After 25 years in the allopathic medical field, I decided to become a Massage Therapist when I was able to overcome fibromyalgia, headaches and some other lingering issues through massage and energy therapies. When I personally experienced the benefits of massage and energy therapies, I wanted to share that. I graduated from the Lancaster School of Massage, Pa. in 1995. However, my experience and education in different kinds of holistic healing and wellness actually began long before that in 1968.
I have studied and practiced many modalities over the past twenty years. Not all are listed on the services page. In addition to a successful full-time massage and energy therapy practice, I have also taught at several massage schools, was former Clinical Coordinator of Massage and Body Therapies at Wellspan's Center for MindBody Health(York Hospital, Pa) and featured speaker at numerous healthcare venues, women's wellness events, and schools such as Bucknell, Penn State, York College and Harrisburg Area Community College. I was an original member of the program Advisory Committee for the Baltimore School of Massage(York, Pa campus) and went on to implement and teach the Business course there, as well as continuing education. My classes in Sound Therapy(Sound, Voice and Music for health ), Ethics, Self-Care, Business and all levels of Usui Reiki are currently in temporary retirement due to personal circumstances. I do still mentor a handful of students, and give public presentations as time allows. See my services page for upcoming workshops/playshops and venues. I continue to see clients at multiple locations. Affiliations include: American Massage Therapy Assn., Sound Healers Assn., International Sound Therapy Assn., Harmonic Therapy Association, Discover Sound Network, International Health Coaches Association, and a minister in the Universal Light Church. I am Licensed in the State of Pa. in Massage Therapy, license #1817. I am also a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. (AADP)
Being semi-retired, I still enjoy mentoring and sharing my platform with others getting started in teaching and/or practicing sound, energy and massage therapies. My classes are on a first-come basis since keeping the classes small is important to the way I teach: I believe in giving each student as much personal oversight and time as possible. For this reason, I have been offering other practitioners the opportunity to work with me. Most of them have gone on to teach their own classes successfully throughout the south central Pennsylvania area. It has been richly rewarding to see them go on to develop and teach their own classes. I am proud and happy to refer you to any one of them! Former students may audit any class they have already taken and completed successfully with me, at no additional fee, on a limited basis as space may or may not be available in any given class.
As a professional vocalist and former worship music director combined with the education and experience of being a holistic healer, another passion is sharing what I have learned about the creative, therapeutic power of sound, voice and music. Combined with the restorative power of words and healing touch, others may experience that same transformative power to choose to live their own best lives. I am a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and have completed their second year Immersion program. My book, Soundly Nourished: Using the Energies of Sound and Food for Health was self-published in November 2012. It was written to help people get started in making more informed choices about how to live and nourish themselves in simple, healthier ways. In addition, I have written numerous articles for local and regional publications over the past 20 years relating to massage, stress-reduction, self-care, holistic business coaching and other health-related topics. I have written and completed updated numerous revisions of my own instruction manuals for Reiki I and II Intensive, Master and Teacher levels, ReikiSound, Sonic Massage and Sound Therapy: An Introduction to the Fundamentals of Using Sound, Voice and Music in the Healing Arts. All of this material is copyrighted, trademarked and/or registered with the Pa. State Fictitious Name filing. Please contact me for the names of those with permission to utilize my curriculum in whole or in part.
I have discovered during many years in practice that often a client will come to me for a particular kind of session and we often realize that integrating another therapy enhances the session. When you are willing and open to doing what you need to do for a healthy, happy life, it often means trying something new perhaps in combination with what you already know. It may mean working collaboratively with someone in utilizing a variety of methods to accomplish your healthy lifestyle goals. No one way works equally well for all people. We will work together with specific therapies and programs that work best specifically for you. I will listen to what you are saying. My many years of taking health histories has taught me to pay attention to what is being said as well as what is not. Sometimes my clients are surprised when a sound therapy session is made even more effective by a few minutes of neuromuscular therapy at their tight shoulders....or vice versa. It's up to you to decide. No one modality, be it energy therapies or massage therapies or sound therapies is the end-all and be-all to everyone. I would be wary of someone insisting that. It simply isn't true nor ethical. There are many ways, methods and modalities. We are specific individuals as to how our bodies heal, how we learn and how we live. If I don't offer the modality you are looking for, please feel free to contact me as I am happy to refer you to any one of the virtuous therapists with whom I network for massage, bodywork, energy/Reiki, sound, or nutrition.
If you are interested in having me speak or teach a class at your next event, a more detailed bio including my educational background, testimonials, list of venues, classes and my approach to massage and integrative healing therapy can be provided. Please call or email with the date and details of your event, and the way in which you prefer to be contacted. I reserve the right to approve final copy of any information about me, my services or classes that you use in any format. All written material, manuals and book are protected by copyright and may not be used without my written or verbal consent and accurate written acknowledgement pertaining to specific content.
For further information on my work in holistic health counseling and additional workshops, I invite you to peruse my other website: www.soundwisehealth.com or Soundwise Health on facebook.
N A M A S T E and Many Blessings