Massage therapy is widely recognized for helping relieve pain, reduce stress, improve sleep, and increase flexibility. Millions of people receive massages every year without incident. But when a therapist crosses professional boundaries or commits sexual assault, what should have been a therapeutic experience can become deeply traumatic.
Although most massage therapists provide safe and professional care, allegations of sexual abuse continue to surface across the country. Therapists have been arrested, sued, and disciplined after clients reported abuse during what should have been routine treatment sessions. Clients naturally expect a therapist to act professionally and respect their boundaries. Unfortunately, that trust is sometimes violated, and survivors are left struggling to make sense of what happened to them.
Recent Massage Therapist Sexual Assault Cases
Recent criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits illustrate that allegations of massage therapist sexual assault continue to emerge across the country. While every case involves different facts, they demonstrate the range of situations in which clients have reported abuse.
- Roseville, California: A man was accused of assaulting three clients while working at a California massage spa. Prosecutors say he’d previously sexually assaulted people, which wasn’t initially known because they happened when he was underage, and the juvenile criminal records were sealed. He was let out on bail and re-arrested on suspicion of sex abuse.
- Homewood, Alabama: A woman filed a lawsuit against a therapist and the spa that employed him. The lawsuit claims his license had expired and that the spa ignored a history of inappropriate behavior. According to the lawsuit, when she reported the alleged assault, the spa offered her a refund and a complimentary massage.
- Boca Raton, Florida: A woman sued a spa in Florida after alleging she was sexually assaulted during a massage appointment. According to the lawsuit, the therapist held her arms down, and she froze in the treatment room because she feared resisting would escalate the situation. The lawsuit also claims that the spa chain failed to protect its clients from harm.
- Manheim Township, Pennsylvania: Prosecutors allege a massage therapist sexually assaulted five women over two years during massage appointments and at his apartment. He faces multiple criminal charges, and as of July, his Pennsylvania massage license remained active.
- Lincoln, Nebraska: Nebraska health officials suspended a therapist’s license after six women accused him of inappropriate touching during treatment. According to court documents, he allegedly told women he was autistic and demisexual as a reason for his inappropriate actions. The department also fined him $20,000.
- San Mateo County, California: A man accused of sexually assaulting seven women during massage appointments faces several felony counts. He’s accused of touching the genitalia of clients and forcing at least one to touch him inappropriately. The man faces charges of elder abuse, sexual battery, and sexual penetration by a foreign object.
Although the allegations vary, they highlight why clear professional boundaries, informed consent, and ethical safeguards are essential during every massage session.
Why Massage Therapy Can Create Opportunities for Abuse
Massage therapy involves a unique level of trust. Clients are often partially unclothed, alone in a private treatment room, and relying on a licensed professional to touch their body in ways that would be inappropriate in almost any other setting. Those circumstances can make it difficult to know whether something that feels wrong is actually a violation of professional standards.
Ethical massage therapists help reduce that uncertainty by explaining the treatment beforehand, obtaining informed consent, respecting a client's preferences about which areas of the body will be treated, and reminding clients that they can stop the session or withdraw consent at any time. They also follow established draping, privacy, and professional conduct standards designed to protect clients.
Unfortunately, not every violation is the result of a misunderstanding or poor communication. Some therapists deliberately exploit the trust and vulnerability that accompany massage therapy, using the private setting to prey on unsuspecting clients.
Warning Signs a Massage Therapist May Be Acting Inappropriately
Most licensed massage therapists provide ethical, respectful care. However, recognizing potential warning signs can help you identify conduct that falls outside accepted professional standards and know when it's time to end the session or seek help.
Sexual or Unprofessional Comments: A massage therapist should never make comments or jokes about your body, ask sexually suggestive questions, or make remarks that leave you feeling uncomfortable. A professional therapist should never speak to a client this way during a massage.
Touching Areas Without Consent: Before working near sensitive areas of the body, a therapist should explain why a technique is necessary and obtain your consent. If a therapist touches intimate areas without explanation, ignores your objections, or continues after you withdraw consent, those actions may violate professional standards.
Ignoring Requests to Stop: You’re never obligated to continue a massage if something feels wrong. A professional therapist should immediately respect your decision if you ask to stop, request a break, or say you no longer want a particular area treated.
No Client Intake Forms or Consent Process: Most massage practices ask clients to complete intake forms before treatment. These forms help identify medical conditions, explain treatment goals, and document which areas of the body the client is comfortable having treated. A spa that skips this process altogether may be a warning sign.
No Visible Massage Therapy License: Most of the U.S. requires massage therapists to be licensed, and many states mandate that they must display the documents. If a license isn’t on display and the studio is resistant to showing it, it could mean the therapist is unlicensed. It’s important to note that five states (Kansas, Minnesota, Vermont, Wyoming, and California) don’t require statewide licenses.
What Should You Do After a Massage Therapist Sexually Assaults You?
After a sexual assault during a massage, many people aren't sure what to do next. Some choose to report the assault to law enforcement, while others first seek medical care or confide in someone they trust. Every survivor responds differently, and there is no single "right" way to move forward. However, taking certain steps early can help protect both your health and any future legal options.
If you're able, seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you don't believe you were physically injured. A medical evaluation can address concerns about sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, or other injuries and may also document evidence that could become important later. If you think you may want to report the assault, avoid showering, changing clothes, or discarding anything that could serve as evidence until you've received medical guidance.
Reporting the assault to law enforcement allows investigators to begin gathering evidence and, when appropriate, pursue criminal charges. You may also wish to file a complaint with the state agency or licensing board that oversees massage therapists, which can investigate professional misconduct and, in some cases, suspend or revoke a therapist's license.
Some survivors also choose to speak with a sexual assault attorney. A civil lawsuit is separate from a criminal case and may provide another avenue for seeking accountability. An attorney can explain your legal options, help preserve evidence, and determine whether claims may exist against the individual therapist, the spa, or other responsible parties.
Can You Sue a Massage Therapist or Spa for Sexual Assault?
Depending on the circumstances, survivors may have legal claims not only against the massage therapist but also against the business that employed or contracted with them. In some lawsuits, plaintiffs allege that spas or massage chains failed to conduct adequate background checks, ignored prior complaints, failed to supervise therapists, or allowed employees with histories of misconduct to continue treating clients.
Survivors have the option to file sexual abuse lawsuits after a massage therapy assault. They can sue the perpetrator and the massage studio that hired them — national chains like Massage Envy have faced several lawsuits from plaintiffs who say they haven’t done enough to stop predators.
In a massage sexual assault lawsuit, survivors might recover damages for medical bills, lost wages for time away from work, therapy costs, diminished quality of life, and emotional distress. Civil lawsuits can also encourage businesses to improve hiring practices, supervision, employee training, and reporting procedures, potentially helping protect future clients from similar abuse.
