What is trauma-informed massage?

Designed around your needs and intentions, *trauma-informed massage focuses on fostering trust, co-regulation, creating safe mind-body connections, resetting your autonomic nervous system stuck in a survival loop, and releasing pain and tension resulting from grief or trauma.

In any session, we will only work on the areas of your body that are up to receiving touch that day. Please ask for anything you need to feel more safe and comfortable: changes to the lighting, music, temperature; changes to massage speed and/or pressure; changes to where you’re receiving touch; and, changes to how and when I communicate. It is always in your power to pause touch or end the session all together.

For more information, you may listen to my talk on Trauma-Informed Massage Therapy.


**If you are currently working through significant life trauma or in crisis, you might consider working with a mental health practitioner before or in addition to other healing modalities. As a massage therapist, I can work with the patterns that arise in your body, but I cannot provide any kind of cognitive/behavioral therapy. If you’d like a current list of providers in Casper, Wyoming offering trauma-informed mental health services, please inquire before/after your massage session.

Here are some additional local and national support resources.

What is your consent practice?

I am dead serious about consent.

Consent depends on you: 1) knowing what you need, and 2) communicating your needs to me.

Consent also depends on me being able to receive your feedback, adjust what I’m doing, and decline any request that violates my own needs.

I will always do my part.
I will trust you to do yours.

Before a massage begins, I will ask you what you need. I will ask you about any areas of your body that are not up to receiving touch today. I will ask you what kind of pressure you prefer.

During a massage session, I will ask for your consent to do things like lower the lights, place a heat pack on your lower back, use a specific essential oil, etc. I will inform you of any specific technique I might like to use to treat an area of your concern, and then ask for your consent to try it.

I will give you a physical cue when I’m about to leave one area of the body and move to another. For instance, I will gently place my hand on your right shoulder and hold for a count of 3-5 seconds before I start to work there. This helps your nervous system orient and your body prepare for touch. If you’d like me to give you a verbal cue each time I move to a different part of the body, please tell me.

If you don’t like how something if feeling; if I’m working too light/deep, too slow/too fast; or, you realize my ways of working are not helpful to you, please let me know.

I have many frameworks, tools and modalities in my repertoire, and we’ll learn together which ones feel good and right to you.

I will be paying exquisite attention to how your body is responding to my work in real time, but I sometimes miss things, and I can’t read your mind, so I trust you to speak up.

You can trust me to be respectful of your wishes and honor them within the scope of my practice.

What kind of massage do you offer?

I offer massage as ritual. Meaning, I uphold your intention. I am fully present and approach your body/mind/soul with reverence. I perform a set of actions in a specific sequence (determined by your need) each time. In every massage session there is an opening and closing, as well as transitions. As I work, I think and practice symbolically and metaphorically.

My own intention is always integration: bringing the body back together… bringing all stuck, hurting, neglected parts of you back home to Self.

My massage style is ceremonial and dance-like. I move with intuition, grace and strength, in a flowing, interconnected way. I use my forearms and soft, contoured hands to offer firm, grounding pressure. I work in concentric circles and spiral patterns, which invites the brain to let go of its compulsion to “figure it out,” allowing you to surrender to flow, to trust and allow, to experience a physical/mental/emotional unwinding.

My pressure ranges from extra light to deep, but I do not use uncomfortable techniques that are better suited for heavy treatment work, deep tissue, sports or medical massage.

The specific modalities I offer are: Swedish, Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), Hot Stone, and Prenatal.

Multi-sensory nourishment is prioritized: warm towels, weighted blankets, soft light and darkest dark, music and sound, custom aromatherapy. Each of these elements is combined to create sanctuary within and without. The experience is like being held in a warm cocoon.

Does massage help with…?

The answer is almost always “yes.” Because of the changes that happen in the nervous system during a session, the body’s natural healing process is stimulated. Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress-related. Massage is an effective tool for managing this stress, which translates into:

• A safe, private space to collapse and rest.

• Lower cortisol and stress levels.

• Enhanced sleep quality.

• Improved concentration.

• Increased circulation.

• Decreased anxiety.

• Reduced fatigue.

• Greater energy.

• Pain relief.

Do I have to be completely undressed?

Absolutely not. Many people choose to be completely undressed to allow for the application of oil, which prevents skin drag; but, there are other techniques that can be used over top of light clothing.

When deciding how much clothing to remove for your session, consider what will allow you to relax and feel as safe and comfortable as possible.

For people who wear bras: if you decide to leave them on, straps are difficult for me to work through, so I’ll ask if you’d like to unhook the straps or if you’d like me to work under or around them. We will do what feels best for you.

You will be properly draped (covered by a sheet and light blanket) at all times to keep you warm and comfortable. Only the area being worked on will be exposed. If you end up liking how touch feels more thru the sheet/blanket in certain areas rather than being undraped (uncovered) in an area, let me know. If the sheet and/or blanket is bothering you (for example, if you don’t like it touching your collarbone or covering your neck), just ask me to move it, or move it yourself whenever you need.

Your private body parts will always remain covered by a sheet and/or blanket throughout your session.

For a fully clothed bodywork session, you might book a massage in whatever time increment feels right to you, and then request that only your head, neck, shoulders, hands and/or feet be massaged.

What parts of my body will be massaged?

You are 100% in control of where and how you are touched.

A typical full-body session will include work on your back, arms, hips/glutes, legs, feet, hands, shoulders, neck, head and face.

If you don’t want one or more of these customary areas touched during your massage, just let me know.

I do not massage breast tissue, genitals, or inside the mouth.

What should I do during the massage?

During the massage, just breathe naturally, try to be as present as possible, and make yourself as comfortable as you can.

If you’re able, try to allow your body to sink into the table and your breath to be slow and deep. Let me fully support the weight of your head, neck, arms, legs, etc. (whatever I am holding/pulling/stretching) if you can. Throughout the session, I will gently move you, or tell you what is needed (such as lifting your left foot). If you need to adjust your body to be more comfortable, please do.

What if I cry during the massage?

During a massage, the muscles and tissues experience an emotional release just as they experience a release of physical tension or unconscious, stored memory or trauma. This emotional release can manifest in several ways: a sigh, laughter, muscle twitching, or even tears. All bodies shift and release in different ways for different issues, and this changes day to day for everyone.

If I notice you are crying, I may check in verbally to assure you are feeling safe, and offer you a tissue. If you wish to share what you’re experiencing, you are most welcome to do so, but I will not ask questions about what’s happening. I will not give advice, coaching or counseling. I will never ever judge or shame you.

What if I’m feeling self-conscious about my body?

I understand. Welcome to the club. And, I’m used to working with human bodies of all genders, shapes, sizes, textures, etc. - so please rest assured that I am generally unfazed by the condition of our bodies and what bodies do. That said, I appreciate you bathing/showering before before your session, and wearing deodorant is a plus.

What if I dissociate, become overstimulated, or feel done with being touched?

That can happen, and it’s okay. If you can communicate to me what’s happening, please do. If you need me to step away from the table, move to a different part of your body, or give you still, grounding touch, please try to let me know.

A word some clients have found helpful to say is, “pause.” Sometimes, we just need a few moments to discern what our bodies are trying to tell us before we can verbalize. If speaking up feels hard or isn’t possible, please try to communicate to me in a different way to let me know that you need something to change - even if you don’t know what it is yet. You can make a noise or movement, and I will check in with you.

I’ve never had a massage and don’t know if I’ll like it, but I want to try. What is your approach?

You and I will start from where you are and work together for you to try to receive touch in the areas you are comfortable - and nowhere else. Leave on or remove whatever clothing you want. Communicate with me about what you need.

If anything is feeling ticklish, please let me know. There are ways to make ticklishness feel less so, such as using broader contact with a full palm or forearm rather than fingers or elbow; using more pressure; slowing down; you intentionally focusing on your breathing; or, you keeping your hand on my arm as I work for you to feel more grounded/in control. We can experiment together.

How will I feel after my massage?

That’s entirely individual, but most people report feeling more present, relaxed and refreshed immediately following massage. Some experience freedom from long-term aches and pains. After an initial period of feeling calm and slowed down, people often experience increased energy and vitality, as well as heightened awareness or clarity, which may last for days.

How often should I come for a massage?

Coming once will likely give you immediate physical relaxation, mental and emotional relief.

Coming regularly compounds the positive physiological effects. Your mind settles more readily each time, and you receive transformative healing through committed care and nervous system co-regulation with a trusted therapeutic partner (me). i

Are there any medical conditions that would make massage or bodywork inadvisable?

Yes. Before you begin your session, I’ll ask some general health questions. It is crucial that you inform me of any health conditions or medications you are taking. If you are under a doctor's care, it is strongly advised that you consult with them before receiving massage.

If I’m feeling unsure, or have other questions, can we chat before I book a session?

Yes, of course. If you have a question not answered here that you’d like addressed before you book a massage with me, you can DM me on Instagram or Facebook.

How can I book and pay for my service?

You can schedule your appointment by clicking the “BOOK NOW” button.

Payment is due at the time of service and paid at the front desk. Credit or debit card, cash, and Venmo are accepted.

Why do you need an intake form before the first session?

I need an intake form in order to better understand any conditions you’re living with, injuries you’ve sustained, and medications you are taking, because these directly inform the care I give. It helps us start figuring out together why you are here/what you are looking for/what you are comfortable with. It’s the first step in informed consent.

Do you offer home visits? 

No, I do not.