After 15 years in practice, my work focuses on methods based on osteopathic principles (structural integration, craniosacral, and visceral manipulation -- descriptions below). Taken together, these methods aim to balance the alignment and mobility of the muscles, bones and organs, and create greater client awareness of health and well-being. Depending on the needs of each client, I adapt the methods I use to create lasting changes; my work is more oriented to a problem-solving and client education than to on-going maintenance or relaxation massage. I also have particular interest and experience working with infants and children.
My Specialties
• structural integration: a fascial approach to balancing skeletal alignment that usually is conducted in a set number of sessions or 'series' (often 3-4, 6-7, or 12). Fascia is the body's organizing tissue; it's what wraps the muscles, bones and organs and what creates tendons and ligaments. Fascia is meant to distribute strain evenly, when we stand, sit or move – unfortunately, through trauma, injury or daily habits, the fascia can become tight, short or sticky, not allowing for balanced or easy movement. This method frees and lengthens the fascia to restore alignment and ease.
• craniosacral: a gentle method that seeks to balance the function of the central nervous system and to relieve stress as a major contributor to chronic pain, skeletal imbalance, and many common ailments (headaches, sleep or digestive problems, cognitive problems, and recent shock or trauma anywhere in the body). It may also involve mobilization of the many delicate structures in the cranium, face and jaw.
• visceral manipulation: a gentle, yet deep way of releasing the organs, fascially and neurologically, to help them function well. We often don't realize the major role the organs, blood vessels and nerves play in how our body is organized. Infections, traumas - such as whiplash or falls, and even chronic postural problems can effect how well our organs work. This work aims to balance the mechanical strains on the organs, and return the tissue to a balanced position and function.
• emotional integration techniques: Just as our bodies are subject to external stressors, we are subject to internal stressors: how we manage our emotions, thoughts and beliefs. With the body as our anchor and guide, the above methods may be applied as an exploration of the meaning, emotions or beliefs that can underly chronic stress or areas of injury.
Specific Applications
• pediatric work: Newborns, toddlers and children are subject to many stressors, such as the birthing process, falls from learning to walk or sports, and common childhood illnesses (chronic ear/sinus infections, allergies, reflux, or cholic). Also, they are subject to many of the same stressors that adults are: car accidents, poor postural or movement habits, and emotional overwhelm. My work offers gentle intervention in a relaxed atmosphere.
• intraoral work: working the muscles and soft tissue that hold the jaw is an important part of creating balance for the neck and head. Most people hold some amount of tension in the jaw muscles, and are often surprised how much more relaxed they feel after receiving this work. Techniques are applied to the neck, throat, outer jaw and within the mouth; the overall goal is to improve pain-free range of motion, release emotional or muscular tension, and improve the alignment of the jaw, neck and head. This work is particularly useful for people of all ages who are undergoing significant dental work, have chronic headaches or whiplash, and who have digestive problems.
Schedule and Rates
I see clients Monday - Friday, usually from about 10am to 4pm (ending at 5pm). During the first visit, I ask that clients complete a full health history, which I will discuss with you along with your goals for treatment. Sessions generally run an hour, including assessment and treatment. If, for some reason, we do not need the full 60 minutes (as is often the case for follow up visits with children, or adults toward the end of their treatment cycle), my fee will be prorated so that you are only charged for the time we use.
I accept most major medical plans and auto insurance claims. You'll need to check with your insurance company to see if you need a doctor's prescription (please see the Client Forms section). (I don't accept L&I claims.) My rates are $100/hour, with a discount for payment at the time of service: $80/hour for 'out-of-pocket' payment. For more information about paying by insurance, click here.
Current Certifications/Professional Associations
- Licensed Massage Practitioner (LMP), Washington State, 1994.
- KMI-Structural Integration, with Tom Myers, Kinesis, 2004.
- Certified Craniosacral Therapist, with Ursula Popp, Natural Health Resources Center, 2005.
- Certified Teacher of Kinesis, teaching short courses and within KMI certification program in the U.S. and Europe, 2005.
- National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), certified continuing education providers, 2005.
- International Association of Structural Integrators (IASI), member, 2003; continuing education provider, 2009.
- American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), member, 1994.
- Certification Board of Structural Integrators (CBSI), certified practitioner, 2009.
Background and Training (the long version!)
I received my initial training at the Brian Utting School of Massage in Seattle. After graduation, I stayed on at the school as a teacher trainee and program manager. The early years of my practice were spent balancing a private practice and growing responsibilities at the massage school. For over 8 years, I was a core faculty member and Dean of Students and, later also served as the Dean of Faculty and Acting Director. Working within that community was an incredibly rich experience for me, and continues to inform my teaching and massage practice.
Early on, my practice was fairly general; I was eager to work with as many people as possible, gaining experience in various settings: chiropractic clinic, gym, massage clinic, out calls, etc. One focus I had early on, was working with people at the end stage of their lives; as a volunteer, I massaged people with AIDS at a local hospice. This work was incredibly gratifying and taught me many key lessons about tending the whole person, not the just their symptoms or their disease, and that sometimes, even the smallest changes can make a big difference in people's quality of life.
In 1995, I began studying craniosacral (biomechanical and later biodynamic), visceral manipulation and pediatric work with my mentor, Bruno Ducoux, DO. The gentleness and depth of this work appealed to me right off, and soon, I was assisting Bruno in his classes. During this time, I was also assisting Catherin Maxwell, ND in her Deep Muscle Therapy classes. These courses explored the balance between our anatomical 'engineering' and the emotional and spiritual dimension of structural bodywork.
Looking back, I can see that I began a deeper cycle of learning in 1999, with the decision to pursue certification in teach of my specialties. Although I had been practicing these methods for some time, I wanted a more comprehensive understanding of each method on its own terms, and importantly, how they related to each other.
From 1999-2004, I completed a certification program in craniosacral work (biomechanical and biodynamic) with Ursula Popp, LAc. From 2003-2004, I completed a certification in Structural Integration (KMI) with Tom Myers, author of Anatomy Trains. From 2005-2009, I have completed the coursework for certification in Visceral Manipulation through the Barral Institute.
Prior Education
Before entering the massage field, worked as a free-lance writer and program coordinator for educational non-profits. I earned a master's degree in creative writing (University of Washington, 1990) and a bachelor's degree in Non-Violence and Power Dynamics (self-designed major from Brown University, 1987).
