I went to massage school convinced I wouldn’t turn out to be a stereotypical weirdo massage therapist.

How well I’ve succeeded at that is...debatable. Barefoot massage might seem a little unconventional to the uninitiated, and I think that’s a shame—it’s an incredibly effective and transformative modality.

In my decade of experience as a massage therapist, I’ve worked with countless clients who appreciated a firm, Swedish-style massage. But for many, it wasn’t quite deep enough or effective enough. I felt the same way. As an accomplished myofascial trigger point therapist, I built a reputation for working with larger-bodied clients and those with significant hypertonicity. I loved the challenge. Let’s get in there. Let’s go.

But there was always a limit. No matter how skilled I was with my hands, forearms, or elbows, I couldn’t generate the consistent depth and force needed to truly release deep-seated tension. I knew where the trigger points were—I just couldn’t provide the stimulus required to resolve them.

Enter barefoot myofascial deep tissue massage.

I studied myofascial barefoot massage with the co-founders of the Center for Barefoot Massage, the incredible women who had a vision of taking barefoot massage beyond a boring, choreographed relaxation routine and polishing it into a therapeutic, informed, and creative modality. I studied foundational barefoot techniques with Mary-Claire Fredette in Cincinnati in 2019, and continued my study with side lying techniques, rotational decompression, and advanced two-footed bodywork with Center for Barefoot Massage owner/badass Jeni Spring in San Antonio in 2024.

While I have been exclusively practicing barefoot massage since 2021, my diverse education continues to inform and enhance the work I do. Since becoming a licensed massage therapist in 2015, my greatest passion has been treating myofascial pain syndromes. I have extensive experience in trigger point therapy, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM, similar to Graston or gua sha), decompressive cupping therapy, and the use of heated tools and hot stones. My continuing education includes prenatal massage, as well as specialized care for clients living with cancer or HIV, Thai massage, abdominal palpation, and elastic athletic taping.

About me —

I’m a tryer of many things. My hobbies cycle with the seasons: watercolor, knitting, powerlifting, gardening, paddleboarding, indie nail polish collecting—etc. I occasionally go on grand adventures, like a 1,200-mile solo bikecamping trip or through-hiking the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. I love moving between passions, nourishing different needs as they arise.

When I started massage school in 2014, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was signing up for. I was looking for a new path after semi-seriously flirting with a career in the restaurant industry. It turned out to be a serendipitous, life-changing decision—one I’m endlessly grateful for.

I’ve always called Western Pennsylvania home. After earning my Girl Scout Gold Award following a decade of scouting, I graduated high school a year early just for the heck of it. I hold a degree in photojournalism from Point Park, though I happily swapped my camera for a massage table. Today, I’m over two years sober, always planning my next visit to the ocean, and carrying a carafe of herbal tea, sipping from the tiniest handmade mugs I can find.