Mission and vision

The Fédération québécoise des massothérapeutes’s mission is to qualify and support massage therapists in their professional practice, and to inform and protect the public.

In order to fulfil this mission, with its dual and interconnected areas of focus, the Fédération is pursuing the following objectives:

• Ensure the professional competence of massage therapists
• Offer massage therapists the resources required to ensure the viability of their practice
• Promote the benefits of massage therapy
• Protect the public by ensuring that FQM-certified massage therapists are held accountable in the event of a breach of ethics, and where applicable, submit them to a disciplinary procedure

To fulfil its dual mission, the FQM has adopted the following priority means:

• High teaching standards (training, evaluation of competencies, research)
• Constant visibility through information campaigns and promotional tools
• A code of ethics and a disciplinary committee
• A professional inspection service
• Advocacy work in favour of the professionalization of massage therapists with governmental, legal and professional authorities
• Professionals services, including ongoing training workshops for FQM members

The Fédération québécoise des massothérapeutes has a vision to professionalize massage therapy in Québec:

• Professionalization requires that massage therapy be recognized on a therapeutic level and that it be given its rightful place in the health care sector. Relaxation constitutes a point of departure, a step in the development of the profession, but it is not an end in itself.
• The therapeutic dimension of professionalization embodies three main approaches: biomechanics, energy, and psychophysical work. These approaches act differently on the human body, but achieve similar results. Massage therapy is an inclusive discipline: FQM massage therapists use approaches and sets of techniques, all of which have a therapeutic objective.
• Professionalization calls for training that meets recognized teaching standards. The FQM adheres to the principle that the term “therapist” must entail rigorous basic training equivalent to that of other professions in the health care system. The Fédération regards massage therapy schools as partners in achieving this vision.
• Professionalization requires strict oversight of the profession. The Fédération subscribes to the notion that massage therapists are accountable to their clients, first and foremost, and to their peers.
• Professionalization requires recognition by political authorities, the public, the massage therapy community, and health professionals. This recognition can take several forms, and the Fédération is consistently working towards earning it.