support resources

• • National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE 
  • Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN): www.rainn.org 
  • National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): www.nsvrc.org 
  • The “Me Too” Movement: www.metoomvmt.org 

• • If you are physically assaulted (which doesn’t have to be violent) or a client puts their hands on you, that is assault, and you have every right to report them to the police. (www.rainn.org/reporting-and-criminal-justice-system)
  • If it wasn’t assault, but their actions (or words) were enough to make you uncomfortable, address it immediately and end the session.
  • Some massage therapists think they should report an inappropriate client to the massage board, but no state board accepts these complaints; they only have authority over their licensees, not over the general public.
  • Unfortunately, there is no database of inappropriate clients. However, we recommend keeping a file of client’s you terminated that includes their name, phone number, and email address in case they try contacting you again.
  • If a client behaves inappropriately, blasting their name on social media is not a wise idea. It’s your word against theirs. Without text messages to back it up—and assuming you don’t have a video camera in the treatment room—you don’t have proof such a thing transpired, and you could wind up being sued for slander if you make a public accusation.

• • If you are physically assaulted (which doesn’t have to be violent), or a massage therapist or bodyworker touches you inappropriately, you have every right to report them to the police. (www.rainn.org/reporting-and-criminal-justice-system)
  • File a complaint to the massage therapy board in your state. Most states regulate massage at the state level. If your state does not regulate at the state level, there may be local oversite at a county level. Each board handles it slightly differently, but this gives you an option to report a complaint to the board so they can investigate it. Find your state’s massage therapy board here.

If you are a victim of sexual assault, there are several actions you can take. If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured, call 911.

• Your safety is important. Are you in a safe place? If you’re not feeling safe, consider reaching out to someone you trust for support. You don’t have to go through this alone.
• What happened was not your fault. Something happened to you that you didn’t want to happen—and that’s not OK.
• Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673). You’ll be connected to a trained staff member from a local sexual assault service provider in your area. They will direct you to the appropriate local health facility that can care for survivors of sexual assault. Some service providers may be able to send a trained advocate to accompany you.
• You can also visit online.rainn.org to chat anonymously. Support specialists can also provide information on topics you might have questions about.

Sources: www.rainn.org/

www.rainn.org/after-sexual-assault

It’s not always easy to know what to say when someone tells you they’ve been sexually assaulted, especially if they are a friend or family member. Many resources are available at www.rainn.org, including tips on supporting loved ones and talking with survivors of sexual assault.

Brainstorming ways to stay safe can help reduce the risk of future harm.

Safety Planning for Massage Therapists or Bodyworkers

Check out our blog for professionals for ways to be prepared, strong, and safe.

Safety Planning for Clients

Check out our blog for clients to learn what to expect during a massage session.

Find a professional bodyworker at MassageTherapy.com.

Unauthorized Posts for Massage Services 

 If your name, business, or contact information has been posted on a website without your authorization, we recommend the following actions to provide notice to the website owners of the unauthorized post and request that it be removed, and to report the website if it does not cooperate.  

If the post includes your photo, business logo, or text from your website, which you created or you own, you may have an additional claim for copyright infringement and should submit a notice under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) with a request for take-down of the copyrighted material. 

1) Send Letter to Website Owner

Send a letter to the website to notify it of the unauthorized post and request that it be removed (a draft letter is available below). Many websites that feature classifieds ads or directory listings of services are not required to and do not monitor third-party posts. Making a website owner aware of the unauthorized post and requesting take-down can help to remove a website owner’s defense that it is merely a host and has no knowledge of activity on the website.

• Locate the website’s contact information. If the website uses an online form for correspondence, you can copy the contents of the draft letter into the online form. We provide information for two common websites with unauthorized posts below:

• Locate the Terms and Conditions for the website and identify Terms that are violated by the unauthorized post. Example links are below.
• www.bedpage.com/TermsOfUse
• www.rubmaps.ch/terms

Fill in the draft letter according to your claim.

• If the post includes your photo or business logo, which you took, you created, or you own, you can provide notice under the DMCA of the copyright infringement and demand takedown. Search the website for a copyright policy or reference to DMCA to see if it lists a separate email contact or address to whom you should send a complaint. Make sure you include Exhibit A in the letter or use Exhibit A to fill in the website’s online DMCA complaint form, if it has one.
• Send the letter via email and to the physical address.
• Follow up with the website after one week if necessary.

2) Send Letter to Website Server

If a website does not cooperate with your demand, you may complain to its server, which may also hold responsibility for website content. A web server is computer hardware and software that stores and delivers content for a website. A draft letter to a web server to demand takedown of the unauthorized post is available below.

• Identify the Server for the website. This can be done by typing the domain name (e.g., BEDPAGE.COM or RUBMAPS.COM) into the search feature on a server identifier website (e.g., www.accuwebhosting.com/resources/who-is-hosting-this-website; www.hostingchecker.com).
• If “CloudFlare,” a server identity shield, is the result, you will need to submit an Abuse Form through CloudFlare to identify the server: www.cloudflare.com/abuse/form. Choose “violent threats and harassment,” or “copyright infringement & DMCA violations” if your photo, logo, or website text was used. CloudFlare will return an email that identifies the server.
• Once you identify the server, go to the server’s website to locate the server’s contact information. If the server uses an online form for correspondence, you can copy the contents of the draft letter into the online form.
• Locate the Terms and Conditions for the server and identify Terms that are violated by the unauthorized post.
• Fill in the draft letter according to your claim.
• If the post includes your photo, business logo, or text. which you took, you created, or you own, you can provide notice under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of the copyright infringement and demand take-down. Search the website for a copyright policy or reference to “DMCA” to see if lists a separate email or address to which you should send a complaint. Make sure you include Exhibit A in the letter.
• Send the letter via email and to the physical address.
• Follow up with the server after one week if necessary.

 3) More Options

If letters to the website and the website’s server are unsuccessful, the following are options for further action:

• Contact an attorney for advice.
• File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint).

Contact your state Attorney General. These offices often have a computer scam/fraud/crime department.

[Your Name & Address]

[DATE]

[WEBSITE,] Address, Email

Re: Unauthorized Post on Your Website

Dear [WEBSITE]:

I write regarding an unauthorized post on [WEBSITE] that includes my name and contact information [insert link if applicable and update factual background as needed]. For the reasons outlined below, I request that you remove the post immediately.

I am a professional massage therapist and my business is focused on helping patients manage various health conditions and enhance wellness. I do not individually or through my business offer erotic massages or massages with alternate endings, nor have I authorized any advertising or promotion to that effect.

I recently became aware that [WEBSITE] features a post with my name and contact information in connection with [“Adult” Bodyrubs (Bedpage); “erotic massage parlor & happy endings” (rubmaps); etc.], despite the fact that I do not offer these services:

[Insert link to Post and screenshot of Post, if possible]

I am concerned that this unauthorized Post will tarnish my professional reputation and otherwise harm my business because customers who see the post will be misled or deceived into believing that I offer the services noted above, when that is not the case. Further, it is likely to lead to uncomfortable, embarrassing, or dangerous interactions with Your users who seek these services and learn that I do not offer them.

Consequently, the Post violates Your Terms and Conditions. By way of example only, the Terms and Conditions prohibit [Terms & Conditions for Bedpage & Rubhub are identical and listed below; if another website, list its relevant Terms and Conditions]:

• Harassing, threatening, embarrassing or causing distress or discomfort upon another individual or entity or impersonating any other person or entity or otherwise restricting or inhibiting any other person from using or enjoying the Site;
• Transmitting any information, data, text, files, links, software, chats, communication or other materials that is unlawful, false, misleading, harmful, threatening, abusive, invasive of another’s privacy, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful or racially or otherwise objectionable; and
• Posting advertising or solicitation in categories that is not appropriate.

The Terms confirm that access may be terminated as a result of these violations.

[IF APPLICABLE: Additionally, because the Post includes unauthorized copying of [Copyrighted material, i.e., description of business, photo, logo], it constitutes copyright infringement. Please see Exhibit A for a listing of information required under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to remove unauthorized materials.]

Accordingly, I demand that You take down the unauthorized Post immediately and refrain from allowing future Posts that include my name, business, or contact information.

I prefer to resolve this matter quickly and amicably, and look forward to confirmation of Your cooperation within one week of the date of this letter. Otherwise, I reserve the right to take any further action necessary to remove this Post.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

EXHIBIT A: Information Required by the DMCA

1) A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

See signature for letter.

2) Identification of the copyright work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at the Website;

[Link to my photograph/my business description/my logo]

3) Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled, and information reasonably sufficient to locate the material;

[Link to Post and/or Screenshot]

 4) Information reasonably sufficient to contact the complaining party, including a name, address, telephone number and, if available, an email address at which the complaining party may be contacted;

[Your name & contact info]

5) A statement that the complaining party has a good-faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent or the law;

I have a good-faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent or the law.

 6) A statement that the information in the notification is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

I confirm the information in the notification is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that I am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

Accordingly, please take down the Post with the copyrighted material. 

Your Name & Address]
[DATE]

[SERVER,] Address, Email

Re: Unauthorized Post on [WEBSITE]

Dear [SERVER]:

I write regarding an unauthorized post that includes my name and contact information on [WEBSITE], for which [SERVER] (“You” or “Your”) is listed as the server. [If possible, attach printout of server identity result or CloudFlare confirmation email.] For the reasons outlined below, I request that the post be removed immediately.

I am a professional massage therapist and my business is focused on helping patients to manage various health conditions and to enhance wellness. I do not individually or through my business offer erotic massages or massages with alternate endings, nor have I authorized any advertising or promotion to that effect.

I recently became aware that [WEBSITE] features a post with my name and contact information in connection with [“Adult” Bodyrubs (Bedpage); “erotic massage parlor & happy endings” (rubmaps); etc.], despite the fact that I do not offer these services (the “Post”):

[Insert Link to post and Screenshot of post, if possible]

I am concerned that this unauthorized Post will tarnish my professional reputation and otherwise harm my business because customers who see the post will be misled or deceived into believing that I offer the services noted above, when that is not the case. Further, it is likely to lead to uncomfortable, embarrassing, or dangerous interactions with users who seek these services and learn that I do not offer them.

Consequently, the Post violates Your Terms and Conditions. By way of example only, the Terms and Conditions prohibit users to:

[List Terms, e.g., impersonate any person or entity; upload, post, transmit, or otherwise make available any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising or promotional materials; Upload, post, transmit, or otherwise make available any content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortuous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another’s privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically, or otherwise objectionable; harass another; etc.]

The Terms confirm that access may be terminated as a result of these violations.

[IF APPLICABLE: Additionally, because the Post includes unauthorized copying of [Copyrighted material, i.e., description of business, photo, logo], it constitutes copyright infringement. Please see Exhibit A for a listing of information required under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to remove unauthorized materials.]

Accordingly, I demand that You take down the unauthorized Post immediately and refrain from allowing future Posts that include my name, business, or contact information.

I prefer to resolve this matter quickly and amicably, and look forward to confirmation of Your cooperation within one week of the date of this letter. Otherwise, I reserve the right to take any further action necessary to remove this Post.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

EXHIBIT A: Information Required by the DMCA

1) A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

See signature for letter.

2) Identification of the copyright work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at the Website;

[Link to my photograph/my business description/my logo]

3) Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled, and information reasonably sufficient to locate the material;

[Link to Post and/or Screenshot]

4) Information reasonably sufficient to contact the complaining party, including a name, address, telephone number and, if available, an email address at which the complaining party may be contacted;

[Your name & contact info]

5) A statement that the complaining party has a good-faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent or the law;

I have a good-faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent or the law.

6) A statement that the information in the notification is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

I confirm the information in the notification is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that I am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

Accordingly, please take down the Post with the copyrighted material.