Frequently Asked Questions
What is Occupational Therapy? How is it Different From Physical Therapy?
Occupational Therapy is a profession that focuses on the whole person. We are trained to assess each area of your life to determine what aspects are limiting your ability to perform at your best. The physical being, emotional being and cognitive being. I like to take that one step further and look at your connection to yourself and the universe or higher power. Your personal values, beliefs, and interests all interconnect to create who you are and how you function in your world.
Physical therapy primarily focuses on the physical body and movement and the limitations it creates to decrease your ability to function in the world as you would like.
How many sessions are recommended?
We will discuss at the end of your initial appointment my recommendations for treatment. The frequency I recommend is highly varied depending on the condition being addressed.
What can I expect from a session?
You will lay fully clothed on a massage table during the session. I begin by gently touching various parts of your head and body to assess and monitor the rhythm of the fluid that flows around your central nervous system and assess the overall muscle tension and spinal alignment of your body.
I then use my hands to locate areas of weak fluid flow and tissue tightness tracing these areas through the body to the original source of dysfunction. Through delicate manual techniques the areas are released of tension creating improved alignment and function of the central nervous system decreasing pain.
What you experience from your own session is highly individual. Many clients experience deep relaxation, feelings of warmth or gentle pulsing in the areas that I am treating.
You may notice changes in your body after the session as the body continues to integrate the work.
What is craniosacral therapy and how can it help me?
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle hands on technique that can create dramatic improvements in your life. It releases tension deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction, and improve whole-body health and performance.
Few body structures have more influence over your health and well-being than your central nervous system. And few body systems have more impact on your central nervous system than the craniosacral system – the soft tissues and fluid that protect your brain and spinal cord.
You endure stress and strains, and your body absorbs them. But your body can only handle so much tension before the tissues begin to tighten, and potentially affect the brain and spinal cord. Unfortunately this can compromise the function of the central nervous system and nearly every other system in your body.
CST releases the tensions to allow the entire body to relax and self-correct. Using a gentle touch, starting with about the weight of a nickel, practitioners evaluate the strain patterns in your body. Then they use distinctive light-touch techniques to release restrictions they find.
By freeing the central nervous system to perform at its best, CST has been shown to naturally reduce pain and stress, strengthen your resistance to disease and enhance your health and well-being .Excerpt from Upledger brochure
Who do you work with? What conditions do you treat?
I specialize in working with adolescents and adults who have physical and emotional pain issues such as:
- headaches
- neck and shoulder pain
- joint pain
- TMJ
- digestive issues
- poor sleep
- fibromyalgia
- chronic fatigue
- anxiety
- high stress levels
- depression
Physical pain has emotional components and origins that traditional medical practices overlook. We will investigate how and why your emotions contribute to the physical pain and I will teach you techniques to help your body let go of it.
My wish for all my clients is to find peace.
Peace within your body, your mind and your past to be able to live more fully in the present, allowing you to accomplish your life fulfilling tasks.
Do you accept insurance?
I am happy to announce that I am now accepting Anthem BC/BS for my services. I anticipate that eventually I will be adding other health insurance providers, but at this time, I accept HSA (Health Savings Accounts) and private pay clients outside of BC/BS.
What forms of payment do you accept?
I accept cash, Venmo, Paypal and Health Savings Account payments at this time. It is possible that I will expand to more payment options in the future.
What is a Bio-Mat?
From the Bio Mat website:
“The BioMat is very different from a standard heating pad. It does not contain heating coils, or any point sources of heat, so it does not present the practical dangers associated with heating pads. It also has EMF protection built-in. And yet, the BioMat can transfer far more heat into the body, compared to a heating pad. This is because the heat transfer is radiant, not conductive. And since the heat is distributed evenly throughout the body, rather than just on the skin, there is great therapeutic value. The radiant heat is produced by hot crystals that cover the surface of the mat, and there are settings to control the desired temperature of the crystals. The crystals are warmed by a flexible conductive heating plate, which was developed originally by NASA in order to safely warm space stations and other space vehicles.
Users benefit from reduced joint and muscle pain, commonly lower back pain/ stiffness or arthritis. Also it improves microcirculation on the cellular level so it quickens the healing or recovery process. It boosts the immune system, provides stress reduction, and promotes deep rejuvenating relaxation.”
What are Essential oils?
Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants. The oils capture the plant’s scent and flavor, or “essence.” Unique aromatic compounds give each essential oil its characteristic essence. Essential oils are obtained through distillation (via steam and/or water) or mechanical methods, such as cold pressing. Once the aromatic chemicals have been extracted, they are combined with a carrier oil to create a product that’s ready for use.
Inhaling the aromas from essential oils can stimulate areas of your limbic system, which is a part of your brain that plays a role in emotions, behaviors, sense of smell, and long-term memory. The limbic system also plays a role in controlling several unconscious physiological functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
There are more than 90 types of essential oils, each with its own unique smell and potential health benefits.
Here’s a list of 10 popular essential oils and the health claims associated with them:
- Peppermint: used to boost energy and aid digestion
- Lavender: used to relieve stress
- Sandalwood: used to calm nerves and help with focus
- Bergamot: used to reduce stress and improve skin conditions like eczema
- Rose: used to improve mood and reduce anxiety
- Chamomile: used to improve mood and relaxation
- Ylang-Ylang: used to treat headaches,nausea , and skin conditions
- Tea Tree: used to fight infections and boost immunity
- Jasmine: used to help with depression, childbirth, and libido
- Lemon: used to aid digestion, mood, headaches, and more
Source: Healthline magazine.