what to expect from our session

massage therapist working on a persons top surgery scar with two hands with person on table

i will arrive at your chosen location with all included equipment & supplies. we will assess the area chosen for the session to ensure necessary space & comfort. once ive set-up & sanitized my equipment we will have a brief conversation based on the information provided in the intake form & agree on a specialized session plan to meet your unique needs. (15 minutes)

i will then leave to wash my hands in an accessible sink while you disrobe to your comfort level & get cozy underneath the sheets in the agreed on position (prone, supine or side-lying). upon my return, i will notify you to ensure that you are prepared for me to enter the space. i will then make any necessary adjustments to the table to & ask if you have any needs or questions before we begin the session. i will ask you if you consent to touch & after you’ve consented we will begin our hands on time. (50-105 minutes)

i will end the session by gently thanking you & telling you that our time is complete. i will remove any bolsters or equipment then instruct you to take your time getting up & dressed when i leave the room to wash my hands. upon my return, i will notify you to ensure that you are prepared for me to enter the space. i will then sanitize & pack my equipment. we will end the session with a conversation based on your experience & payment. (15 minutes)

the session process is subject to change depending on needs & accessibility.

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    intake form

    please fill out an intake form to schedule a session

    Access now
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    feedback form

    please fill out a feedback form for any questions, comments or concerns

    Access Now

sliding scale model

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    consider paying less if you:

    • are transgender, gay, intersex and experience related discrimination and/or violence regularly

    • are a person who experiences racism directed at you

    • are Native American/indigenous

    • are descended from enslaved peoples

    • have regularly occurring medical expenses not covered by insurance

    • have mental health and/or addiction and/or chronic pain issues

    • have immigration-related expenses and/or undocumented

    • are an elder with limited financial support

    • are an unpaid community organizer

    • are supporting children or have other dependents

    • are a returning citizen who has been denied work due to incarceration history

    • engage in sex work

    • have significant debt

    • are eligible for public assistance

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    consider paying more if you:

    • are white

    • own the home you live in or rental properties

    • have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money

    • travel recreationally

    • have access to family wealth & resources in times of need

    • work part time by choice

    • have a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education, gender privilege, racial privilege or class background, etc.

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    other things to consider:

    this scale is intended to be a map, inviting each of us to take inventory of our financial resources & look deeper at our levels of privilege. it is a way to challenge the classist & capitalist society we live in & work towards economic justice on a local level

    “when i pay more, i know that i am helping the practitioner support themselves. when i pay in the middle, i know i am helping the practitioner cover costs. & when i pay at the bottom, i know i am letting my community hold me & support me.”

    all of these are acceptable ways of participating

    it is important to me to provide my services in accessible way for people to receive massage as part of their regular care routine, rather than a one-time ‘treat’. consider paying less on the scale if you feel that you will benefit from multiple sessions. i do not expect the same payment every session & understand that circumstances change

    do you have additional funds that you would like to use to provide bodycare for those who can’t afford it? please let me know

    sliding scale model adaption & website content credits to Nasrene Kordani of Bodywork with Nasrene, Jillian Balderson of Threshold Bodywork, Little Bird Botanicals, Ride Free Fearless Money & many others who have preceded us

    if you would like to use this model, please credit these organizations and me

testimonials

  • “The care I have received from Emerson over the past month has been life-changing. As a trans person, receiving any type of professional physical care has elicited so much anxiety that I try to avoid it as much as possible. However, receiving massage and bodywork from another trans person allowed me to be open and vulnerable, knowing that I would not be judged, questioned, or violated. I could openly talk about my top surgery scars and receive attention to them.

    Emerson treated me as a whole, complete person, and showed that both in the pre- and post- checkins as well as treating different parts of my body as part of the scar care treatment. Healing from top surgery, and the treatment of my scars and revision after, has left the residual effects of feeling medicalized and pathologized. To avoid this feeling, I neglected to seek help in healing this part of my body. Emerson’s work over the past few weeks has shown me that my chest is capable of further healing, and that I don’t have to feel dehumanized to receive this type of care.

    My mobility has improved, and my scars look healthier and happier than they have since I received my first surgery in 2019. I feel more integrated in my body, more sympathy and awe for my chest, and incredible gratitude for the safety that Emerson created.”

    -Lars (they/them)

  • “Emerson's trauma informed bodycare helped me access a deep state of nervous system healing and recovery. their style of touch during my 90 minute massage felt intuitive, caring and knowledgeable. I spoke up many times to practice asking for what I needed, and they were so supportive and responsive to my needs and self knowing.

    When they worked gently on my scars, they were sitting to my left, which is where my nurse and IV were located during my top surgery last year. Their presence as a safe trans person distinctly and somatically resolved some of the trauma I experienced in hospital. thank you so much emerson, for following your heart and offering what is clearly so natural to you.”

    -Finnley (they/them)

  • “Emerson's care and intentionality comes through in every aspect of their work. I've never felt so safe and comfortable in the hands of a bodyworker before, so it's safe to say my experience was both physically and spiritually healing. I appreciate how they take the time to sit down with you and really understand your treatment goals and to explain why they implement one technique over another. I'm grateful to have a massage therapist who is so knowledgeable about trans bodies and provides such exceptional trauma-informed care. “

    -Leo (they/them)

  • “Emerson made me feel incredibly comfortable from the very beginning. They are thoughtful and communicative about boundaries and understanding of the need to tailor privacy, touch, and the treatment in general to each individual person and how they show up that day. I always felt safe and like there was space for me on their table in a way that let me show up and profoundly relax and receive healing.

    Emerson is empathetic and clear about communicating. They not only are an active participant in guiding the conversation to get the information and understanding you need, but they also listen deeply and respond appropriately to any feedback and communication given.”

    -Noni (they/them)

  • “Your practice is excellent!!! Your work allows me to feel safe, supported, and genuinely happier. It means a lot to me to have a compassionate community member providing me with care. “

    -Cass (they/he)