Licensed Massage Practitioner MA4019

Registered Counselor RC49012

Background:

In 1986 while on a break from working on my MA in Psychology at Antioch University in Seattle I began having dreams at night about massage even though I had never received massage before and knew little about it. These dreams led me to sign up for training at Brian Utting's School of Massage in Seattle and I graduated and became licensed in the spring of 1988 and have been practicing in Seattle ever since. Giving thousands of massages and taking hundreds of hours of additional workshops has given me a wide and deep pool of resources to draw upon in my work.

Influences:

Also while at Antioch I was introduced to Arny Mindell's Process Work (also known as Dreambody Work, or Process Oriented Psychology) which is a body centered approach with roots in Quantum Physics, Taoism, Shamanism, and Jungian Psychology. This approach has been an ongoing source of fascination, learning, inspiration, and transformation for me these past 24 years and it deeply influences every aspect of my life and work. In January 2009 I received a Certificate in Process Work from the PW Institute in Portland, Oregon.

Other sources that influence and inspire me are my life long love of art and creativity (I majored in Fine Arts at the University of Colorado and have experience using various art therapies), and a Sufi based healing philosophy called Raphaelite Work developed by Himayat Inayati.

Traits and Philosophy:

My lively curiosity, a deep respect for people's uniqueness and amazing experiences, and a fundamental reverence and awe for Life and nature greatly influence how I approach and interact with people.

I deeply believe that all symptoms and problems have the potential to be our allies and can bring meaning and richness and relief to our lives if we explore them with curiosity and respect.

Fundamentally I believe that healing already exists within each of us and is not something imparted to us from outside ourselves. My intention as a "healer" is to bring my skills and presence to help orient people to the Life, Teacher, Healing and Creativity that exists within each of us.

I have no particular protocol that I use in every session or with every person. I am happy to focus on pain relief, injury recovery, relaxation, breath, awareness, creative expression (using visual art, movement, writing, or sound), or whatever needs you have in the moment. Sessions can consist entirely of hands on massage, Craniosacral work, or Process Work (on or off the table), or any combination of these things. My bottom line is to be of service to each person and I welcome input and feedback.

Interests:

I have been swimming regularly since 1984 (swam competitively as a kid), and I love to walk, hike, observe and absorb the natural world, wrestle with personal, community, and global problems, do Kundalini Yoga, read (all sorts of things!), write, "do art", listen to music, socialize, sleep, dream, meditate, and meet each moment with delight. I also enjoy being a hospice volunteer for Group Health Hospice in Seattle.

Background:

MASSAGE THERAPY, CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY, and PROCESSWORK are beneficial for people of all ages from young children to the most senior Seniors, as well as pregnant women, athletes, musicians/artists/actors/dancers, people recovering from emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, people who have been injured or have acute or chronic pain, as well as people who already feel good but enjoy feeling even better!

MASSAGE and hands on body work can help diminish Sleep Problems, Digestive Problems, Headaches, Back Pain, Neck Pain, Strain/Sprain Pain, Jaw pain, Joint Pain, Muscle Pain, Postural Problems, Trauma Related Problems, and much more.

Background:

PROCESS WORK is an affirming, non-pathologically oriented way of increasing your awareness of what you are noticing in and around you in the moment in order to both enrich your experience of being alive as well as to make symptoms and problems feel less troublesome.This approach assists you in discovering, trusting and following the wisdom ipherent within you.

Whether offering sessions on or off the table, my primary aim is to serve and be present with you and to tailor sessions to your particular needs and comfort level. The bottom line is that you leave the session feeling supported and enriched and on some level more at ease with your life and your body.

Background:

Some people like being quiet during massage sessions. Others like to talk about whatever is on their minds whether it be the daily news, dreams, or personal matters. Some want my verbal input and suggestions and guidance while others prefer processing inwardly. Others don't want to process at all and simply want a mini vacation to fully relax and not think about anything. Some people fall asleep. Some people cry or laugh or twitch or shake or sweat or snore. I welcome and honor whatever emerges.

While I have been practicing since 1988 and have hundreds of hours of training and many tools and skills to offer, I approach each person with respect and curiosity and trust that together we will discover what is most needed in each session rather than relying on a rigid formulaic treatment plan. I strive to notice and follow signals and feedback in the moment and look to these for guidance. I love my work and feel honored to meet every person who comes my way.