Do Energy Healers Need a Massage Therapy License?

✏️ Editor’s Note:
Have you heard things like “energy healers need a massage therapy license?” Or that practitioners are being warned, even threatened, about legal trouble for hands-on sessions?

In this article, attorney Ian Foster lays out helpful insights so you can stop second-guessing your practice and feel more comfortable in your role. You’ll learn what massage therapy laws actually say, what they don’t, and when—if ever—you might need a license for the work you do.

Massage therapy laws are a hot topic in the world of energy healing right now. There’s a lot of information – and misinformation – flying around. So, as an attorney dedicated to serving healing practitioners, I want to set things straight and take the temperature down so we can all relax.

As we get into this topic, I’d like you to raise your hand if you’ve heard things like:

• “Energy healers need a massage therapy license.”
• “Massage therapy boards are taking over the energy healing industry.”
• “Even hands-off and remote energy healing requires a massage therapy license.”
• “Energy healers are getting arrested for violating massage therapy laws.”

You’re definitely not alone if you’ve heard those sorts of things; nor are you alone if you find it anxiety-provoking. After all, the law can seem scary when you’re not an expert and you’re hearing lots of conflicting information.

Let’s Get One Thing Straight: Hands-Off ≠ Massage

So let’s talk about what’s real and what’s not, and let’s talk about the vast majority of energy healers you have nothing to worry about.

First, I’ll go ahead and get to the spoiler so you aren’t left feeling anxious and confused: if you are not physically touching your clients, then you do not need a massage therapy license.

If you work with clients remotely, no massage therapy license is needed. If you work with clients in person and your modality is hands-off, no license is needed. So, right there, I’m guessing about 90% of you just breathed a huge sigh of relief.

However, if you work in person and your modality involves you physically touching clients, then it might be a little more complicated. But we’ll get to that.

What the Laws Actually Say

Now let’s take a look at some actual massage therapy laws so you get some idea of where I’m coming from. Following are examples from four of the larger jurisdictions in the United States.

New York defines “massage therapy” as:
“...stroking, kneading, tapping and vibrating with the hands or vibrators for the purpose of improving muscle tone and circulation.”

Ohio defines it as:
“...manipulation of soft tissue through the systematic external application of massage techniques...”

Florida:
“...manipulation of the soft tissues of the human body with the hand, foot, knee, arm, or elbow...”

California is simpler:
“...the scientific manipulation of the soft tissues.”

There are lots more definitions like those, but I think you’re getting the point. More importantly, I think you’re seeing the same common theme that I do. Namely, the various massage therapy laws quite clearly contemplate some sort of scientific or systematic external physical manipulation of soft tissue.

Having looked at the actual laws, let’s be super clear: if you don’t physically manipulate your clients’ soft tissue, then you are not subject to massage therapy laws and you do not need a massage therapy license.

So let’s all just take a deep breath and relax.

Why Are People Saying Otherwise?

Still, you may be wondering, “Why are people telling me I need a massage therapy license and telling me I’m going to get in lots of trouble if I don’t?” And, indeed, I recognize that some people are telling you that. Again, I’m going to help us all relax.

Let me first answer your question by stating that I have not found even one single example of a government trying to force a hands-off energy healer to get a massage therapy license. Neither have I found any court cases or administrative opinions stating that massage therapy laws apply to hands-off energy healers.

As far as I can tell, it’s not the government going around saying that hands-off energy healers need a massage therapy license. So that begs the question: who is telling you that you need a license for hands-off work?

The Surprising Source of Confusion

The answer here may surprise you … it’s other energy healers.

That’s right. Energy healers are going around telling energy healers that they need massage therapy licenses. It would be an understatement to say I strongly disagree with their reading of the relevant laws. Still, to be fair and thorough, I’ll lay out the two arguments I hear.

Argument #1: “Energy healing involves changing people’s vibration, and some massage therapy laws specifically include vibration.”
We can dispense with that argument quickly, as it confuses two completely different uses of the word “vibration.” Energy healing uses “vibration” in a metaphysical sense, while massage laws refer to literal, physical vibration.

Argument #2: “Energy healing can make a measurable difference in physical symptoms, so therefore it must be manipulating physical tissue.”
That logic would mean psychotherapy, music, or even good nutrition would fall under massage law. It's a slippery slope to absurdity.

So why are energy healers telling others they need a massage therapy license for hands-off work? Ultimately, I simply don’t know, and it’s not my place to speculate on their motives.

What an Attorney Might Tell You

I spent 18 years enforcing business and tax laws for the government, and I would not have been caught dead making one of those arguments in front of a judge. I would have been laughed out of the courtroom.

In this business, your reputation is everything, and I would not have staked my hard-won credibility arguing that massage therapy laws apply to people who aren’t making physical contact.

Once again, if you are not performing a systematic, hands-on, physical manipulation of human tissue, then you don’t need a license.

The Gray Area: Hands-On Modalities Like Reiki or Polarity

I did promise to come back to the issue of hands-on energy healing. There are a number of modalities, with polarity therapy and reiki being two of the better known, where things get a little more complicated.

Essentially, it’s going to be a case-by-case analysis that depends on:

1. The level of physical contact you have with clients
2. Your jurisdiction’s specific laws

You’ll want to consider the extent to which you are systematically manipulating tissue, and how your state or province interprets its laws. Some states say polarity and reiki may require a license, depending on contact. Others have exemptions.

💡Want to understand the full picture of professional protection?
Learn how tools beyond your core liability policy can support your practice in EMPA’s blog article: “Do Energy Healers Need More Than Just Liability Insurance?” Discover what smart practitioners are adding to their risk management plan.

As this column cannot give a comprehensive overview of every law in every place, my best advice is to seek local counsel if you’re doing hands-on work.

But please understand that this is nothing new. There has always been a gray area where massage therapy laws apply to some hands-on healing work.

So, if you and your colleagues have been practicing safely for years, there’s a good chance you’re still safe—unless your local laws have recently changed.

What’s Next: Let’s All Take a Breath

I also want everyone using every modality to relax and realize that nobody is coming to arrest you and throw you in jail! As a practical matter of government administration, people simply aren’t jailed for technical licensing violations unless there are serious aggravating circumstances (like cutting someone open without a medical license). It’s just not a thing that happens.

As with all the legal issues I discuss, let's all take a collective deep breath and calm down. Being terrified is not going to help. Let's instead remember the law is here to work for us so we can take empowered action!

✏️ Editor’s Note:
Many energy healers who work hands-off likely don’t need to worry about massage therapy licenses—and now you know why.

If this issue has felt confusing or even scary, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why we want to share expert insight like this!

If you're ever unsure about your risks, the next step is to make sure you have the right liability coverage in place.

Clarity protects your calling. Coverage keeps it secure.

Get liability insurance designed specifically for energy healers and holistic practitioners. With EMPA, you’re protected, supported, and free to focus on your work with confidence. Start your application now and practice without hesitation.

This article was originally published in the September/October 2023 issue of Energy Magazine. As part of the ongoing Laws & Regulations column by Ian Foster, these articles aim to help energy healers navigate legal, ethical, and business challenges with clarity and confidence.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not provide legal, financial, or medical advice. The examples are general, and coverage may vary by policy. Always refer to your insurance provider or policy language for specific details, as the policy terms take precedence. For legal concerns related to your practice, consult an attorney.