« Beating Stress | Fingertips Home | Diminishing Returns? »

November 6, 2007

Money Ethics

Nina McIntosh, author of The Educated Heart: Professional Boundaries for Massage Therapists, Bodyworkers, and Movement Teachers, has an ethics article in the August/September 2007 issue of Massage and Bodywork magazine. I love reading these articles, though sometimes I feel guilty afterward, because they give me an ethical compass that I believe helps me be a better therapist.

So, last week, while I was slogging through the pile of magazines that have piled up on my desk, I came across one of McIntosh's articles that reminded me of when I was a new therapist. Titled Money Honey, the article struck me so deeply that while I was reading it I felt compelled to highlight a passage. I'm not inclined to write in my books or highlight everything that I read, but this passage described my situation perfectly and therefore resonated deeply with me.

Don't let yourself be at the mercy of pushy or guilt-inducing clients who want a lower price. Although it can be tempting to want to cave in to a client looking for a bargain, especially if there are blank spaces in your appointment book, such clients are often not worth having.

Another interesting article in adjunct to this topic is The Energy of Money: A Healer's Guide by Vivien Schapera.
For those of us in the healing profession (although the same principles apply in any line of work), asking for and accepting money for our services is challenging. We have to address our feelings of self-worth every time we tell a new client our rate, and worse, we have to revisit these intense issues whenever we want to give ourselves a raise.

It's important as therapists, and as people in general, to come to terms with our relationship with money. Examine what money means to you. Consult a counselor if necessary to get a handle on money issues. Statistically, most new therapists only last five years in this business. Many blame injury and burnout. Part of burnout may result from not examining and setting clear boundaries concerning money.

tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health massage ethics massage practice building

Posted by linda at November 6, 2007 6:54 AM