The Ethics of Touch: The Hands-On Practitioner's Guide to Creating a Professional, Safe, and Enduring Practice

by Cherie Sohnen-Moe, Ben E. Benjamin

In this groundbreaking work on ethics, Ben Benjamin and Cherie Sohnen-Moe directly address the difficult, confusing, and seldom-discussed-but-often-troubling dilemmas confronting touch therapy practitioners. By honestly describing the issues, identifying clear principles, naming specific resources and using stories straight from the treatment room, they have written a book to guide, support and inspire both students and seasoned practitioners. Reflective exercises and questions allow the reader to personalize each chapter. With love and respect for the field and for clients everywhere, Dr. Benjamin and Ms. Sohnen-Moe articulate high expectations and outline practical steps to meet them. This book belongs in the office of every somatic practitioner and in the classrooms of every professional training school.
The Ethics of Touch has sold 60,000 copies, and is recommended by more than 750 healing arts associations and schools. Over 250 schools require it as a text.
The first edition of The Ethics of Touch was five years in the making. The second edition is significantly revised with additional and updated material, and new chapters. It is a collaborative endeavor of many knowledgeable, caring, and articulate professionals. Most massage therapists, bodyworkers, chiropractors, acupuncturists, physical therapists, and other somatic practitioners do not receive adequate ethics training in school. This book supports hands-on professionals in expanding their knowledge about the field of ethics, to better manage boundaries, and to run ethical practices.
Changes to the Second

Genres: Nonfiction, Education

390 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2003

Reviews

[Sara]

While not as pithy and real as The Educated Heart, The Ethics of Touch is an excellent resource of ethical practices for massage therapy. I'm certain I'll return to this should I encounter issues and for inspiration for the wording of policies and consent forms.

[Calista]

A good textbook on the subject of ethics. There are some good group activities in the book.

[Donna]

This was another classroom book for me, but it’s one I think everyone should read, no matter their field. The Ethics of Touch lays out professional boundaries in a way that is clear, practical, and absolutely necessary. The lines are drawn plainly — and those lines have always needed to be defined.

As a hands‑on practitioner, this book gave me structure, clarity, and confidence. It explains not just what the boundaries are, but why they matter, how to maintain them, and how to create a safe, ethical, long‑lasting practice. It covers communication, consent, professionalism, emotional dynamics, and all the subtle situations that can arise when you work directly with people’s bodies and energy.

Even though it was part of my schooling, I genuinely appreciate it. It’s one of those books that stays with you and becomes part of how you work. I’m glad I learned it, and I think every practitioner — massage, acupuncture, bodywork, energy work, or anything hands‑on — should have this on their shelf.

[Cara]

There was some helpful information in this book, but most of it I felt like SHOULD be common sense to people. The fact that it isn't common knowledge is kind of frightening and therefore this book probably serves a great purpose. But I found it kind of boring.

[Laura K]

Most of the readings in this book were common sense, but a good overview of the soft skills. Great to have premeditated situations in mind so that if they were to arise, it would be handled more effectively.

[Elena]

Somewhat less cheesy than Sohnen-Moe's other book that I've read, Business Mastery. Some chapters are more valuable than others.

[Swan Bender]

This is a textbook for one of my courses and I thought it was a great resource and I know I will refer to it in my new career.