Trauma Massage Therapy

 What Can Massage Therapy Treat Besides Trauma?

Although massage therapy can be a powerful tool for helping clients release pain due to emotional, psychological, and physical trauma, it can also address other areas of vital concern. 

For instance, we offer massage therapy for stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and physical injuries among other forms of somatic, emotional, and psychological wounding. To tailor a treatment plan unique to each individual, our trauma-informed massage therapists at Sunrise Counseling integrate a range of alternative and restorative healing models into therapy:

• Deep Tissue Massage works by applying firm pressure to muscles and tissue to mitigate chronic tension and promote the release of emotional pain stored locally in the body, often from a traumatic experience in the past.

• Swedish Massage—typically a whole-body massage—uses light pressure, kneading, and other gentle techniques for reducing stress, improving circulation, and boosting the client’s mood.

• Cranial Sacral Massage enhances relaxation, self-awareness, and cognitive clarity. It’s a gentle, trauma-informed approach to bodywork that offers a framework for resolving trauma on a physical, psychological, and emotional level. 

• Neuromuscular Trigger Point Therapy manipulates soft tissue to promote localized pain relief, improved mobility, and decreased muscle tension.

• Reflexology is based on the science that all nerve endings terminate in the extremities. By working different points in the feet, Reflexology can enhance relaxation, improve digestion, and promote mindfulness. 

• Warm Stone Therapy helps to alleviate muscle tension through the placement and movement of “hot stones” on the client’s body. It’s been shown to improve circulation, flexibility, and sleep health while reducing stress, chronic pain, and inflammation.

All of these techniques enable us to tap into the parasympathetic nervous system, which influences everything from emotional regulation and heart rate to sleep hygiene and digestion. They allow us to activate parts of the mind and body, creating neurochemical responses—such as serotonin production, cortisol reduction, and dopamine release—that reduce stress and enhance emotional stability.

Want To Know What Our Sessions Are Like?

If you’re coming in for the first time, your trauma-sensitive massage therapist will have you meet 15 to 20 minutes early to fill out some paperwork. At that time, we’ll gather some information about your concerns, goals for therapy, and any medical conditions we need to be aware of.

Then, your therapist will step out of the room, giving you time to undress to your comfort level, lie on the table, and drape yourself. All of this is done according to Tennessee state law. Regardless of the issues you present, we’ll use all the tools at our disposal to create a treatment plan tailored specifically for you. Additionally, all of our massage services are available for 50, 80, and 100-minute sessions.

How Effective Is Trauma Massage Therapy?

At Sunshine Counseling, our holistic, integrative approach to healing combines massage therapy and counseling to enhance clients' overall physical, emotional, and mental health. Trauma massage therapy is particularly effective for reducing muscle tension, improving circulation, alleviating chronic pain, and promoting relaxation. 

The calming effects of massage combined with the emotional support of therapy decrease the impact of stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma/PTSD. It can also enhance your mental clarity, improve your mood, and help you cultivate a greater overall sense of well-being. 

Sometimes, as we are doing trauma-informed bodywork, thoughts, emotions, or memories will come up that you may want to explore with a traditional talk therapist. That’s where the integrative aspect of our practice comes in to play. Because we provide a range of traditional therapeutic services, we can also direct you to someone else in-house to do that deeper work of targeting core issues and challenges.