03/13/2026
While calling someone “sweetie” and “beautiful” are nice words, they are best reserved for friends and family. Using them toward your massage therapist can come across as unprofessional and does not feel appropriate in a clinical setting, even if the client is a straight woman and the therapist is also a straight woman.
Massage therapists are not masseuses or masseurs. We are trained health and wellness professionals who practice within established professional standards and ethical boundaries.
Because of the stigma massage therapy has faced historically, many therapists work hard to maintain clear professional boundaries and uphold the integrity of the profession. Massage therapists continue striving for recognition as legitimate health professionals. Maintaining professional language and conduct helps reinforce that standard and supports the distinction between therapeutic massage and industries that misuse massage terminology.
