What should I expect during my first session?
Once you come in, you will be greeted by your therapist, Alaska, who will take you back into their private office space, where they will then lead you through an interview to help them understand what’s going in in your body and mind. From there, we will agree on the most therapeutically effective method to help you reach your goals for the session and establish some longer term goals for where you want to be.
After that, Alaska will leave the room so you can undress to your level of comfort (more on this later) so the session can begin. Once ready, your therapist will knock on the door before entering and the massage will begin!
Once the appointment is over, Alaska will leave the room so you can redress, and once dressed fully, you can crack open the door and they will come back in for a small exit consultation where your therapist will lay out a treatment plan completely customized for you and your specific needs.
Will I need to get completely naked for the appointment?
No! You can undress to your level of comfort. That can mean leaving everything on, only partially undressing, or completely undressing. Generally speaking, the best work happens when skin-on-skin contact occurs but, that by no means is required. I am here to respect your comfort levels.
You will be under a sheet and a blanket while your therapist will securely undrape the isolated area of the body they will be working on at the time.
Do you take walk-ins?
Walk-ins are accepted after March 15th, when I will be established at the Lake Oswego North Lake Physical Therapy office, assuming my schedule allows for it during my open hours. You can always text 503-765-5573 before planning to come in to ensure there is time available for you.
Do I have to make conversation during my appointment?
Not at all! The appointments are about you and what you need. If you don’t want to talk during the appointment, that will be respected. You are also welcome to talk as much as you would like. This is YOUR appointment, you will be able to enjoy it with whatever level of engagement you want or need for that day.
What if my therapist goes too deep or I don’t like what they are doing?
Let me know. Like it was stated above, this is your session! If you aren’t enjoying something, it can be adjusted to make your experience more enjoyable for you. Everything about the session is customizable (lighting, music, temperature of the room, modality/pressure, even I am customizable!).
Is the massage supposed to hurt?
Nope. There will likely be moments of intensity but, it shouldn’t cross over into pain. On an intensity scale of 1 to 10, 1 being a light feather touch and 10 being a “grit your teeth and bear it”, the intensity should NEVER go above a 5 or 6. If it does, let your therapist know so they can adjust their approach.
Do you bill insurance for your appointments?
Unfortunately, we don’t offer insurance billing for massage therapy appointments at this time. Please ensure you have proper payment at the time of service. Cash, cards, and most payment apps (Venmo, CashApp, and Zelle) are accepted. Whatever is easiest for you is best for me.
What is the best aftercare for a massage appointment?
Water. Lots and lots of water. Your body integrates massage very similar to how it integrates exercise. So, you will need to hydrate after. Epsom salt baths the day of are also a fantastic way to keep the Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness away for the days following your appointment.
My ______ isn’t “normal”. Will that be a problem?
The only “normal” in life is the setting on your dryer. Every body is unique to the person that inhabits it. Some people have less/extra muscles, bones, and even organs, that’s just how our bodies are. So, no, it won’t be a problem at all.
