Touch Therapy Associates

I would like to thank you for visiting our website. By doing so I can assume that you are looking for something. If pain relief or stress management is that something I hope that you will be one of the many patients and clients that have found their something at Touch Therapy Associates.

The thought never entered my mind for my first thirty seven years of this lifetime. Bagging groceries, military policeman, store detective supervisor, driving a delivery van and hospital patients, professional musician yes; massage therapist, no. Then in a split second one of two auto accident events, that have changed my life, happened.

My wife and I were travelling no more than 25 miles per hour on icy I-75 when a car clipped our rear fender. It was a very low impact, non-violent collision. No injuries were evident until the next morning when my wife felt low back pain. She suffered chronic low back pain for three years being diagnosed with 2-3 herniated discs treated with muscle relaxants, pain killers, physical therapy, chiropractic and relaxation massage therapy. All with only the shortest term relief and seeing her condition worsen following traction treatment.

After three years of avoiding suggested surgeries she began to consider it when she saw a Trigger Point therapist on a local tv talk show. She attended a lecture that evening and came home 95% pain free and able to touch her toes for the first time in three years. What happened? What had happened was that a therapist pressed on her body with his elbow on tender points that were the cause of the greater majority of her pain. We were both astounded and I became so interested that I began a journey of self study and exploration into trigger points. This lead me to a formal education in massage therapy which lead to neuromuscular therapy and orthopedic massage training and so on and the journey continues.

The Dilema

Fast forward to 2001, with thirteen years bodywork experience and ten as a massage instructor behind me, my wife and I were involved in a more serious auto accident leaving me with a fractured pelvis. I was told I would not be able to work for twelve to fourteen months but due to various treatments I received from friends and colleagues I was back to work after ten. My physical therapist and surgeon were amazed at my early recovery.

As a result of my being off work most of the massage/bodyworkers donated their services and it wasn’t until years later that I discovered that my auto insurance would have covered their fees. For some time I researched the “billing issues” and made it a habit to question my colleagues and could not find a single massage therapist who was billing insurance companies or knew the facts regarding billing. The most common response was, “Insurance won’t pay us”. In fact, I found very few people know that by state law the personal injury protection (PIP) part of their auto insurance, as well as workers’ compensation policies cover and will pay for care such as massage.

Most of you who are injured and seeking the healing benefits of massage therapy will settle for the limited massage/manual therapy utilized in most physical therapy programs or pay a massage therapist “out of pocket”. When it comes to your health you shouldn’t have to settle. You shouldn’t be burdened with the financial stress of paying for any form of treatment that you need in order to recover your health; your life. At Touch Therapy Associates we fill that need.

The Solution

We have over 30 years of experience in providing competent massage and manual therapy with a focus on pain and stress relief. We see our role, in your recovery, as complimentary to any other forms of treatment you are currently receiving and we are happy to coordinate your care with other health care professionals. We also encourage you to become an active participant on the path to fulfilling one goal; returning to being as healthy or healthier than you were before your injuries occurred.

I invite you to call for an appointment, feel the Touch Therapy difference, and see if we are that something you are looking for!

CREDENTIALS

Nationally Certified in Therapeutic
Massage and Bodywork- 1998

Certified in Orthopedic Massage by the Orthopedic Massage Education & Research Institute- 2005

Graduate of The Myomassethics Center- 1989
Instructor: Irene Gauthier, CTMI

Continuing Education
Neuromuscular Therapy NMT 1, 2, 3, 5 & 8a (Paul St. John's method)
Myofascial Release 1 (John Barnes Method)
Myofascial Release Massage (Hellerwork style)
Orthopedic Massage- 1,2 & 3 (Whitney Lowe)
Fibromyalgia Syndrome Training (Leon Chaitow, D.O.)
Polarity- Level 1 The Polarity Center (John Bodary)
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (Dr. Bruno Chickly)
CranioSacral Therapy- Level 1 (Upledger Institute)
The Assessment and Treatment of Neck Pain (Ben Benjamin, Ph.D)
The Assessment and Treatment of Low Back (Ben Benjamin, Ph.D)
Neck and Thorax Injuries Workshop (Ben Benjamin, Ph.D)
Anatomy Trains: The Myofascial Meridians (Thomas Myers)
Body Reading Posture & Movement (Thomas Myers)
Soft tissue Master Class- The Neck (Thomas Myers)
Medical Massage: Lumbar, shoulder & Cervical (Ralph Stephens, LMT,NCTMB)
Slipstream Therapy Negative Pressure Release (Eeva Vahla)
Joint Mobilization for Massage Therapists (Brian Piccolo)
plus many hours in related studies

Graduate of Irene's Myomassology Institute- 1996

Continuing Education
Neuromuscular Therapy NMT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8a & 8b (Paul St. John's method)
CranioSacral Therapy Levels 1, 2 & SER 1 (Upledger Institute)
Myofascial Massage
Feldenkrais (Movement Therapy)
Implications for the Elderly
The Assessment and Treatment of Neck Pain (Ben Benjamin, Ph.D)

Instructor of Massage Therapy at Irene's Myomassology Institute
since 1998.

Welcome

CREDENTIALS