Welcome to the blog
This blog is where I share my thoughts, experience, and teaching on oncology massage, clinical reasoning, and working safely with people affected by cancer.
My aim is not just to provide information, but to encourage you to think, question, and reflect on your practice. You may find ideas here that challenge conventional thinking, or offer a different way of approaching your work.
I am not a writer, but I do love to teach — and this is an extension of that. Everything I share is grounded in practice, experience, and a commitment to safe, thoughtful care.
If something makes you pause, rethink, or see things differently, then it has done its job.
Choosing Oncology Massage Training: What Therapists Need to Know
The Importance of Choosing the Right Training Massage therapists invest significant time, effort, and passion in gaining recognised, high-quality qualifications. However, not all training provides
Oncology Massage Rehabilitation
Oncology massage can play a very important role in helping people recover from cancer. After experiencing cancer, we all know that the rehabilitation process can
Exploring the World of Touch
Our bodies have an amazing sensory capacity. We smell, see, hear, and touch our environment, firing signals from our eyes, ears, skin, and nose to
Maintaining Safety as a Massage Therapist
Recently, the General Council for Soft Tissue Therapies completed a survey about sexual harassment in the workplace, the results were far from satisfactory finding that
Pain, Pressure, and the Nobel Prize: New research shows how we perceive touch and the role massage has to play
Touch is one of our fundamental senses. We love to touch things – soft fabrics, furry pets, other people – but scientists had struggled to
The Vital Role of Complementary Therapy
It’s that special time of year again! Happy National Complementary Therapy Week! Yes, less celebrated than other events, and we’re still waiting for our bank
How Can We Support Our Clients’ Return To Health Holistically?
I think a potential area in which some therapies could improve on is how they incorporate other specialisms into the rehab process. Sadly, some therapists
The Mindful Touch
What do I actually mean when I say “Mindful Touch”? The mindful touch, is it fluffy and light, or is it referring to an informed
5 Step Shoulder Assessment
Shoulder issues are common as they are a highly used part of the body which is put under frequent strain. It is also an area
What is Oncology Massage?
This is a question I get asked by therapists, clients, medical professionals and even by those who are well versed in the benefits of soft
Back to Covid Normality – Anxiety: A Client and Therapist’s Perspective
After a year of being isolated in our own individual bubbles we are now making a move towards normality. For many of us this shift
How Can Massage Help Mental Health?
Most people associate massage with the physical benefits it can bring, and rightly so, as there are many! However, our bodies are incredibly complex; our
TSTR: More Than Just Stretching
A Brief History: The soft tissues of the body refer to muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia. Whilst Transverse Soft Tissue Release (TSTR) is often linked
The Importance of Complementary Therapy
We are, for the first time, celebrating National Complementary Therapy Week from March 23rd to March 29th 2020. To some, complementary therapy conjures up a
The Birth of TSTR
As a tool I love Soft Tissue Release (STR) but I find the application difficult at times, especially when I stick to the rules. However,
Managing Client Expectations
My treatments always offer an element of relaxation but more often than not, my clients come to me wanting to be ‘fixed’ as well as
Value or Hearsay? Lymphatic Drainage in Massage Therapy
Like most forms of complementary therapy, the effects of lymphatic drainage in massage are open to discussion. As is the case with all massage types,
What is biotensegrity?
Recently the BIG XI conference in Belgium has taken place and I was fortunate enough to be one of the invited guests and as it
Biomechanics: Alignment
This is the third blog in my Body Mechanic Series. In the first two we discussed correct couch height and looked at the basic working
Biomechanics: Posture
This is the second blog in my body mechanics series. I decided to write this series because good body mechanics is the foundation of all
Biomechanics: Bed Height
In order to work as a successful massage therapist, we need to make sure we have the best foundations possible. This series on body mechanics
Knot Correct?
The phrase “muscle knot” is widely used. Most people understand what it is to have one, but recently I’ve noticed some misinformation flying about, and
Massage Speeds Up Circulation
Our practice is portrayed as an alternative form of medical treatment – a challenger to conventional means. We have always been up against it: a
Specialising in Oncology Massage
I have been a massage therapist for 20 plus years. If you have been following my blogs and career then you may well know that
Massage, Exercise & Cancer: What Does the Evidence Say?
Historically, massage has mistakenly been viewed as a contradiction for clients who are currently undergoing treatment for, or who have a history of cancer. Traditionally,
Cancer, Exercise and Massage
Historically, massage has mistakenly been viewed as a contradiction for individuals who are currently undergoing treatment for, or who have a history of, cancer. Cancer
Cancer and Massage Therapy: Is what they’re saying true?
Right from the start, I want to make it clear that you can pretty much find studies that will counter act other studies. The intention
Reasons to Maintain Humour in Your Life
Laughter is the best medicine. An age old saying that we all know and love, but do we actually understand the truth behind it? I
Finding my Mojo
When we were first put into lockdown, everything I was working on; normal stuff that would take the school and my online massage coaching program
Are the words you speak having the desired impact?
It might seem obvious that if you improve your communication skills between yourself and your client it will lead to an increase in positive outcomes,
The Need To Specialise in Massage Therapy
Specializing is not a bad word! I understand as a therapist there is so much more that we offer and the idea of specializing might
Social Media & Blogs: Are They Useful?
You may have noticed that I’ve recently upped the ante when it comes to writing blogs and social media postings. These days I try to
How To Set Goals
Goal setting is something we are taught in our massage courses for a couple of reasons. Firstly in order to establish goals for our clients,
The 6 R’s: RESET, REBOOT, REFINE, REGENERATE, REVIVE, REFRESH
Are you starting to get COVID-19 weary? Isolation is sure to be an incredibly testing time for everyone, especially for us as therapists who, as
Riding the Waves: How Massage Therapy Helps Navigate Chronic Stress
Let’s talk about stress… Who in the last year hasn’t felt their fair share? I know most people around me have, including myself and I
The Deception of One-Day Diplomas: A Disrespect to our Industry
Many of you might have read my “Dear Susan” posts—honest questions from therapists who are confused about aspects of our profession. To be fair, there
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