Our owner Caitlin’s familiarity with bodywork actually stems from her own struggles with anxiety, depression, and trauma. When she was in the midst of a mental health crisis, her therapist referred her to a bodyworker to help develop a better mind-body connection. She became fascinated by the way in which her body held stored memories that she wasn't even conscious of, and how bodywork could help her work through these memories in a safe, controlled manner.
There are many important benefits to massage therapy and Cranial Sacral Balancing for people who struggle with anxiety, depression, symptoms of trauma, and other mental health-related issues. Studies have shown that massage therapy can:
Reduce trait anxiety and depression with a course of care providing benefits similar in magnitude to those of psychotherapy.
Increase neurotransmitters associated with lowering anxiety and decrease hormones associated with increasing anxiety.
Significantly decrease heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure.
Reduce depression in individuals with HIV, lessen anxiety in cancer patients, reduce anxiety and depression in military veterans, and lower work-related stress for nurses.
(Source: American Massage Therapy Association, "Massage Therapy + Mental Health")
We have used our own personal experiences with anxiety, depression, and trauma in addition to our bodywork training to create a practice that accommodates the needs of people who struggle with mental health-related issues. Here are several ways in which we do so:
Online Booking
We encourage (and prefer!) clients to book online. You can choose whatever time works best for you, modify your appointment as many times as you want up to 24 hours in advance, and compulsively check your calendar to remind yourself when your appointment is (maybe that's just Caitlin). All the information you need about your appointment is here on this website. If you have other questions or concerns, you can call, text, or email us as well.
Intake Procedure
At every appointment, we do a short verbal intake, asking you basic, non-invasive questions like: Have you had a massage before? Are there areas of your body you want me to focus on or stay away from? Do you have any recent injuries or acute health conditions I need to know about? Instead of asking you to fill out a bunch of forms, we just leave time for a short conversation where you can fill us in on anything you need to know. This is a great time to tell us that you hate your feet being touched, or that you broke your collarbone last summer. Of course, all this information will be kept confidential, and is only used to help us give you the best session possible.
It’s also helpful to know if you’re feeling anxious about your session. We can adapt our speed, touch, and pressure to your needs.
Draping
After the intake, we leave the room for several moments for you to get settled on the table. We tell clients to undress to their comfort level and then lay down on the table under the top sheet, facedown. You are always welcome to wear as much clothing as you need to feel comfortable. With all our draping, we uncover only the area of your body that we are working on.
Silent-Unless-Spoken-To Policy
This is the unofficial name of our personal policy regarding talking during massages. Once you are on the table, it is 100% up to you whether we talk or not. We will check in regarding pressure and your general comfort level, but aside from that, we let the client decide whether they want to chat. If you do--great! If you don't--great! This is your time, not ours.
Confidentiality, Respect, and Consent
Everything that is said in our office stays in our office. We don't discuss our clients, disclose their names, or reveal any details of their sessions with anyone else (even each other, unless there is a safety concern). As long as we are not worried for our safety or our client's safety, we maintain complete confidentiality.
The basis of our practice is healthy, respectful boundaries. This is reflected in the relationships we have with our clients, in the dialogue we have before or after your session, and in the work we do on the table. You are always in charge of a session. Unless you are asking us to do something we cannot ethically or legally do, we will listen to your requests. Every part of a bodywork session, from the amount of pressure used to the areas of the body worked on to the volume of the music, is within your control. We encourage our clients to ask for what they want and need. We respect all our clients, and know that as they are the ones inhabiting their bodies, they are the experts on what feels right.
Tipping and Payment Policies
We don't expect tips. We want to be a regular, affordable part of your self-care regimen, and we find that the anxiety surrounding whether or not to tip and how much can be a deterrent for clients. We also know that cost can be a barrier to getting regular bodywork, especially when you're already spending money on other health-care related expenses like therapy.
We offer student and military discounts, as well as a limited number of sliding scale sessions with no questions asked.
Cranial Sacral Balancing
Caitlin also offers Cranial Sacral Balancing, which is an awesome alternative to massage therapy. It is restorative work focused on guiding your body towards releasing held energy and back into positions of comfort. It is done clothed, and it is far less physically stimulating than a massage. We are encouraging a parasympathetic shift away from fight or flight in your nervous system, so she uses long holds, small movements, and gentle traction instead of sweeping massage strokes. It can help bring you out of your head and into the safety of your body in a controlled, gentle manner.