Standards of Practice for CSL Certificants

BACKGROUND

The American Council of Body Altering Aesthetics, Inc. (ACBAA) has established a certification program that ensures the competency of practitioners of CSL Therapy and bodywork and fosters high standards of ethical and professional practice. To further uphold these standards, ACBAA has developed and ratified Standards of Practice that provide a clear and concise statement of the expectations for professional conduct and level of practice for ACBAA Certificants. These Standards encompass areas such as Professionalism, Legal and Ethical Requirements, Confidentiality, Business Practices, Roles and Boundaries, and Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and Inappropriate Touch. ACBAA’s Board of Directors, representatives of the Certificant population, and key stakeholders have approved and ratified these Standards to provide guidance to Certificants, as well as assist the general public, including consumers, other healthcare professionals, and regulatory agencies or boards in understanding the duties and responsibilities of ACBAA Certificants.

PREAMBLE

ACBAA’s Standards of Practice serve as the fundamental principles by which Certificants carry out their professional work, ensuring ethical, compassionate, and responsible behavior. The aim of ACBAA is to maintain high standards, traditions, and principles of the CSL Therapy and bodywork profession through these Standards of Practice, which provide measurable and enforceable guidelines for professional conduct. Applicants for certification must agree to abide by the ACBAA Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice, and relevant policies as a requirement for taking the Board Certification Examination. Certificants who violate the Code of Ethics or these Standards of Practice may face disciplinary action, including revocation of certification.

In addition, ACBAA Certificants must report any unethical behavior or violations of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice by other Certificants. ACBAA requires that Certificants maintain a high level of service and strive for excellence in their professional practice, which includes continuous personal and professional growth through continuing education. Certificants must understand that their personal and professional actions reflect on the integrity of the CSL Therapy and bodywork profession and ACBAA.

ACBAA insists that Certificants conduct themselves in a highly professional and dignified manner. However, complaints based solely on consumer-related or competitive marketplace issues will not be considered by ACBAA. As the CSL Therapy organization and bodywork profession evolves, ACBAA will revise these Standards of Practice in line with the changing demands and expectations of the profession.

STANDARDS OF PRACTICE

STANDARD I: PROFESSIONALISM

The Certificant is expected to deliver exceptional levels of professional CSL Therapy and bodywork services that promote healing and well-being through touch that is compassionate, responsible, and respectful. As a professional, the Certificant must:

Standard I(a): Follow the ACBAA Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice, and Policies and Procedures;

Standard I(b): Abide by the peer review process conducted by the ACBAA Ethics and Standards Committee concerning any allegations of misconduct or violations of the ACBAA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice;

Standard I(c): Treat every client with dignity, respect, and worth;

Standard I(d): Use professional verbal, nonverbal, and written communication;

Standard I(e): Provide a secure and comfortable environment for the client that meets all legal health and safety requirements, at a minimum;

Standard I(f): Follow standard precautions to maintain a hygienic therapeutic practice and personal hygiene appropriate for therapeutic practitioners;

Standard I(g): Wear professional, modest, and clean attire;

Standard I(h): Obtain informed and voluntary consent from the client before beginning the session;

Standard I(i): Conduct an accurate needs assessment and develop a care plan with the client, if necessary, updating it when required;

Standard I(j): Use proper draping techniques to maintain the client’s physical and emotional privacy;

Standard I(k): Have a comprehensive understanding of his/her scope of practice and practice only within these boundaries;

Standard I(l): Refer clients to other professionals when it is in their best interests;

Standard I(m): Seek professional advice when needed;

Standard I(n): Respect other professionals’ practices and traditions and cultivate cooperative relationships;

Standard I(o): Not discredit the reputation of any colleague falsely;

Standard I(p): Use the initials ACBAA only to indicate his/her professional competency to practice CSL Therapy and bodywork;

Standard I(q): Remain in good standing with ACBAA;

Standard I(r): Acknowledge that the ACBAA certificate may be displayed prominently at the Certificant’s primary practice location;

Standard I(s): Use the ACBAA logo and/or seal(s) and certification number in business cards, brochures, advertisements, and stationery only according to established ACBAA guidelines;

Standard I(t): Not reproduce the ACBAA certificate except for verification of credentials;

Standard I(u): Promptly return the certificate to ACBAA if certification is revoked; and

Standard I(v): Notify ACBAA of any changes or additions to information provided in his/her application for ACBAA certification or renewal within sixty (60) days.

Standard I(w): Refrain from practicing AMBI Massage while certified with ACBAA.

STANDARD II: Legal & Moral Obligation

The Certificant must adhere to all legal requirements applicable to the profession of CSL Therapy and bodywork in relevant jurisdictions. In the Certificant’s professional capacity, he or she shall:

Standard II(a): comply with local, state, and federal laws;

Standard II(b): abstain from any behavior that leads to illegal, prejudiced, or unethical conduct;

Standard II(c): take accountability for his or her own actions;

Standard II(d): notify the relevant CSL therapy regulatory body within 30 days of discovering any evidence, such as first-hand knowledge, of unethical, incompetent, or illegal conduct committed by other Certificants;

Standard II(e): keep truthful and accurate records;

Standard II(f): report to ACBAA within 30 days of discovering any evidence, such as first-hand knowledge, of violations of the ACBAA Code of Ethics and these Standards of Practice by him/herself or other Certificants;

Standard II(g): report to ACBAA within 30 days of discovering any criminal conviction of or plea of guilty, nolo contendere, or no contest to a crime in any jurisdiction (other than a minor traffic offense) by him/herself or other Certificants;

Standard II(h): report to ACBAA within 30 days of discovering any pending civil litigation and the resulting resolution relating to the professional practice of the Certificant and other Certificants;

Standard II(i): report to ACBAA within 30 days of discovering any pending complaints in any state or local government or quasi-government board or agency against his/her professional conduct or competence, or that of another Certificant, and the resulting resolution of such complaint; and

Standard II(j): respect existing publishing rights and obey copyright and trademark laws, including, but not limited to, those that apply to ACBAA’s copyright-protected examination.

STANDARD III: Confidentiality

The Certificant shall preserve the privacy of client information and protect all records. In the Certificant’s professional capacity, he or she shall:

Standard III(a): safeguard the confidentiality of the client’s identity and information in all conversations, advertising, and other matters unless the client requests in writing, is medically necessary, or is legally required to disclose identifiable information;

Standard III(b): obtain prior written permission from a legal guardian to safeguard the interests of minor clients or clients who are unable to give voluntary and informed consent;

Standard III(c): gather only information that is relevant to the professional client/therapist relationship;

Standard III(d): retain client files securely for at least four (4) years after the end of the therapeutic relationship; and

Standard III(e): dispose of client files securely.

STANDARD IV: BUSINESS PRACTICES

The Certificant must exercise honesty, morality, and legality in the field of CSL Therapy and bodywork. In the course of his/her professional duties, the Certificant must:

Standard IV(a): offer a safe physical environment that complies with all relevant legal requirements for health and safety;

Standard IV(b): retain adequate and customary insurance coverage for liability;

Standard IV(c): maintain sufficient progress notes for each client session, if applicable;

Standard IV(d): truthfully and accurately inform the public about the services provided;

Standard IV(e): honestly represent all professional qualifications and affiliations;

Standard IV(f): promote his/her business with integrity and avoid potential and actual conflicts of interest;

Standard IV(g): advertise in a manner that is truthful, dignified, accurate and representative of services provided and remains consistent with the ACBAA Code of Ethics and these Standards of Practice;

Standard IV(h): refrain from using misleading language and/or images that are sensational, sexual, or provocative to market his/her business;

Standard IV(i): comply with all laws regarding sexual harassment;

Standard IV(j): not take advantage of the trust and dependence of others, including clients and employees/co-workers;

Standard IV(k): disclose the fees schedule in advance of the session;

Standard IV(l): arrange finances in advance in a way that is clearly understood by, and safeguards the best interests of, the client or consumer;

Standard IV(m): follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles;

Standard IV(n): file all applicable municipal, state and federal taxes; and

Standard IV(o): maintain precise financial records, contracts and legal obligations, appointment records, tax reports, and receipts for the most recent three (3) fiscal years.

STANDARD V: ROLES AND BOUNDARIES

The Certificant must adhere to ethical boundaries and fulfill the professional roles assigned to protect both the practitioner and client and preserve the therapeutic value of their relationship. In their professional capacity, the Certificant must:

Standard V(a): Acknowledge and respect personal limitations and practice within these boundaries only.

Standard V(b): Recognize the influential position held with the client and avoid exploiting the relationship for personal or other gains.

Standard V(c): Recognize and limit the impact of transference and counter-transference between the Certificant and client.

Standard V(d): Avoid engaging in dual or multidimensional relationships that could impair professional judgment or result in exploitation of a client, student, employee, supervisee, mentee, trainee, or anyone else with whom a power differential exists.

Standard V(e): Respect the client’s freedom of choice in the therapeutic session.

Standard V(f): Respect the client’s right to refuse any part of the therapeutic session or the entire session.

Standard V(g): Abstain from practicing while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any illegal substances (excluding a prescribed dose of medication that does not impair the Certificant).

Standard V(h): Reserve the right to refuse and/or terminate service to a client who is abusive or under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any illegal substances.

Standard V(i): Reserve the right to refuse and/or terminate service to a client whose language or behavior poses an immediate or potential risk to the safety of the: (i) client; (ii) Certificant; or (iii) therapeutic relationship.

STANDARD VI: PREVENTION OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND INAPPROPRIATE TOUCH

The Certificant must avoid any conduct that sexualizes, or appears to sexualize, the relationship between the client and therapist. The Certificant understands that the intimate nature of the therapeutic relationship may activate the needs and desires of the practitioner or client, which could weaken boundaries and result in sexualizing the therapeutic relationship. As part of the Certificant’s professional role, they shall:

Standard VI(a): abstain from engaging in sexual conduct or a sexual relationship with the client, regardless of whether it is consensual or not, from the start of the client/therapist relationship and for at least six (6) months following its termination, unless there was a pre-existing, ongoing sexual relationship before the start of the therapeutic relationship. If there was a pre-existing, ongoing sexual relationship, providing CSL Therapy and bodywork to that person is discouraged but may be done with informed consent that acknowledges the complexities of dual relationships and the power differential in a therapeutic relationship.

Standard VI(b): if the client initiates sexual behavior, the Certificant shall stop therapy to clarify the purpose of the therapeutic session. If the client ceases the sexual conduct initially, the Certificant may choose to continue or terminate the session at their discretion. However, the Certificant must terminate the session if the sexual behavior continues.

Standard VI(c): understand that sexual activity with clients, students, employees, supervisees, mentees, trainees, or anyone else with whom a power differential exists, is prohibited, even if it is consensual, except in the case of a pre-existing, ongoing sexual relationship, as outlined in Standard VI(a).

Standard VI(d): refrain from touching the genitalia.

Standard VI(e): perform therapeutic treatments beyond the normal narrowing of the ear canal and nasal passages only if it is indicated in the plan of care, after receiving informed, voluntary written consent, and if permitted by state law.

Standard VI(f): perform therapeutic treatments in the oral cavity only if it is indicated in the plan of care, after receiving informed, voluntary written consent, and if permitted by state law.

Standard VI(g): perform therapeutic treatments in the anal canal only if it is indicated in the plan of care, after receiving informed, voluntary written consent, and if the Certificant is expressly authorized to perform colonic irrigation under state law.

Standard VI(h): perform therapeutic breast massage only if it is indicated in the plan of care, after receiving informed, voluntary written consent, and if permitted by state law.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

AMBI Massage: Treatments that follow oil + circles + down, mimicking low level bodywork based off manual manipulation trends seen on social media instead of empirical data and CSL Therapy research; characterized by pulling strokes downwards towards congested nodes and too much lubricant. This style clogs clients nodes and encourages vascular disorder.

Boundary: A demarcation that separates one individual from another, serving to preserve the integrity of each person.

Certificant: An individual who has obtained certification from the ACBAA or is in the process of applying for certification.

Client: A person who receives professional services from a Certificant, regardless of the nature or compensation of those services. The term client may include a patient.

Competency: The study and development of a specific professional knowledge base and skills associated with its application in practice.

Counter-Transference: The practitioner’s unresolved emotions and issues that are unconsciously transferred to the client.

Dignity: The quality or state of being esteemed, honored, and deserving of respect.

Dual Relationships: A relationship between the therapist and client that extends beyond the therapeutic relationship, such as a social, familial, or business relationship.

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles: Rules, conventions, standards, and procedures that are widely accepted among financial accountants and commonly referred to as GAAP.

Genitalia: Reproductive organs and structures, including the penis, scrotum/testis, vulva (labia majora and minora, clitoris, vestibule), hymen, and vagina.

Impugn: To attack, oppose, or criticize as false by means of words or arguments.

Integrity: Honesty and adherence to a code of values.

Multidimensional Relationships: Overlapping relationships in which the therapist and client share an alliance beyond the therapeutic relationship.

Progress Notes: Notes written and kept in a client’s file that record the date of the session, areas of complaint as stated by the client, and observations made and actions taken by the practitioner.

Scope of Practice: The extent and limitations of skills, procedures, actions, and processes that Certificants with professional training and education are authorized to use within the context of their certification. The scope of practice is defined by the profession and regulated, where applicable, by governing bodies.

Sexual Activity: Any verbal or nonverbal behavior intended to solicit, receive, or give sexual gratification, including inappropriate touch, hugs, body language, verbal dialogue about sexual preferences or fantasies, flirtatious behavior, seductive or sexually demeaning gestures, sexual joking, failure to ensure client privacy in disrobing/dressing, filming the client without their consent, touching a client’s breast or pelvic area, or engaging in other sexual activities.

Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that (i) is made either explicitly or implicitly as a condition of an individual’s employment, (ii) affects employment decisions, or (iii) creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

Sexual Misconduct: Unethical and illegal behavior that involves sexualization or engagement in sexual contact with a client/student/mentee/employee/trainee during or after the professional relationship has ended. This is particularly concerning due to the power differential in which care providers may use or exploit the trust or influence derived from the professional relationship. Sexual misconduct encompasses a wide range of sexual activities and does not have to be coercive to be inappropriate.

Therapeutic Breast Massage: The manipulation of non-muscular soft tissue structures of the breast, including the areola and nipple.

Therapeutic Relationship: The ongoing relationship established between a therapist and client to support the client’s therapeutic goals. Key characteristics of a healthy therapeutic relationship