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Maria, a qualified massage therapist who has been practicing for just three months, has made a conscious decision to limit her clientele, opting not to accept new male clients due to uncomfortable and inappropriate behaviour she has experienced. At 38 years old and running Gentle Hands Massage Therapy in East Ayrshire, Maria explains that some male clients have engaged in conduct that left her feeling scared. This has driven her to create strict boundaries in her practice, such as leaving the room while clients prepare themselves and ensuring they remain covered with blankets during treatments.
One particular client repeatedly disregarded these boundaries by asking to be uncovered, despite Maria’s clear communication. She recounts walking in to find him lying facedown with legs spread and underwear loosely worn. Although she discussed the issues with him at every session, he admitted, “I understand but I don’t like it.” On another occasion, the same client attempted to expose himself, leading Maria to firmly remind him that she was not trained to treat that area. She reflects on these interactions, noting, “When it’s separated, you don’t see the pattern,” but looking back, she understands how he was trying to erode her trust and lower her guard. After a similar challenge with another client opposing covering during sessions, Maria was prompted to focus her business exclusively on female clients. She describes the cumulative stress she felt before treating men and contrasts this with the significantly different experience when treating women, where she feels safe and unthreatened. While she continues to see two long-term male clients, she no longer accepts new male clients, even though it has slowed business growth, because her happiness and sense of security are now paramount.
Another massage professional, Dani, who retrained six years ago after redundancy and recently established her own massage and stretchology business in Glasgow called Drift by Dani, similarly prioritizes safety. Dani only treats male clients who are either personally known to her or referred by trusted clients. She highlights the importance of protecting her reputation and wellbeing, recounting how she banned a client who jokingly suggested that she provided “happy endings.” Dani emphasizes, “It only takes one person to believe that kind of thing which also ruins my reputation.” Both she and Maria have called for more standardised training for therapists focused on managing inappropriate behaviour and recognising warning signs. They also point out the lack of statutory regulation in Scotland regarding massage therapy, which currently leaves professionals without a dedicated body to report incidents to. Maria shares her frustration: “We don’t have anywhere to go except police but sometimes we question ourselves. Is it enough?”
Jenny Storey, with 25 years of experience in the industry, owns a salon and training school and acts as a spokesperson for the British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC). She confirms that inappropriate behaviour toward female therapists is not a new issue but one that remains persistent and unacceptable. Jenny recalls her first experience of misconduct at 19 when a client locked her in a treatment room, from which she managed to escape. She stresses the importance of preparing therapists for situations they might face, while also noting the unfairness of generalising about men, as many male clients are respectful. Jenny remarks on how such behaviour is common in the massage industry yet would not be tolerated in any other profession. A Scottish government spokesperson affirmed that everyone deserves to feel safe at work and condemned the described behaviour as “completely unacceptable,” encouraging those who experience harassment to seek support
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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