10/03/2025
CMTO has made major changes to the Standard of Practice: Client-Centred Care and Code of Ethics to address the issue of discharging clients who engage in abusive behaviour.
As of October 1, 2025, these changes now empower RMTs/MTs to discharge a client who engages in verbal, physical or sexually abusive behaviour without having to provide advance notice. If the client still requires Massage Therapy care, RMTs/MTs can simply refer them to the Public Register.
The definition of Abusive Client Behaviour is any act or threat that compromises an RMT’s/MT’s safety, dignity, or professional boundaries, including:
Physical: Unwanted acts causing pain, injury, or fear of physical harm (e.g., hitting, pushing, threatening force)
Sexual: Unwanted sexual acts/behaviours, including sexualization of the therapeutic relationship (e.g., sexual remarks, non-consensual touch, sexualizing treatment)
Verbal/Psychological: Language or behaviour that demeans, intimidates, or harms the RMT’s/MT’s mental well-being (e.g., threats, insults, humiliation, racist, sexist, and discriminatory remarks)
CMTO takes all forms of abusive behaviour seriously, and it has no place in Massage Therapy.
CMTO is announcing changes to the requirements for RMTs/MTs to discharge clients who engage in abusive behaviour. This change underscores that Massage Therapy is clinical health care and that abusive behaviour of all forms have no place in .
Learn more about this important update: https://bit.ly/4nUBUoG
