The Neurodivergent Massage Therapist
Welcome!
I’m a neurodivergent massage therapist—a practitioner whose brain and body move through the world a little differently. Neurodivergence can include experiences such as autism, ADHD, sensory sensitivity, and other variations in thinking, feeling, and processing.
This space is a thoughtful reflection on bodywork, boundaries, and burnout, shared through a neurodivergent lens. Whether you’re a fellow therapist, a client, or simply curious, my hope is to offer insight, connection, and compassion.
Here, we honor the nervous system—yours and mine—and explore what it means to create healing spaces that are both supportive and sustainable.
Understanding Boundaries as a Neurodivergent Practitioner
In massage school, boundaries were often taught as a list of ethical rules—things like not texting clients outside of business hours, always draping appropriately, and avoiding dual relationships. These are important, of course. But for neurodivergent massage therapists, boundaries go deeper than ethics. They’re about:
• Sensory regulation: Choosing lighting, music, and massage oils that don’t overwhelm you.
• Energetic hygiene: Protecting your nervous system from emotional overstimulation or “taking on” client energy.
• Scheduling and time management: Allowing enough time between sessions to decompress, especially if transitions are difficult.
• Communication styles: Honoring your neurotype by using email or intake forms to minimize verbal fatigue or processing overload.
Why Neurodivergent Massage Therapists Struggle with Boundaries
Many neurodivergent practitioners have spent years masking—working hard to fit into neurotypical standards of professionalism, customer service, or even body language. This can lead to:
• People-pleasing: Saying “yes” to last-minute bookings or working through exhaustion.
• Guilt when asserting needs: Feeling bad for raising prices or enforcing cancellation policies.
• Over-availability: Responding to client texts at all hours or offering emotional support outside of scope.
These patterns are understandable—but unsustainable.
Redefining Professionalism Through a Neurodivergent Lens
Professionalism in massage therapy doesn’t have to mean smiling through sensory distress or ignoring your own capacity. It can mean:
• Curating a massage room environment that supports your sensory needs (dim lighting, weighted blankets, scent-free products).
• Using online booking systems and automated reminders to reduce social fatigue.
• Having clear intake forms or communication preferences listed on your website or massage menu.
• Structuring your day with longer breaks between clients or limiting how many sessions you offer per week.
• Being transparent with clients about what helps you offer your best work—without disclosing anything you’re not comfortable with.
This not only supports you, but helps clients trust your authenticity and feel safe in your space.
The Energetic Side of Boundaries
Massage therapy is intimate work. Even if your sessions are strictly clinical or therapeutic, touch is a powerful form of connection. If you’re highly empathic or prone to energetic overload, you may leave sessions feeling drained—or like you’re carrying emotions that aren’t yours.
Supporting your energetic boundaries might include:
• Setting intentions before each session (e.g. “I’m here to guide, not absorb.”)
• Practicing grounding techniques between clients (like shaking out your hands or walking barefoot).
• Using crystals, smoke cleansing, or visualization rituals to create closure between sessions.
• Ending each massage with a quiet moment for your own reset—before rushing to the next.
Boundaries are a Form of Client Care, Too
When your nervous system feels safe, regulated, and respected, your massage clients benefit. You’ll have more presence, more clarity, and more capacity to offer therapeutic touch.
Clear boundaries also help clients know what to expect—which builds trust. Whether it’s your late cancellation policy, scope of practice, or how you handle emotional releases on the table, setting limits is a kindness. It creates a grounded container where real healing can happen.
Final Thoughts
As a neurodivergent massage therapist, you’re not here to fix yourself to fit a mold. You’re here to offer your gifts in a way that honors your rhythm, your brilliance, and your capacity. Boundaries aren’t a barrier to connection—they’re the bridge that makes sustainable, heart-centered work possible.
If you’re feeling burnt out or overstimulated, it’s not a failure. It’s a signal. Your body is wise. Listen to it. And let your practice evolve in ways that nourish you, too.