1. Communication before anything else
A professional replies like a professional: clear answers, no pressure, no flattery designed to rush you, and no reluctance to explain what a session includes and excludes. If the conversation feels evasive or overly familiar before you have even booked, trust that feeling.
2. A real, private setting
Established practices work from a fixed, private location or a clearly described private residence setup — with a proper massage table, fresh linens for every guest, quality oils or gel, and a space that is clearly maintained for this work and nothing else.
3. Hygiene you can see
- Fresh linens and towels, changed for every guest
- Hands washed in your presence or immediately before the session
- Single-use or properly sanitised accessories
- A shower available before or after, without awkwardness
4. Transparent pricing
Prices and durations should be published or stated in writing before you arrive — for example, a clear ladder such as $328 for 60 minutes, $458 for 90, $588 for 120, $728 for 150. Vague pricing that "depends" is a red flag; surprise upsells mid-session are a worse one.
5. Boundaries stated up front
The best therapists describe their own boundaries before you ask: what the session includes, what it never includes, and the fact that you may pause or stop at any time. A therapist who markets "no limits" is not being generous — they are telling you they have no professional frame.
6. Women-only or women-first practice
Many women are more comfortable with a practice that serves women exclusively: the space, the language, and the pacing are calibrated differently, and there is no ambiguity about whose experience the work is centred on.