What should you expect?

Location

My office address is 995 NW Circle Blvd, Corvallis, OR. I am on the north east corner of Circle and Highland in the office complex with the NW Health and Healing Center. My office will be to your left as you enter the parking lot and you may park to either the left or right unless there is a sign reserving a place. Look for a wreath on the door.

Focus

I will send you a health history form by email as soon as you make your appointment, and I'll review it before you come in. We will have a discussion about what your goals are and come up with a plan based on that. Please let me know if you do not receive a link to  an online health history form for your first visit. Please do fill out the information about past surgeries, including any information about mesh or other medical structures used for repairs, and medications. This helps us protect you.

When you come in

Each time you come in, we will go over what your goals are for your session.  What you currently feel may not have been what you were experiencing when you filled out the health form. I will begin your session with a general listening of your body to see where to begin. Sometimes our mind and our body have different ideas about what is most important. We will ask both.

What to wear

Wear stretchy clothing that allows movement. Depending on the goals of the session we may do specific work where you are sitting or on the table.  For massage work on the table I will step out of the room to let you undress and get under the sheet and blanket on the massage table before knocking to come in. I will only undrape the area I am working on.

Things I might use 

I use jojoba oil, which is a non allergenic wax which is close to your skin's natural oil. Also hydrocolator steam packs, which provide moist heat. Fascia responds very well to moist heat, and this can speed up bodywork for tight fascia in areas like the IT band along the outside of the upper leg.

How much pressure

Each person has a different perception of pressure and pain, and my intention is to work with your body at the level you are comfortable and which is also effective. 

When working with a particular area to address pain, tension, or restriction, I try to fly under the radar of pain.  It is a fine line which will require communication. If we create a pain response in your body, it activates your nervous system and the muscles will tense up and be less responsive to treatment, so we like to stay at 'working edge', where the pressure feels effective but not painful. I will check in with you. If an area is tender I will just hold pressure until the tenderness gets more comfortable.  Neuromuscular therapy works with the nervous system to make changes in your body.

Close of a session

At the end of the session, after you have gotten dressed and opened the door, we will check in again. Pain or restrictions that have been present for a while may take a several of sessions to work with. Massage therapy is a powerful partner with other therapies such as physical therapy, yoga, acupuncture, and health coaching. 

Payment

I accept cash, checks, and credit and debit cards.