SAFETY POLICIES - Terms of Service

Scope of Practice

I do not diagnose illness, disease or any physical or mental disorder; prescribe medical or pharmaceutical treatment; or do spinal or osteopathic manipulations. I reserve the right to terminate a session and refer clients to other qualified professionals if I deem a health condition is outside my scope of practice. Bodywork is not a substitute for medical care by licensed health care providers.

Health Screening and Contraindications

Conditions that prevent treatment

To ensure their session is both safe and effective, all clients must review our Contraindication List before booking. For client safety, Craniosacral Therapy and other massage modalities cannot be performed if any of these conditions are present:

Acute stroke
Cerebral aneurysm
Active intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding inside the skull)
Elevated intracranial pressure
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak
Recent skull fracture
Recent spinal tap (lumbar puncture)
Arnold-Chiari malformation (type II or higher)
Severe bleeding disorders
Active blood clots (like deep vein thrombosis)
Recent (last 6 weeks) epidural injection (Swedish massage ok)
Contagious illness, including infectious respiratory, gastrointestinal, skin, eye, or parasitic conditions

Conditions that require medical clearance

To ensure their session is both safe and effective, all clients must review our Health Caution List before booking.
For client safety, clients should consult their doctor before scheduling Craniosacral Therapy or other massage modalities if any of these conditions are present:

high-risk pregnancies
recent severe concussions
past strokes or aneurysms
active cancer treatments
Down syndrome
severe osteoporosis
rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups
acute illnesses or infections
open wounds
recent surgery
organ failure
epilepsy
recent bone fractures
unstable blood pressure

Intoxication Policy:

For their safety, clients must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while receiving bodywork. Session will be cancelled without a refund if the client is even mildly intoxicated at the scheduled appointment.

Contagious Illness Policy:

For their safety and that of the therapist and other clients, clients suffering from contagious illness may not receive bodywork. Session will be cancelled without a refund if the client arrives at the scheduled appointment showing symptoms of contagious illness.

Client Disclosure and Liability Policy:

Neither Chaos To Clarity LLC nor Essie Bourke are liable for any adverse reactions caused by a client's failure to accurately disclose medical conditions and physician recommendations, including updates prior to each return session after original intake.

Session Conduct & Client Expectations

Professional Conduct Policy

Bodywork is for therapeutic purposes only. Any sexually implicit or explicit behavior or harassment or violence of any kind will result in immediate termination of the session without a refund and may be reported to the local authorities.

Minors & Clients Under Guardianship

Minors/Clients under guardianship must have a parent/guardian supportively present for the duration of the session. Clients under guardianship must also express consent to the extent they are personally able because full cooperation is key to a beneficial session.

Age Policy

I do not currently perform bodywork on children under 11 years of age.

Preparing for Your Session

It is recommended that clients not eat a heavy meal within 2 hours before a massage. Hydrating before and after a session is recommended. Clients should attend to their personal hygiene prior to their session and arrive clean. Also, a warm shower before the massage can be helpful to prepare the body to receive the full benefit of the therapy.

Draping & Clothing

Clients may wear clothing of their choice - non-restrictive, comfortable, loose clothing is typically recommended. Clients may also undress privately to receive treatment and sheets/blankets will be used to maintain proper draping standards.

Accessibility & Accommodations

I will do my best to accommodate disabilities and sensitivities. Please communicate any special needs, including allergies, as early as possible to ensure a relaxing experience and maximize service time.

Confidentiality

I am committed to providing a safe and confidential environment for my clients. Please be aware that I will not discuss our sessions with anyone else, including client's spouses and family members, except legal guardians or when required by law, unless the client expressly requests such a discussion. Clients can request in writing copies of my session notes either for their own records or for their other healthcare providers. I will never use individually identifiable information from clients' sessions for advertising purposes or take or use pictures/videos of client sessions for advertising purposes. If clients voluntarily choose to leave a review or refer me this is deeply appreciated.

Payment, Insurance & Cancellation Policy

Accepted Payment Methods

Full payment is required at the conclusion of each session. We accept cash, Zelle, & major credit cards. Tap-to-pay available. No checks.

Insurance

We do not accept insurance. Upon request, we can provide a detailed superbill for you to submit to your insurer IF you have a referral from a physician. We cannot guarantee reimbursement, as coverage varies by plan. It is strictly your responsibility to verify your out-of-network benefits and referral requirements prior to your session.

Chargebacks

If a client files a fraudulent chargeback with their credit card company for a service already rendered, they are liable for the original fee plus any administrative fees incurred contesting it.

Tipping

For medical massage treatments, tipping is not allowed. For non-medical sessions, tips are not expected.

Cancellation, Late Arrival & No-Show Policy

No-shows, late arrivals, early departures and cancellations made less than 24 hours before scheduled appointments will be charged 100% of the scheduled service fee to the credit card on file. A late arrival is a client who lets me know they are running late before their appointment starts and their approximate arrival time. A no-show is a client who is 20 minutes late and has not confirmed any intention of arriving by phone/voicemail, text or email. I reserve the right to treat a no-show as a late cancellation.

Therapist Cancellations & Delays

I am committed to respecting my clients' time, schedules and trust. If I need to late-cancel or no-show due to illness/emergency, clients will be fully refunded and/or rescheduled. In case of my late arrival or early departure, client will be offered a discount based on the amount of scheduled time missed or, both schedules permitting, shifting the appointment time so the full session can be completed.

Mobile Session Specific Policies

Mobile sessions must be arranged directly with me, not through my suite booking site, and are subject to travel and set-up fees.

Space Requirements

6x9 feet of clean, clear, unobstructed space if using massage table
5x6 feet of clean, clear, unobstructed space if using massage chair
ask for instructions if client is restricted to bed or wheelchair
If possible, privacy and quiet are generally conducive to getting the most out of your session.

Pets & Service Animals

Pets must be restrained from massage area during set-up, treatment and clean-up. Trained service animals ok.

Stairs

Disclose stairs. I am not able to carry massage equipment up and down stairs. (Tip: I recommend storing your own massage table upstairs if that is your only space available.)

Parking

Disclose and reimburse paid parking.

Gated Communities

Disclose and provide gate codes or leave my name at gate of guarded communities as needed. I am not responsible for missed or late sessions if notice is not given in a timely manner to gate guards.

Hotel Restrictions

Please note some Orange County cities do not permit mobile massage therapists to visit hotel rooms.

Set-Up Time

Plan on my arrival approximately 10 minutes early to set up by default; if another arrangement is preferred please communicate that.

No Show Policy (Mobile Only)

I will wait and try to contact you for about 10 minutes if no one answers the door. Session will be charged as a no-show if there is no response.

American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Code of Ethics for Members :
https://www.amtamassage.org/about/core-documents/
Liability Insurance provided by Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (AMBP)