In 2022, the Canadian Massage Therapist Alliance (CMTA) funded a national study titled “The National Survey of Sexual Harassment and Assault of Canadian Massage Therapists by Clients.” The results are alarming — and they should be a wake-up call for our entire profession.

📊 Key Findings from 538 Massage Therapists Across Canada:

80.3% reported experiencing sexual harassment by clients.
22.3% reported experiencing sexual assault.
66.5% received phone calls of a sexual nature from clients.
77.2% of these incidents occurred during treatment.
Only 5% reported incidents to police, and less than 6% involved a professional association.
Many therapists feared discharging clients due to possible retaliation, bad reviews, or job loss.

⚠️ What This Means:
These statistics reflect a systemic problem — not isolated incidents. The fear, ambiguity, and consequences faced by RMTs indicate a lack of:

- Unified support structures across regulatory colleges and associations.
- Clear education and training on managing misconduct.
- Accessible, trauma-informed reporting protocols.
- Transparent sharing of data and response strategies between associations, regulators, and educators.

📣 Why We Need Your Voice:
Despite the CMTA funding this vital study, results like these remain largely unknown to the public, clients, and many RMTs themselves. This lack of coordinated education, training, and awareness continues to leave therapists vulnerable — especially those working alone, in rural settings, or with marginalized identities.

This petition calls on governing bodies, associations, and educators to:

- Publicly acknowledge the findings of the national study.
- Standardize practitioner safety protocols.
- Mandate accessible education around client misconduct.
- Commit to a culture shift where therapist safety is not a secondary concern.
Together, we can push for meaningful change — not just awareness, but action.

🔗 https://crmta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/National-Study-Report-Final-2022.pdf