Massage involves undressing and touch in a private room, so a client who is assaulted may not know where to turn. Many states license massage therapists through a state board. This guide explains how to check a license, where to report, and what a claim against a business usually examines.
Reviewed by Abuse Justice Center · Updated 2026-10-28
Survivors of assault during a massage often describe touching of areas they had not agreed to, draping that was removed without permission, sexual comments, or a therapist who ignored a request to stop. Many say they froze, which is a common trauma response and not consent. What happened is not your fault.
Many states regulate massage therapy through a state licensing board. The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, which develops the national licensing exam used by many states, offers a license lookup tool on its website. A license check can confirm the therapist's name and status and help you identify the right board for a complaint.
You can use more than one of these paths. A complaint to a board or business does not prevent a later police report or civil claim.
A civil claim can name the individual therapist and, depending on the facts, the spa, the location owner, a franchisor or a hotel. In general, these claims ask whether the business checked the therapist's license and background, whether it received earlier complaints, how it responded, and whether it kept the therapist working with clients after a warning. The law on employer and franchisor responsibility varies by state.
RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline is free, confidential and available 24/7 at 800-656-4673. A trained advocate can explain options for a forensic exam, reporting and support in your area.
Abuse Justice Center is a free information resource, not a law firm, and nothing here is legal advice. Ask any attorney how they charge before you agree. Need support now? The RAINN hotline is 800-656-4673, 24/7.
Freezing is a common response. Consent requires agreement, and a client does not agree to sexual touching by booking a massage. A trained advocate at RAINN can talk this through with you confidentially.
Report to police and to the state board anyway. Working without a required license may itself be a violation, and the business's decision to use an unlicensed worker can be relevant to a claim.
Many courts allow survivors to proceed under a pseudonym. Ask a licensed attorney how privacy works in your state.