Massage Therapy CEs | Diversity, Ethics, Human Trafficking & HIV Courses

Ethics - Listening

True communication begins with listening—not just hearing words, but understanding what’s being said through tone, body language, and emotional cues. This flexible online continuing education course is designed to strengthen your ethical communication skills by transforming how you listen.

In massage therapy, listening is more than a polite gesture—it’s a vital part of building trust, honoring client boundaries, and delivering ethical care. This course helps you become a more attentive, intuitive, and respectful listener, all while aligning with the ethical standards expected in therapeutic practice.

In this course, you’ll:

* Learn key principles of ethical listening in the massage therapy setting

* Identify and overcome common listening barriers that hinder effective communication

* Spot bad listening habits and replace them with supportive techniques that build trust

* Interpret non-verbal communication, such as posture, facial expression, and body language, to better understand client needs and comfort levels

Whether you’re working with anxious first-time clients, clients processing emotional or physical discomfort, or simply striving to improve rapport and professionalism, this course offers the skills to elevate every client interaction.

Good communication starts with great listening. Become the therapist your clients feel truly heard by. Enroll now and bring deeper presence, empathy, and professionalism to your practice.

Massage Therapy continuing education CEs earned: 2 ethics CEUs

Course classification: Ethics

Approved by: Institute of Somatic Therapy (Judith Koch) is approved by the NCBTMB (Provider #280672-00) as a continuing education Approved Provider. Institute of Somatic Therapy is approved by Florida (#MCE-326), and New York (#0019). Our courses are also valid for AMTA, ABMP, and most individual states. Some states limit how many hours can be done online or by home study. Please refer to our State Guidelines section for specific information about your state. Laws can and do change, and your state will hold you responsible for knowing the laws that apply to you.

Tuition: $12.

CE Broker Reporting: Institute of Somatic Therapy will automatically report your hours to CE Broker in applicable states ONLY IF you have provided your license number in your online account with us.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How is this course relevant to ethics in massage therapy?

Listening is a core component of ethical communication. This course helps massage therapists uphold professional boundaries, foster trust, and ensure informed consent by sharpening listening skills—making it directly applicable to ethical standards of practice.

Will I learn to recognize non-verbal communication from clients?

Yes. The course includes instruction on how to "listen" beyond words by observing body language, facial expressions, and other non-verbal cues. This can help you better understand client comfort, emotional state, and unspoken needs.

Do you report our course completions to the NCBTMB, ABMP, AMTA, or any other agencies?

None of these agencies have a method for us to report to them on your behalf. They prefer that you provide the evidence of CEs that their renewal process details.

To contact the Institute of Somatic Therapy about this or any other massage therapy CEU course, please go to the "contact" link above. Thank you.