09/25/2026
A Community & Safety Announcement from Drift & Restore Massage Therapy
Our neighboring city of Gresham recently announced that it has closed seven illicit massage businesses since implementing stronger massage business licensing requirements in October 2025.
This is important work. Illicit massage businesses harm communities, can be associated with human trafficking and exploitation, and create an unfair and damaging burden for legitimate, licensed massage professionals. We are grateful to see meaningful action being taken.
Unfortunately, over the last several weeks, we have also experienced an increase in interactions at our studio that have raised concerns for the safety and comfort of our staff.
In the last month, we have permanently banned a new client following inappropriate conversation during his massage session. We have also had multiple attempted walk-ins and several unexpected visitors asking unusual or persistent questions about "what we do here" and whether they can receive an appointment immediately.
For clarity:
Drift & Restore provides professional, licensed massage therapy.
Our massage therapists are licensed through the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists, and we hold our practice, our profession, and the therapeutic boundaries of massage therapy to a very high standard.
We also have a few important boundaries that our community should know:
• Our front door is intentionally locked while our therapists are in session with clients. This is a safety practice, not an indication that we are closed.
• We do not accept walk-in appointments. Appointments must be scheduled in advance through our online booking system.
• Sexual comments, sexual requests, suggestive behavior, harassment, or attempts to sexualize a massage therapy session will not be tolerated.
• If a therapist feels unsafe or believes a client's behavior has crossed professional boundaries, they have my full support to immediately end the session.
• When a session is terminated because of inappropriate behavior, the client's card on file will be charged for the full scheduled appointment, and that individual will be permanently prohibited from returning to our studio.
I want to be especially clear about this last piece: my first priority as the owner of Drift & Restore is the safety of my staff and the clients receiving care inside our studio.
Our therapists should never have to question whether they need to tolerate inappropriate behavior because someone is a paying client. They don't. They will always have my support in ending an interaction that feels unsafe or violates professional boundaries.
We are incredibly fortunate to have a wonderful community of clients who respect our therapists and understand the professional nature of therapeutic massage. Because that is overwhelmingly our normal experience, inappropriate behavior stands out immediately.
Massage therapy is healthcare and professional bodywork. Our therapists deserve to practice their profession without being sexualized, harassed, intimidated, or made to feel unsafe.
That boundary is not negotiable.
Heather Garrison, LMT
Owner, Drift & Restore Massage Therapy
