May 31, 2025
the short answer? a lot of different things.
i made this visual to show just how many reasons someone might come to see me for therapeutic massage, and how common some of these conditions are in my practice:
the most common conditions i work with
some of the most frequent conditions i work with include:
depression & anxiety
POTS
hypermobility
chronic pain
trauma and PTSD
none of this is surprising, because these issues show up more often in certain populations, and my clients are all neurodivergent, queer, disabled, or all of the above, which are all at high risk for these conditions.
massage doesn’t cure any of these conditions, but it can make a real difference in how someone feels in their body day to day. pain, tension, nervous system dysregulation... all of that can be supported through bodywork that’s trauma-informed and client-centered.
post-surgical support
i also work with people recovering from surgery. some common ones i see are spinal fusions (often related to ehlers-danlos syndrome or hypermobility) and top surgery (since i work with many trans clients).
massage during surgical recovery can:
reduce scar tissue restrictions
increase blood flow and circulation
help reconnect to sensation at the surgical site
as always, this is done with care, consent, and timing that matches where someone is in their healing process.
chronic pain relief
chronic pain is probably the most common thread across my client base. some folks have fibromyalgia, others are dealing with migraines, nerve pain like sciatica or thoracic outlet syndrome, work-related injuries, or just living in a body that needs extra support.
here's a quote from one of my clients who deals with chronic pain:
“jude did an amazing job helping me out during a chronic pain flare-up. my body felt significantly better afterwards for a solid week and a half, which is a huge deal for someone who is in pain every day!”
— faith f.
it might not be a cure, but the relief is real. and for many clients, it’s the first time in a long time their body has felt ease in years, even if just for a while.
massage for trauma and nervous system regulation
for clients with PTSD, cPTSD, or any kind of trauma history, massage offers more than just muscle work. it can be a way to:
soothe the nervous system
practice consent, boundary setting, and safe touch
experience care without having to talk about everything
trauma-informed massage creates space for you to be fully in control of your body and your experience. often, that in itself is healing.
so, what brings people to my trauma-informed massage therapy practice?
sometimes it’s pain. sometimes it’s anxiety. sometimes it's needing to know you'll be safe and your identity will be respected. sometimes it’s about our innate human need for gentle, grounding touch. often, it’s a mix of all of these things and more.
if you’re dealing with any of the conditions mentioned here, or if your body just needs support in ways the medical system isn’t offering, massage might be able to help.
i work with folks who are queer, trans, neurodivergent, disabled, chronically ill, recovering from surgery, living with trauma, or just trying to get through the day in a body that hurts. if that’s you, you’re not alone.
if you’re wondering whether this kind of care could help you, feel free to reach out. i’d love to work with you.