The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards has just released a document that should be of grave concern to anyone practicing reflexology. The Model Practice Act sets out to define and regulate the practice of hands-on healing therapies in the USA to include pretty well any form of therapeutic touch. If this draft is accepted by the state legislatures and massage boards, it could very well make it IMPOSSIBLE TO PRACTICE REFLEXOLOGY IN THE US WIHTOUT A MASSAGE LICENSE, EVEN IN THOSE STATES THAT HAVE EXEMPTED REFLEXOLOGY FROM MASSAGE.
Read the Model Practice Act.
The public has until JUNE 15 to post comments. PLEASE take a few minutes to post yours in the Article 1 box, Title and Purpose. THE RIGHT TO PRACTICE REFLEXOLOGY AND RECEIVE REFLEXOLOGY FROM A TRAINED INDIVIDUAL MAY SOON BE ON THE LINE IF WE DO NOT MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD.
Even if you practice or receive the benefits of reflexology in another country, you ultimately stand to lose when authorities attempt controlling measures such as this. So, PLEASE ACT NOW.
Feel free to use some or all of the wording prepared by the Reflexology Association of America (RAA), the American Reflexology Certification Board (ARCB) and the American Commission for Accreditation of Reflexology Education and Training (ACARET):
“l think that the draft of the Model Practice Act should be amended to clearly exempt reflexology in writing because…” – put in your own reasons or you can choose from this list:
The profession of Reflexology has its own:
- History, vocabulary, theories, and techniques separate from any other profession. It works primarily with reflexes through the nervous systems versus the musculature. The effect of Reflexology is seen at a distance from where the pressure is applied; its intent is not to change the soft tissue of the body nor to practice medicine in any form. The intent behind Reflexology is to bring the body into balance through the relaxation process, thus promoting stress reduction and well-being.
- Schools and educational programs that far exceed any course taught in massage schools;
- Professional membership associations at the state, national and international levels;
- National certification through an independent, non-profit organization with a psychometrically valid exam;
- 4 State laws (ND, TN, NH, WA) and 33 exemptions from massage laws;
- Endorsement from the AMTA. Their Government Relations Committee strongly recommended in 2003* that Reflexology be exempt in proposed legislation citing the following wording: “Persons who restrict their manipulation of the soft tissues of the human body to the hands, feet or ears and do not hold themselves out to be a massage therapist or do massage therapy”;
- Body of research studies from around the world (over 300) to prove the efficacy and safety of Reflexology.
Your comments should end with the phrase: “All of the above points demonstrate the uniqueness and independence of the field of Reflexology. Therefore I am respectfully requesting clear wording within the document that excludes Reflexology from being considered a sub-technique of massage.”
PLEASE SHARE THIS POST WITH REFLEXOLOGISTS AND REFLEXOLOGY CLIENTS WHO STAND TO LOSE THEIR TRAINED PRACTITIONER.
l think that the draft of the Model Practice Act should be amended to clearly exempt reflexology in writing because the profession of Reflexology has its own:
•History, vocabulary, theories, and techniques separate from any other profession. It works primarily with reflexes through the nervous systems versus the musculature. The effect of Reflexology is seen at a distance from where the pressure is applied; its intent is not to change the soft tissue of the body nor to practice medicine in any form. The intent behind Reflexology is to bring the body into balance through the relaxation process, thus promoting stress reduction and well-being.
•Schools and educational programs that far exceed any course taught in massage schools;
•Professional membership associations at the state, national and international levels;
•National certification through an independent, non-profit organization with a psychometrically valid exam;
• 4 State laws (ND, TN, NH, WA) and 33 exemptions from massage laws;
•Endorsement from the AMTA. Their Government Relations Committee strongly recommended in 2003* that Reflexology be exempt in proposed legislation citing the following wording: “Persons who restrict their manipulation of the soft tissues of the human body to the hands, feet or ears and do not hold themselves out to be a massage therapist or do massage therapy”;
•Body of research studies from around the world (over 300) to prove the efficacy and safety of Reflexology.
All of the above points demonstrate the uniqueness and independence of the field of Reflexology. Therefore I am respectfully requesting clear wording within the document that excludes Reflexology from being considered a sub-technique of massage.
Thanks for voicing your support here Angela. To make a difference though, we need people to post these comments on the FSMTB comments site. The link is in the message above, so I hope you will do so asap. Karen
“l think that the draft of the Model Practice Act should be amended to clearly exempt reflexology in writing because…”•Schools and educational programs that far exceed any course taught in massage schools;•Body of research studies from around the world (over 300) to prove the efficacy and safety of Reflexology. I took a training course in a massage school for Reflexology, it couldn’t compare to the training I took from a school teaching Reflexology.
Thanks Norma for expressing your experience. I hope that you will post your comments on the FSMTB comments page (link is in message above). That is the only way we can stop this.
Hi Karen. This is a pretty serious and impactful change in legislature. As a Canadian living in Canada I’m unable to comment on the link you sent . Are there other ways that I can protest?
Any ideas on why this legislature is on the books?
Be Well and best of luck with this battle. You need to win!
Hi Lee. I see that they only listed US states as an option. I guess the only way to make your opinion known, as a reflexologist, is to choose a state close to you? Up to you, I guess. Thanks for your support, and YES, I am very well. Hope you are too.
Thank you for creating and posting an effective script and where to place it in the Model Practice Act. This is very important and reflexologists have worked too hard to stay separate from massage therapists. We must keep moving forward in a positive light.
Thanks for your comments Susan. The “script” was actually authored by the boards of the Reflexology Association of America, the American Reflexology Certification Board and the American Commission for Accreditation of Reflexology Education and Training. I merely passed along, both as a concerned member of the community and in my role as co-director of Public Relations for RAA.