Self – Defence for Therapists

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The message

Various forms of advertisement may be the first step to send a clear message on what types of services you provide in order to avoid confusion. When having your first telephone consultation or meeting a client for the first time, you have the opportunity to reinforce that message by setting clear expectations and asking client for feedback. When on an outcall to a new client, make sure the consultation form is read and understood prior to service. The form should contain information about your professional accreditations, associations and public liability insurance. You can add a disclaimer notifying the client that your service is not of a sexual nature. 

Setting the scene

Room set up and your professional attire will be the next things you want to consider. 

Think about positioning the massage bed with the client facing away from the door to leave space for you to exit if needed. Make a mental note of who is in the building with you in case you need to call for help. If there is nobody around, put your cell on mute and have it nearby in case of an emergency. There are many ways in which you can trigger an emergency message to your selected contacts and the police, sharing your current location.  

Alternatively, give the address to your friend to notify them where you’re going and make them call you after the service. Remember to dress professionally, with no revealing clothes and no heavy make-up or perfume. 

Use your intuition

One of the simplest ways to stray away from danger is to be aware of your surroundings. Most of the time, an erratic behaviour can be easily spotted. However, on occasion the potential abuser will be well disguised, displaying little evidence of being inappropriate, except for… your intuition telling you otherwise. Your brain constantly scans and filters through information from the past to spot a threat, yielding a psychosomatic reaction. Before we know it, we sense a knot in the stomach, a strange sensation in the gut. Most often than not, this is a great indicator that something is not quite right. Every time I came across a client whom I had a strange gut feeling about, it was just a matter of time before the odd behaviour emerged, leading to misconduct. If the client is making you feel uncomfortable, consider cancelling the appointment. You can use an excuse such as acute headache and ask them to postpone the session to a later date. You can further refer them to somebody else, for example a male practitioner. 

Verbal and Non-Verbal Defence

A simple act of resistance stating clearly what it is that you do NOT want, is quite likely going to stop any inappropriate behaviour. Be firm and assertive. It is an act of self-care and can save you from unnecessary trauma. Once you have stated your boundaries and the client persists in his approach, you should ask him to leave. Use your voice as a weapon, threatening to call the police and keep repeating yourself until they leave. If the situation escalates and you are in danger of not being able to immediately leave the room, physical defence may be your last resort. Remember that those who act have much higher chances to avoid harm than those who freeze. Use improvised weapons to scare the abuser, such as a sharp-edged umbrella, or a pepper spray (be careful to check what constitutes an illegal weapon in your jurisdiction, as pepper sprays are currently illegal in the UK). 

Take a Self-Defence Class

Last, but not least, you can take a Self-Defence course to better prepare yourself for conflict and potential dangers. A typical course would comprise everything from de-escalation tactics and distance control manoeuvres through to practical interventions including reflex drills, blocks, kicks, punches, and breaking free to safety.   

Professional Boundaries 

Remember that self-defence starts with setting clear boundaries, being aware and assertive. Keeping a professional client-therapist relationship will help deter unwanted behaviour and protect you as you work with people on a 1:1 basis.