Public Trust in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Building and Maintaining Credibility

Abstract

Credibility is fundamental to the continued development and integration of therapeutic massage and bodywork as a health profession. However, credibility does not arise automatically from advances in education, regulation, research, or professional standards. Drawing on literature from massage therapy, professional identity, sociology of professions, and health professional education, this editorial argues that credibility is a social judgment conferred through recognition by patients, colleagues, regulators, and the public. The discussion examines the relationships among professionalization, professional identity, trust, and everyday practice, emphasizing the importance of communication, informed consent, collaboration, accountability, and professional conduct. Credibility is presented not as an achievement but as an ongoing professional responsibility earned through the consistent demonstration of competence, integrity, and trustworthiness across professional contexts.