Special Services For Children
Treatments For Neurological Condition
Story Massage
This technique combines telling a story with the movements of massage to increase relaxation, improve touch tolerance and increase concentration.
Deep Pressure Massage
This technique involves firm, long strokes with flat palms and fingers . Deep pressure massage work in the same way as a weighted blanket.
Qigong Massage
This technique consists of patting and pressing movement with a cupped hand over clothes .
Sensory Massage
This multi-sensory massage combines themed music with sensory input to create communication through touch.
“Being a massage therapist and the mother of children with ASD, I have a unique perspective on massage and autism. Children with ASD are like snowflakes, no two are alike. This is especially true when we look at how children on the spectrum react to touch. My sons were very easy growing up. It wasn’t until they were around 4 that I realized they might be on the spectrum. Through my journey to find their diagnosis, I realized that I had been soothing his sensory system unknowingly. I gave them massages daily using soft touch and lots of reciprocal eye contact to encourage bonding. I also carried them in a carrier most of the time to meet the needs of their vestibular system, but truly the most helpful thing looking back was tapotement. Tapotement is the rhythmic, soft tapping or percussion of your hands. When my sons would need to calm down, this technique helped immensely. Massage is not a cure for sensory issues but it is an important tool that needs to be further studied.”
-Davanelle LMT