No, shaving is not neccessary. While basic hygiene is preferred for client and clinician health and safety, hair removal is not required. Showering prior to your massage is preferred, specifially if you have been in an enviroment with toxins such as smoke, poison ivy, chemicals, wood dust, bodiliy fluids, etc.
Not at all! In fact some bodywork modalities like CranioSacral Therapy is conducted fully clothed. If you are seeking psychotherpay in tandem with bodywork, it may be a requirement to remain fully clothed to help maintain professional boundaries. While disrobing is not required, it is preferred that you wear loose comfortable clothing to best benefit from your session.
Depends! Many clients and therapists prefer to come weekly to make the most progress on their bodywork goals. This allows the body time to rest and repair between appointments without losing its therapeutic value. As you reach your treatment goals, you can pare down to biweekly or monthly for a maintainance schedule.
Psychotherapy often starts as a once per week service. This allows the client and therapist time to build rapport, develop a treatment plan, and build momentum towards treatment goals. Depending on the severity of client symptoms and pace of progress made, services may reduce to biweekly or monthly sessions.
Many clients benefit from therapy from anywhere between six months to one year. Depending on each individual case, more or less treatment may be required to meet the client's goals.
Insurance is not currently accepted at this time for mental health therapy or massage therpay. Clients may however seek reimbursemnt rthrough their insurance plan or use HSA/FSA cards for payment.
Yes! Always double check with your specific plan to ensure services are covered. Detailed receipts can also be provided.
Yes! In fact there is research that suggests massage therapy in tandem with psychotherapy can be a powerful treatment combination and accelerate healing. Should you seek to receive both services there will be an intentional conversation with your therapist to navigate professional boundaries and expectations.
Massage therapy is an incredible treatment option in addition to other forms of therapy and medical treatments. Massage therapy is known to help with body awareness, reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, relieving stress, calming the nervous system, reducing pain, improving posture, and so much more! If you are interested in learning more you can start with the resources listed below.
Price C, Fogarty S. Touching the Mind-Exploring the Intersection of Massage and Mental Health. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2025 Sep 11;18(3):3-4. doi: 10.3822/ijtmb.v18i3.1359. PMID: 40881724; PMCID: PMC12370310. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12370310/
Rapaport MH, Schettler PJ, Larson ER, Carroll D, Sharenko M, Nettles J, Kinkead B. Massage Therapy for Psychiatric Disorders. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2018 Jan;16(1):24-31. doi: 10.1176/appi.focus.20170043. Epub 2018 Jan 24. PMID: 31975897; PMCID: PMC6519566. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6519566/#:~:text=Massage%20therapy%20may%20have%20some%20benefit%20as,quality%20and%20length%20*%20Behavior%20*%20Mood
"4 Mental Benefits of Massage Therapy". National University of Health Sciences. https://www.nuhs.edu/4-mental-benefits-of-massage-therapy/#:~:text=Massage%20therapy%20has%20been%20known,of%20improving%20their%20mental%20health.