Reiki is a modality that uses energy to help reduce anxiety, restore balance, reduce stress, and help release trauma stored in the body. Reiki promotes a relaxing and healing environment that helps allow the body to reset. This gentle and effective modality uses universal life force energy by laying hands gently on or above the body to balance the chakras or major energy centers.

Clients remain fully clothed through a Reiki session, making it a safe modality for those not comfortable with other types of bodywork. Reiki is used as a trusted modality in many cancer hospitals and medical centers around the world, and according to a recent study conducted a Harvard and published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, “statistically significant improvements were observed for all outcome measures, including positive effect, negative effect, pain, drowsiness, tiredness, nausea, appetite, shortness of breath and over all well-being” (Dyer, Baldwin, & Rand, 2022).

Jennifer has been a Reiki Master-Teacher for 16 years and during that time has taught hundreds of students in all levels of Reiki.

Reference: Dyer, N. L., Baldwin, A. L., & Rand, W. L. (2019). A Large-Scale

Effectiveness Trial of Reiki for physical and psychological health. the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine/Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 25(12), 1156–1162.

Oncology massage is a specialized form of massage designed to safely address the unique needs of individuals during treatment and beyond. A skilled oncology massage therapist will adapt massage to ensure the massage is safe, while still providing all the benefits of a traditional massage session. Adjustments will be made to address issues such as compromised skin integrity, bone metastasis, low platelet counts, lymphedema, and medical devices such as ports and ostomies. Positioning can be adjusted to ensure maximum comfort and safety after radiation, chemotherapy, and surgeries.

Research has shown that massage therapy can be particularly beneficial to clients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Research also suggests that massage therapy can help mitigate some of the negative side effects of treatment, including nausea, fatigue, and anxiety. Each session is personalized for maximum comfort and efficacy, ensuring a blissfully relaxing experience tailored to the individual.

Jennifer has extensive experience and training in oncology massage and has started the massage therapy program on multiple hospice teams. Jennifer was also part of the integrative medicine team at Yale New Haven Hospital and is a nationally certified hospice and oncology massage educator.

What is trauma-informed massage therapy? It involves offering choices and input from clients so they may regain agency around touch to their bodies. The goal of trauma-informed massage is to ensure the physical and emotional safety of the client and to work with the therapist to control decisions about their massage treatment.

Clothing can remain on, positioning can be adjusted, and clients will decide what areas of the body will be worked on. Informed consent and creating a place to receive safe and relaxing bodywork is another goal. Trauma-informed massage does not take the place of traditional therapy but can be a complement to it.