Our practice was born out of a negative experience our owner Caitlin had with a massage therapist making a homophobic comment while she was on the table. She decided she wanted to provide a safe space for people who need it the most, including those in our LGBTQIA+ community.

We have seen firsthand how much our trans and gender nonconforming friends struggle with finding safety in day-to-day situations, and how complicated it might be for them to schedule a massage. Would the massage therapist respect their pronouns? Know what kind of draping to use? Be inclusive of all bodies on their table?

Sadly, this isn't a given. Most massage therapists don't have the education, or even the sensitivity, to properly address the needs of LGBTQIA+ clients. Which is especially unfortunate considering how badly many of us need massage therapy to address physical issues such as tight muscles, pain from binding, or post-operative swelling, as well as emotional issues stemming from the impacts of trauma and structural oppression.

Here are several ways in which we modify our practice to fit the needs of LGBTQIA+ clients:

Intake

We start every appointment with a short verbal intake, asking you basic, non-invasive questions like: Have you had a massage before? Are there areas of your body you want us to focus on or stay away from? Do you have any recent injuries or acute health conditions we need to know about? Some massage therapists ask you to fill out forms that include highly personal (and frankly, irrelevant) questions about gender and medications. We don't need to know the specific medications you're on unless it affects how your body will respond to massage (think heart medications, blood thinners, or pain meds). We don't need to know details about surgeries or treatments unless they are relevant to your session (if, for example, there is post-operative pain or swelling, or the operation was very recent). We encourage you to schedule using whatever name you want to be called, and to share your pronouns with us.

Draping

In massage school, we are taught to drape men and women's bodies differently, which forces us to make inappropriate decisions based on our assumptions about their bodies rather than their identities (because we aren't allowed to expose breast tissue, for example, but can work on an undraped male chest). To combat this, we use gender-neutral draping with all our clients, keeping the chest and stomach fully covered.

You are always welcome to wear as much clothing as you need to feel comfortable. We will either work over your clothing, or avoid that area of your body, depending on your comfort level. With all our draping, we uncover only the area of your body that we are working on.

Confidentiality, Respect, and Consent

Everything that is said in our office stays in our office. We don't discuss our clients, disclose their names, or reveal any details of their sessions with anyone else (even each other, unless there’s a safety concern). As long as we are not worried for our safety or our client's safety, we maintain complete confidentiality.  

The basis of our practice is healthy, respectful boundaries. This is reflected in the relationships we have with our clients, in the dialogue we have before or after your session, and in the work we do on the table. You are always in charge of a session. Unless you are asking us to do something we cannot ethically or legally do, we will listen to your requests. Every part of a bodywork session, from the amount of pressure used to the areas of the body worked on to the volume of the music, is within your control. We encourage our clients to ask for what they want and need. We respect all our clients, and know that as they are the ones inhabiting their bodies, they are the experts on what feels right. 

Bathrooms and Accessibility

We are in an accessible, first floor office with two entrances and three treatment rooms that can accommodate walkers and wheelchairs. There are two gender-neutral bathrooms and a handicap parking space available. Our hydraulic tables lower nearly to the ground, and one tilts so that you can sit on the table and be lowered into a lying down position. Please let us know if you have any accessibility questions or concerns.  

Tipping and Payment Policies

We don't expect tips. We want to be a regular, affordable part of your self-care regimen, and we find that the anxiety surrounding whether or not to tip and how much can be a deterrent for clients. We also know that cost can be a barrier to getting regular bodywork, and members of our community often don't have a lot of discretionary income.

We offer student and military discounts as well as a limited number of sliding scale sessions with no questions asked.

Cranial Sacral Balancing

Caitlin also offers Cranial Sacral Balancing, which is an awesome alternative to massage therapy. It is restorative work focused on guiding your body towards releasing held energy and back into positions of comfort. It is done clothed, and it is far less physically stimulating than a massage. We are encouraging a parasympathetic shift away from fight or flight in your nervous system, so she uses long holds, small movements, and gentle traction instead of sweeping massage strokes. It can help bring you out of your head and into the safety of your body in a controlled, gentle manner.