I've read, Business Mastery. Some chapters are more valuable than others.

[Swan Bender · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a textbook for one of my courses and I thought it was a great resource and I know I will refer to it in my new career.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good textbook on the subject of ethics. There are some good group activities in the book.