FAQ

You can, but there’s nothing obliging you to do so. It’s entirely up to you. Under article 36 of our code of deontology, an FQM massage therapist cannot require a tip from a client.

Of course. Your fee will be reimbursed by your insurer on the condition that your insurance policy or plan covers massage therapy. In fact, a reimbursement is all but certain, since insurance companies recognize the competencies of FQM members and agree voluntarily to reimburse their clients’ massage therapy fees.

In both cases, the answer is no. As long as massage therapy is not regulated and overseen by a professional order in Québec, massage therapy fees will not be eligible for the tax credit for medical expenses, nor will they be reimbursed by the CSST.

If you believe that your massage therapist has shown a lack of professionalism or respect towards you during a massage therapy session, please contact us first so that we can check whether the professional concerned is an FQM member. If that is the case, please carefully read our code of deontology to identify the regulation that your massage therapist may have violated. Once the fault has been identified, please download and complete our investigation application form and return it by email to syndic@fqm.qc.ca. When in doubt, or if you require assistance, please contact us at 514 597-0505 or toll-free at 1 800-363-9609.

During your initial appointment, your massage therapist will first carry out a health assessment by having you complete a questionnaire. They will thus be able to determine whether their competencies are adapted to your needs, failing which they will refer you to another health professional. The massage will be performed on a table, a futon or a chair, depending on the technique used. If it is an oil-based table massage, the massage therapist will ask you to remove your clothes, with the exception of your underwear. Your body will be covered with the sheet, except for the area being massaged.

In Québec, massage therapy is not yet governed by the Professional Code, meaning that its practice is not regulated and, consequently, that anyone can call themselves a “massage therapist”. Of all the massage therapy associations in Québec, the FQM is the only one calling for the creation of a professional order in order to protect the public by rigorously regulating the training and practice of massage therapy. In the absence of an oversight body, the FQM has created the “certified^TM massage therapist designation exclusive to all its members, which guarantees their competencies, high training standards, and the quality of care they dispense with the utmost respect for their clients and our code of deontology. And it doesn’t stop there: The FQM is the only association of massage therapists in Québec to secure the ISO 9001: 2015 certification from the Bureau de normalisation du Québec, and also the only association that has implemented an accreditation procedure for massage therapy schools. In short, when you choose an FQM-certified massage therapist, you can rest assured that you are in good hands.

In general, massage therapy practiced by competent, well-trained professionals poses no risk to a person in good health. However, there may be precautions to take or contraindications in the presence of certain diseases or health conditions. For example, people with diabetes, cancer, chronic pain, circulatory problems or heart disease are required to get a medical opinion prior to consulting a massage therapist.

The cost of a session, like the fees applied by a certified massage therapist, varies based on the following criteria: objective and duration of the massage (relaxation or therapy), massage technique and frequency of sessions, the massage therapist’s competency profile, the place of practice (spa, private office, clinic or other), etc.

It all depends on your health condition and your objective. Massage therapy may be a preventive, corrective or therapeutic solution to various problems. Is your intention to boost your immune system? Are you pregnant? Do you suffer from asthma, anxiety or back pain? To identify the massage techniques that best meet your needs, please view the page entitled Massage Techniques.

FQM massage therapists, who number in the thousands, are spread out across all regions of Québec. To get the contact information and details on the techniques practiced by the certified massage therapists nearest you, please use our search engine entitled Find a Massage Therapist.