Relational Bodywork

“Touch is as vital to our existence as food. It is the first sense we develop, our first and most primal communication, and the only sense without which we cannot survive.”

-Alaine Duncan

As a therapeutic and trauma-informed bodyworker I have advanced education in anatomy and trauma physiology, am skilled in working with activation in the nervous system and always center your choices, agency and safety while in my care.

I honor your autonomy, adjust my approaches to meet your physical and emotional needs, and pick and choose tools alongside you in order to support your unique lived experience.

Together, we will listen to the wisdom that your body holds.

Healthy physical contact supports healthy emotional connection for lifelong resilient attachment and bonding.

When development and resilience is thwarted by relational wounding, illness or shock trauma, maladaptive patterns arise within our physiology.

Attuned touch work supports and promotes the healing of psychological and emotional processes that have manifested physically through the physiology, structures and usage of the body.

While touch can often times be soothing and regulating, it can also be activating and overwhelming. My approach to bodywork acknowledges and honors this delicate nervous system potential.

If activation should occur, I have the knowledge, skills and desire to provide appropriate care that can help you feel supported through whatever may arise in our sessions.

Relational bodywork can offer both physical and emotional support.

I employ a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach to relieving pain, mobility issues, dysfunction, injury and stress in musculature, connective tissue, viscera and joints.

My approach seeks to restore structural balance, functional motility, and increase fluidity, flexibility, ease and coherency throughout the entire body.

I pride myself in my ability to listen to, advocate for and educate my clients. Your needs, treatment goals, desired outcomes, as well as what and how you are carrying in your life greatly matter to me.

None of this is possible without an awareness and reverence for the relational dynamics involved in somatic therapies.

Akin to the physiological conversation between a caregiver and an infant, relational attunement allows for the “magic” to unfold.

As our relationship and work together develops, my understanding of your body will deepen. This will allow for more refined attunement which allows your body to be met, heard, and deeply cared for.

My work is slow, intentional, purposeful and intuitive, with your safety in mind, always.

As we work together, we will learn your therapeutic threshold, which can change session to session, depending on how life has shaped you in the interim.

Your therapeutic threshold involves knowing the cues of both defense and safety in your soma.

Together, we will attune to the language of your body and learn how to best meet your needs on the treatment table.

Often times our mind has an agenda of how we may need to “fix” this, or “change” that. I find that if we listen to the wisdom that your body holds, we tend to get a better sense of how your body needs tending to.

My approach is not one size fits all. I seek to listen, assess and address each individual’s needs throughout our time together.

Working within your body’s natural limits calms the neuromuscular system and encourages the muscles to “release.” A braced, defensive body may not be able to fully receive touch and is not able to properly metabolize certain pressure, positions, or postures. More pressure doesn’t always equal better!

In fact, if you find your body bracing in one area in order to receive contact in another, we’ve likely contributed to or created a pattern of defense rather than ease and safety, inhibiting your system from tension relief and compensation patterns.

If you experience tension or bracing patterns, we may need to bring some embodied safety to your system before further manual work can be received.

I will support you in communicating and expressing your yes’s and no’s in ways that feel right and possible for you.

Relational Bodywork might be helpful if you . . .

… experience chronic pain or tension patterns

… experience migraines or TMJ dysfunction

… oscillate between feeling totally ON & totally OFF, with little time in between

… are exhausted, overwhelmed or burnt out

… are feeling disconnected, shut down or numb

… are not sure of your yes’s and no’s regarding your body & touch

… have an old or recent accident/injury that needs support

… have vestibular issues, feel clumsy, unbalanced, or unsure of where you are in space

… have chronic digestive issues (constipation, diarrhea, reflux, bloating, abdominal pain)

… experience anxiety and/or depression

… experience insomnia or restlessness

… have challenges feeling good, or even neutral, in your body

… are preparing for or healing from a surgery or other medical treatment

… are preparing for or healing from pregnancy, birth, miscarriage, or abortion

… have an autoimmune condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, long-covid, or other complex, multi-system syndrome

… are tired of cookie-cutter & mis-attuned bodywork

… desire care that is catered to you and your body

Relational bodywork serves all bodies, whether they identify as needing trauma informed care, or not.

Every body deserves to inhabit a more secure way of being in the world. 

  • While I do hold licensure as a therapeutic massage therapist, my approach differs from a ‘traditional massage’ session and has evolved with my advanced education and training.

    Relational bodywork addresses multiple body systems, whereas traditional massage therapy if often working with the musculo-skeletal system. The goal of traditional massage therapy is often to manually relax, release, or lengthen tissues to increase overall function and decrease stress or pain in the body. It does not address the underlying survival patterns in the physiology and/or nervous system.

    Relational bodywork, however, does address the underlying survival patterns in the nervous system and is specifically designed to work with the survival energy that may no longer be serving us. This approach focuses on supporting coherence and capacity, rather than “manual repair.”

    Relational bodywork sessions take place fully clothed, with the client participating actively in the session. Traditional massage is often done with the client undressed, under sheets, in a more passive role.

  • It depends!

    The frequency and duration of our work together will depend on many factors: your therapeutic goals, the nature of your needs, if you’re receiving other therapies, what you have time for and what you can afford, etc.

    Longer sessions provide ample time for your body to unwind, allowing for deeper work. However, shorter treatments can still be very therapeutic, and may be better suited for some.

    After an initial visit and throughout our relationship, we can fine tune a treatment plan that works for you.

    Information about session lengths and rates can be found here.

  • We all have insecurities! Bodies go through a lot, and come in all shapes, sizes and colors. I’ve yet to come across any two bodies that are alike.

    You name it - I’ve likely seen it, heard it, smelled it, or worked around it!

    If you don’t want me to see your feet, then I never will.

    If you forgot to shave your legs, I don’t care.

    If you’re gassy, let it out.

    Snoring, farting, crying, talking often, staying quiet - that’s a regular day at the office for me.

    Whatever it is, we can talk, or not talk about it, together.

    Your body. Your home. Your choice.

  • Yes!

    The linens are laundered with non-toxic, skin-sensitive, and fragrant free detergent.

    Hand soaps provided are non-toxic and scent free.

    I do not wear scents, nor do I diffuse oils or burn candles in the space. I ask that all clients be aware and mindful of our scent free space.

    When needed, I employ hypoallergenic oils and creams that are unscented and contain no drying alcohol, mineral oil, nut oils, or fragrance.

    If you have a concern about a specific allergen, please contact me before your appointment.

  • Click here to read about current infectious illness policies.

  • Initial appointments are 90 minutes in length and held over Zoom.

    During this time we will meet and greet, go over a bit of your history, and discuss your desired treatment goals and outcomes, likes, dislikes and preferences.

    After that, we will spend some time getting to know your nervous system through a guided mapping exercise. This activity helps us both learn a bit about your body and its experiences. This time will provide a shared and personalized nervous system language, which is the foundation of our work together.

    Before relational bodywork is implemented into our treatment plan and time together, some preparatory Somatic Experiencing sessions will likely need to take place.

    Head over to my contact page to reach out and get started.

  • “As someone with an extensive trauma history and complicated relationship with touch, I am so appreciative to have found Errin. Her skills, sense of humor and warmth have allowed me to receive much needed bodywork."

    ~LA

  • "Errin is highly skilled in bodywork, is an amazing educator and has such a calming presence. I leave her space feeling peaceful and more embodied everytime."

    ~SG

  • "It is not an exaggeration to say that meeting Errin changed my life. Not only have I experienced the best bodywork I've ever had, but I've been introduced to so many amazing resources through her. I cannot say enough good things about Errin!"

    ~AL

  • "Intuitive, multi-skilled, extremely thorough and consistent. Errin meets me where I'm at and customizes each session to meet my needs. Errin's treatments increase my awareness of imbalances and areas of my body that need support, movement and attention. I leave each appointment more knowledgable and aware of what my body needs for balance and health. "

    ~JC

  • "Having been a client of Errin for several years, I have been amazed at her level of professionalism, knowledge and continued education. Going through various surgeries during the time I've known her, Errin has always responded with compassion and the appropriate therapy and massage techniques. I leave every session, relaxed, renewed and looking forward to the next one."

    ~SB

  • "I am a Physical Therapist, and Errin has been my somatic therapist for 10 years. She has master level skills in working with muscle and soft tissue and an excellent understanding of anatomy."

    ~RS