Services
Responsive and effective therapeutic massage sessions to relieve pain, support more ease and mobility, and nourish and balance autonomic the nervous system.
Craniosacral Therapy for Adults
Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle, responsive way to support the health of the nervous system, which supports the health of the whole body. These techniques work with the subtle inherent movements of the bones of the skull, spine and pelvis, known as motility, to decrease strain on the cranial nerves and allow older neuromuscular patterns to unwind. I often also work with the muscles and connective tissue of the head, neck, jaw and pelvis to support the work we are doing with the bones. Generally the work involves light sustained contact (think finger tip pressure), but it can be more vigorous. While these techniques are less familiar here, they grew out of a strong osteopathic tradition in Europe and the United States, that included hands-on manual therapy techniques as part of the training for doctors; working with the bones of the skull and spine to support health has roots in many other indigenous cultures around the world, too.
At the heart of Craniosacral Therapy is the osteopathic concept that health is always present, and symptoms are a message and a guide that can help us find our way back into balance, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.The intention is to work with the body’s own inherent healing processes holistically to support ease and balance. While there are protocols I keep in mind for specific symptoms/challenges, sessions can look quite different from client to client depending on the day.
CST techniques are my often my first choice when addressing neck pain, headaches, eye strain, chronic muscle tension, TMJD symptoms, recent shock or trauma, sleep challenges, anxiety and fatigue. That said, I integrate them into most sessions because of the way they help clients integrate the changes we’ve made in session, and because many folks appreciate the autonomic nervous system support, which is nourishing and often deeply relaxing. I also use CST techniques with clients seeking to ally with their bodies as a resource and an anchor for emotional integration work they are pursuing with a psychotherapist.
Massage Therapy for Adults and Teens, including Medical Massage
Massage therapy covers a wide variety of techniques used to support mobility and ease in the “fabric” of the body- muscle tissue and connective tissue- and the supporting scaffolding- spine and the joints. I commonly use deep tissue, myofascial (muscle and connective tissue) release and mobilization techniques in conjunction with Craniosacral Therapy (CST) techniques to free up the areas in the fabric that are stuck, which supports easier and freer movement and less strain, which aids in the healing process.
At your initial visit, I’ll ask you some questions about what you are noticing, your history of injuries and common activities, and we’ll do some assessment with you standing. Looking at the bigger picture and providing treatment with this in mind leads to better outcomes and also gives us the opportunity to address older issues, too. Sometimes residual adhesions, tight muscles and old neuromuscular habits/ways of moving that date back to an old injury in one part of the body could be a part of the pain you are feeling in another area today.
My intention these days is to start a process in session and give you some good ideas for self care that facilitate what we do so that you can build and/or maintain the progress we make.
Regarding insurance billing, I do sometimes submit claims for clients recovering from injuries sustained in a car accident. Please see my online schedule for more information or reach out to me directly to learn more. I am not in-network with any health insurance plans and do not direct bill, but I do offer superbill receipts which may be used to seek reimbursement based on the details of your out of network insurance coverage.
Prenatal and Postpartum Massage
(New! In-home Postpartum sessions!
Call to learn more and for scheduling- 206-310-9460)
Pregnancy and the first three months postpartum are marked by major physical transformations (emotional, psychological and social ones, too). My perinatal sessions focus on relieving the common discomforts many folks experience in pregnancy and after birth, while also supporting the autonomic nervous system, as stress reduction is particularly important for both parents and their growing babies, before and after birth. Beyond decreasing pain and promoting relaxation, I am also interested in supporting easier births via better infant positioning in the womb and a deeper felt sense of one’s body. There is so much information available these days, and many clients come in very informed; my supporting role is often more about helping folks feel more comfortable, more grounded and more connected to their bodies and their own inner guidance. These foundational skills can be invaluable in postpartum life, too, during the steep curve of the early days as a new parent.
Regarding in-home and in-office postpartum sessions: I really love them. (These sessions are also a great baby shower gift.) They are a chance for parents to recharge and be nurtured in the thick of doing so much nurturing. They often include massage for common aches and pains, as well as CST and reflexology for grounding and nourishing the nervous system They can also include specific support for feeding via infant CST as well as breast massage and manual lymphatic drainage focused on supporting lactation. Regarding timing, I am happy to see you whenever you are ready, from the early days postpartum forward. We will adjust how we work depending on what you need. In office prenatal and postpartum sessions are offered on a sliding scale. In home sessions are offered in the Seattle area.
Craniosacral and Manual Therapy for Infants and Kids
Life in utero, the birth process and the challenges of learning to feed, crawl and walk: babies and toddlers navigate so much with a lot of grace- and sometimes they need some extra help.
These light touch techniques are gentle and meets little ones where they are; the work proceeds based on their receptivity. Newborns are often treated while being held by a caregiver, and there is time for soothing, changing and feeding. For the older little ones, they can bring toys, and there is space in session for them to move around to integrate the work we are doing. Parents bring infants in for common challenges around feeding, digestion, elimination, sleep and soothing, or for a check up if pregnancy or birth were particularly challenging. Young children often come in for some of the same reasons adults do (a physical challenge like a fall or car accident, headaches or complaints/signs of physical discomfort, challenges with sleep or concentration). Infant and kids sessions are offered on a sliding scale.
Intraoral Manual Therapy
What a difference working with the jaw can make! Clients are often surprised by how much tension is found in the muscles of the face, head and neck, and by how much better they feel in the days after we work in these areas.
I utilize massage and Craniosacral Therapy techniques, including intraoral techniques, to address TMJD, tension headaches and migraines, teeth grinding/clenching, facial pain due to cranial nerve compression, chronic neck tension and to support emotional integration. Clients often find it helpful during periods of orthodontic work to ease discomfort and to support the work in progress.
I wear non-latex gloves for intraoral work, and because this is a sensitive area for many folks for all sorts of reasons, I describe the techniques in detail before beginning and check in re: comfort frequently. There are also intraoral self care techniques that clients can perform at home that are really useful.
