Chair Massage | Words from the Massage Therapist

Recently I spoke with Jen Eckard, CHD Health & Wellness's chair massage therapist, and she had this to say about her experience working with our clients:

 

"It has been really wonderful to give seated massage at CHD. I've been really touched by the happy and grateful response of the clients, and I grin when I hear them walking around announcing that they've just gotten a massage. It brings massage back into the context of being a simple human thing, a way to connect and care for each other, rather than a luxury for a privileged few. Sometimes I feel that I'm giving safe, caring touch to someone who has rarely experienced it in their lives, and that is truly good for the soul. I also really enjoy being in the CHD environment; the staff are clearly putting so much thought and care into the programs, and I'm sure it makes a huge difference in the lives of the clients."

 

 

Chair Massage Flier

Chair Massage Clinic for Clients

In January we will begin offering a monthly chair massage clinic at each of our two locations. Clients will be able to sign-up for a 15-minute chair massage with a skilled LMT. In her practice, the massage therapist states that she "meets each individual with presence and compassion, giving her/him a session that responds to their unique needs and offering him/her tools to support positive shifts in their lives outside of the session." The massage therapist practices nurturing relaxation massage, mindful deep tissue massage, and energy work. She draws upon her experience with meditation, Yoga, and ayurveda.

Massage is thought to be especially beneficial for clients with mental illness. In a 2005 pilot study using interview data before and self-report instruments after completing a brief program of complementary therapy accompany ongoing pyshcotherapy, the study found that the integration of complementary therapies into community mental health practice holds promise for enhancing mental health outcomes and improving quality of life for long-term users of mental health services (J Altern Complement Med. 2005 Jun;11(3):569-74).