Cell phones are a very important tool that a massage or manual osteopathic therapist can leverage in their practice. They can prove to be extremely helpful in being able to access information (like that treatment technique you learned at the course last week), to book client appointments, or to use an app for maintaining your client records or for providing receipts.
Many therapists use them as a source for the relaxing music that helps set a great environment within the treatment space…. But did you know that bringing a cell phone into a treatment area could land you in serious breach of professional conduct?
See for all the good things that cell phones are, many are also a visual recording device. Having any visual recording device turned on in a treatment room is a direct violation of CMMOTA’s Standards of Practice for Massage Therapists and or Spa Therapists (Summary Overview of Professional Standards, During Treatment Item a.), and Standards of Practice for Manual Osteopathic Therapists (Pre and Post Treatment Procedures, Pre-treatment procedure, how to, bullet point three). Having any device, whether a cell phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, or even a security camera located within a treatment room is a violation of a client’s privacy if the device has the ability to visually record any part of the treatment session.
So, what about using that cell phone or tablet to play music in the room? What we suggest is that you invest in a good Bluetooth speaker – that way you can leave the device outside the room and still enjoy the benefits that it has to make your space the most enjoyable and relaxing space possible.