Psychiatric Services Alternative Medicine

Karen Geer, LMT earned her degree from Stautzenberger College and Harmony Path School in 2007. She provides massages that soothe muscles, heals soreness, improves joint movement and stretching, reduces tension and stress, removes toxins and improves circulation. She specializes in Swedish Massage, Aromatherapy Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Pressure Point Massage, Cold Therapy Massage, Joint Movement, Reflexology, Hot Stone Massage, Couples Massage, Chair Massage, Fertility Massage, Pre & Peri Natal Massage, Infant Massage, Body Polish & Body Wrap Treatment, Foot/Hand Treatment with paraffin.

According AMTA, massage helps both physically and mentally.

Research in massage therapy has been ongoing for more than 120 years. Experts agree that massage therapy has an amazing effect on your nervous system. When massage therapy activates your body's parasympathetic nervous system, it counteracts your body's negative response to stress, relaxing muscle tension and allowing your heart rate, blood pressure and circulation to return to normal. Massage therapy also helps you become more aware of your body and your unconsciously held tensions. As you become more aware of your body, you will begin to recognize tension as it builds during the day so that you can consciously release it before it can have a negative effect on your body. Over the years research has demonstrated the enormous benefits of massage therapy from treating chronic diseases and physical injuries, to alleviating the stress of our fast paced lifestyles. Modern life, computers, works, stress, all cause a lot of modern 'sickness' such as back pain, neck pain, stiff shoulders, headaches. Massage can provide comfort and soothing for releasing stress. Today, many extended health benefits programs include massage therapy in their roster of allowed treatments.

Stress-related disorders make up between 80-and-90 percent of the ailments that bring people to family practice physicians. Stress related complaints such as headaches, backaches, neck pain, eyestrain, poor concentration, anxiety, depression, irritability, anger, high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers as well as, physical and emotional exhaustion. Some experts think that more than ninety percent of illness is stress related. Nothing ages us faster than high stress. Many Americans think of massage as a luxury, not something their body actually needs—but they’re mistaken. Massage therapy has real physical, mental and emotional benefits. Researchers are finding that massage can supplement standard medicine in treating a broad range of conditions including chronic pain in the back, neck and shoulders; tension headache; hypertension; sleep problems, arthritis, and depression. Many patients report that they feel more relaxed and less stressed after receiving a massage. Some say that they return to work more focused, energized and better able to solve problems.

So, what is massage therapy? Massage is one of the oldest, simplest forms of therapy and is a system of stroking, pressing and kneading different areas of the body to relieve pain, relax, stimulate, and tone the body. Massage also aids digestion, stimulates blood circulation and assists the lymphatic system, improving the elimination of waste throughout the body. To many, a massage is a luxury that relieves body aches and stress for the duration of the massage and quickly brings about a feeling of overall well-being. What most of us don't realize is that the benefits of massage therapy are extensive and can last long after the massage is over.

The benefits of massage begin, but don't end in infancy. Bulimia and other eating disorders suffered by adolescents and young people can be countered with massage, providing them with comfort, reassurance and a better self-image. Massage aids adults suffering from depression; anxiety, hypertension and poor sleep patterns. In old age, massage counters the sense of loneliness and isolation, and can delay the onset of senility.

Increase the Benefits with Frequent Visits Taking part in regularly scheduled massage therapy can play a big part in how healthy you’ll be and how youthful you’ll remain. Accumulated stress is one of the causes of illness and can contribute to rapid ageing. Budgeting time and money for regular massages is an investment in your health. Though you may think of massage as being pampered it doesn’t make your massage sessions any less therapeutic. Consider massage as a necessary component of your health and wellness plan, and work with your practitioner to establish a treatment schedule that best meets your needs.

Research has verified that:

Office workers massaged regularly were more alert, performed better and were less stressed than those who weren't massaged. Massage therapy decreased the effects of anxiety, tension, depression, pain, and itching in burn patients. Abdominal surgery patients recovered more quickly after massage. Premature infants who were massaged gained more weight and fared better than those who weren't. Autistic children showed less erratic behavior after massage therapy. Medical school students at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School who were massaged before an exam showed a significant decrease in anxiety and respiratory rates, as well as a significant increase in white blood cells and natural killer cell activity, suggesting a benefit to the immune system. Women who had experienced the recent death of a child were less depressed after receiving therapeutic massage, according to preliminary results of a study at the University of South Carolina. An increasing number of research studies show massage reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxes muscles, improves range of motion, and increases endorphins (enhancing medical treatment). Although therapeutic massage does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate weak, inactive muscles and, thus, partially compensate for the lack of exercise and inactivity resulting from illness or injury. It also can hasten and lead to a more complete recovery from exercise or injury. Preliminary results suggested cancer patients had less pain and anxiety after receiving therapeutic massage at the James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio. A hospital study conducted on 52 children suffering from depression or adjustment problems in the USA revealed that those who were given a daily back massage for five days were less depressed and anxious than the control group who just watched relaxing videos. It was also found that the ones who had undergone massage therapy slept better after the treatment. Discover how you can use Massage Therapy to promote healing in your life.

Mental and Emotional Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massage is one of the best things you can do to reduce stress and stress related symptoms!
Relieves mental stress.
Induces mental relaxation.
Revitalizes your busy mind.
Fosters peace of mind.
Cultivates a relaxed state of mental alertness.
Enhances your capacity for calm, clear thinking and creativity.
Improves concentration.
Improves ability to concentrate for longer periods of time.
Balances the nervous system.
Promotes deep relaxation.
Satisfies needs for caring nurturing, touch.
Promotes better sleep
Enhance the quality of your sleep.
Encourages your awareness and appreciation of the mind-body connection.
Fosters a feeling of well-being.
Creates a feeling of increased energy flow.
Enhances positive self-image.
Effective in treating various emotionally related disorders.
Calms a bad temper.
Reduces levels of anxiety.
Reduces depression.
Helps reduce eating disorders.
Aids in smoke cessation.
Promotes a general sense of harmony.

Physical Benefits of Therapeutic Massage.

Helps relieve tension-related headaches and effects of eyestrain.
Physically relaxes the body.
Calms the nervous system.
Decreases muscle tension and stiffness.
Improves muscle tone and decreases muscular deterioration.
Stretches connective tissue.
Promotes faster healing of strained muscles and sprained ligaments.
Reduces relieves cramps and muscle spasms.
Massage can improve nerve function.
Alleviates discomfort during pregnancy and often helps make the labor process smoother.
Reduces chronic pain.
Reduces pain and swelling, reduces formation of excessive scar tissue.
Speeds healing after surgery or injuries.
Enhances athletic performance; treats injuries caused during sport or work.
Promotes deeper and easier breathing and slows respiration.
Promotes overall wellness and revitalization is enhanced when your body tissues receive adequate oxygen.
Strengthens the immune system.
Improves circulation of blood and movement of lymph fluids.
Speeds the removal of metabolic waste.
Increases red blood cell counts.
Lowers blood pressure and reduces heart rate.
Enhances the health and nourishment of skin; improves skin tone; a glowing complexion is revealed.
Improves posture; proper distribution of weight on your joints will refine each and every movement and position required of you in your day!
Provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion, allowing you to do more of the things you enjoy!
Massage therapy can help reduce lower back pain.
Massage therapy can be used to help people who suffer from loss of movement in their limbs, and help them improve their mobility.
Massage helps release endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers.
Massage helps treat musculoskeletal problems.

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*Please use coupon number when making your first appointment in order to receive the 15% discount on your first massage.