The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario holds a zero-tolerance policy for any sexual contact between an RMT and a client — even if the client has expressed consent.
Published Jul 11, 2024 • Last updated 45 minutes ago • 3 minute read
A stock image shows a massage therapist treating a client. Photo by MARCOS TOWNSEND /Postmedia Files
A Kemptville massage therapist has lost her right to practise after her professional college found that she engaged in sexual relationships with two clients.
In a recent decision, the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario said Amanda Stark’s actions “undermined the public’s confidence in the profession.”
“Engaging in concurrent professional and sexual relationship with clients was unacceptable and demonstrated a complete lack of professional judgment,” the college’s discipline committee said in a reprimand delivered in June.
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The committee said the college held a zero-tolerance policy for the sexual abuse of clients.
A graduate of Algonquin College, Stark was first granted a certificate of registration by the College of Massage Therapists in September 2009.
According to an agreed statement of facts entered in the case, Stark was the owner of a home-based massage therapy practice. Between November 2018 and June 2019, it said, Stark provided 12 massage treatments to a male client with whom she started a sexual relationship in June 2019.
That relationship continued until 2021.
Between October 2017 and December 2020, Stark provided another male client with 40 massage treatments. According to the agreed statement of facts, Stark entered into a five-month sexual relationship with him beginning in July 2020.
During the same time period, the statement said, Stark also provided massage treatments to that man’s wife. Stark also socialized with the couple and discussed her sex life with them.
The statement of facts did not disclose who complained about Stark’s conduct or how it came to the attention of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario.
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A five-member panel of the college’s discipline committee concluded that Stark sexually abused both clients by engaging in sexual intercourse with them.
The panel also found Stark’s behaviour amounted to disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional conduct.
“Sexual abuse is an egregious boundary violation,” the panel said, “and an abuse of the power inherent in the relationship between massage therapists and their clients.”
Stark was also ordered to reimburse the college for any therapy and counselling provided to her former clients.
“It is the hope of the panel that our decision in this matter sends a clear and unequivocal message that at no time is it ever acceptable for a massage therapist to engage in a concurrent professional and sexual relationship with clients,” the discipline panel concluded.
Established in 1991 by provincial legislation, the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario governs the conduct of registered massage therapists and acts to protect the public.
Its “zero tolerance” approach to sexual abuse means the college regards as sexual abuse any sexual contact between a registered massage therapist and a client — even if the client has expressed consent or agreed to sexual contact.
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The college website states: “Any sexual relationship between a regulated health professional and a client is professional misconduct and is against the law. The regulated health professional has a responsibility to ensure that sexual abuse does not occur. What that means is a client can never give true consent to a sexual or romantic activity or relationship; even ‘consensual’ relationships are considered sexual abuse under the Regulated Health Professions Act.”
The college notes that massage therapists must ask a client for written consent before treating sensitive areas such as the inner thighs, chest muscles and breasts.
The college has publicly reported 10 discipline cases this year, seven of which have involved sexual abuse. Last year, the college publicly reported 22 cases, 14 of which involved sexual abuse. The vast majority of those cases resulted in either the therapist agreeing to leave the profession voluntarily or in the college removing their registration certificates.
During the past five years, the college has revoked 39 certificates of registration for sexual abuse, according to statistics released by the college on Wednesday.
Andrew Duffy is a National Newspaper Award-winning reporter and long-form feature writer based in Ottawa. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe
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