Ben Benjamin, PhD, co-author of The Ethics of Touch, is implementing a National Secret Shopper program for massage therapy businesses to identify the very small percentage of therapists who overstep boundaries and should not be in the profession. The program will also serve to improve practitioners’ skills in the areas of ethics and boundaries as well as improve hands-on skills. The requirements to be considered for a Secret Shopper role include receiving a reimbursed massage two times per month and writing a short report on the experience.
The program is looking for experienced massage therapists who have a passion for advancing the profession in the areas of ethics and boundaries. Over the next year, the program will concentrate on different areas of the United States, beginning with Philadelphia, southern New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, and Houston. New locations will be added as the program expands.
Dr. Benjamin has been in the massage therapy profession for over 55 years and has been writing articles on ethics and boundaries in ABMP’s Massage & Bodywork magazine for many years. If you’d like to know more about him or read his articles, you can find information at benjamininstitute.com, benbenjamin.com, and on massageandbodyworkdigital.com.
If you’re interested in contributing to this effort, please send an email to Dr. Benjamin at DrBen6141@gmail.com to arrange a time to speak with him about the program.