Great Question. Many of us have experienced adverse circumstances that leave us feeling unsafe and even unwell. As a trauma-informed massage therapist, my treatment is focused on creating a safe environment, through space and touch, to alleviate the body of pyschological trauma that is trapped inside. Tension headaches, lower and upper back pain, and even poor breathing habits are all symptoms that can be treated with a trauma-informed massage.

Another Great Question. As a native of Philadelphia growing up in the late 80's early 90's I experienced extreme trauma related to community gun violence. Having barely escaped alive. I became obsessed with understanding the impact of trauma on the mind and body. Since then I've dedicated years of work conducting research at Drexel University on Violence Prevention and its impact on youth and adults. I am trained in the Sanctuary Model and serve as a steering committee member on the Philadelphia ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Task Force. I'm also a community consultant for a project in Philadelphia advising health systems committed to being trauma-informed. Knowing how massage has helped me manage my mental health over the years, I became a massage therapist to support people like me.

You're on a roll with these great questions! This is an easy answer. EVERYONE can benefit from a trauma-informed massage. Even children! Similar to adults, many of our young people are dealing with emotional stress, anxiety and even insomnia. What better way to show a young person that you care about their emotional development than to schedule them for a massage with you!

It's Dope Right! The logo was created from a photo that I took of my hand holding a Selenite Crystal. My graphic designer added another hand demonstrating the two hands needed to massage. The hands are then centered on the Moon (the white part) and the sun (the rays above the moon). I chose these overlapping images because 1) Crystals are an integral part of my healing. I use them regularly to balance my crown and heart chakra, 2) Each of us humanly flow in accordance to the sun and moon, 3) This logo represents my journey from a prison transportation provider to an intuitive healer.

No for real, hear me out! I know people are skeptical about the healing benefits of Crystals and not because my name is Crystal that I'm endorsing them, but these gems really work for me. I began working with Crystals in 2016 when I wanted to clear some negative energy related to a bad relationship. Meditating and using the Yoni Crystal Quartz egg, literally activated me to forgive myself and heal from that horrible choice. Since then I've used Rose Quartz to promote my own self-love, Shungite to clear negativity and help me sleep, and Unakite when I carry unease in my belly. I keep my go-to Crystals in a little jar on the side of my bed for easy access, and with the current state of my city (Philly) I've been using Shungite regularly.

Check this out. Prior to each session, I cleanse the space with sage. It's important to create a healing energetic field around the table. Especially when healing trauma. Once the client is on the table, I ask permission to set the intention of the massage with the Crystal. Once permission is granted, I use the Crystal to clear energetic blockages. Believe it or not, most blockages are found in the Crown Chakra (head). The Crystals that I like to use are Rose Quartz, which is a love stone, it encourages self-love as well as love for others. I also use Crystal Quartz and Selenite because they are overall cleansing stones. For those who have more complex blockages, I use Shungite as its properties are the most tangible on the emotional and physical level.